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Source: The Hindu (http://www.the-hindu.com)

 

Spiritual ministry of a great savant

 

CHENNAI, MAY 10. The advent of the preceptors of the different

Vedanta traditions was a historical necessity. The religion of

Sanatana dharma (Hinduism) throughout its long history had to

face challenges as it is not a religion in the strict sense of

the term, but a way of life; paradoxically its strength lies in

this. Whenever it suffered setbacks men of great intellectual

stature and spiritual vision have appeared on the scene to infuse

vitality into its enduring ideals and practices.

 

Adi Sankara was born at a time when Buddhism had lost its vigour

having split into many groups and Hinduism also was in shatters

with as many as 70 sects with no ideology to hold them together.

So Sankara's task was to vanquish the non-Vedic sects and bring

the Vedic traditions together. He accomplished this in a

brilliant fashion by subsuming all authentic Vedic sectarian

traditions within the fold of Advaita.

 

At the philosophical level he had to refute different ideologies

prevailing then to establish Advaita Vedanta for which he has

written commentaries on the principal scriptural texts - the

Brahmasutras, Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita (the

Prasthanatraya). He renovated and reclaimed a number of temples

across the length and breadth of the country. Within the scope of

the Vedic tradition he showed how one has to graduate from the

rituals prescribed in the Karma kanda to Jnana kanda eventually.

 

In his discourse, Swami Brahmeshananda said it was indeed twice

blessed as both Ramanuja's and Sankara's birth anniversaries were

on the same day. Among Sankara's spiritual ministry the

establishment of monasteries and regulating the practice of

Panchayajna and Panchayatana worship are significant as the

tradition is followed even today.

 

He was a prodigious writer; as many as 23 commentaries, 54

independent treatises and 76 hymns are attributed to him. He was

not only an intellectual giant who accomplished his mission in a

short span of 32 years but also a great Yogin adept in Hatha and

Raja yogas. It must be emphasised - for it is very easy to forget

this aspect of his multi-faceted personality - that Sankara was a

sterling devotee of God who composed such moving hymns like Bhaja

Govindam.

 

The interesting anecdote relating to his writing the commentary

on the Vishnu Sahasranama first when this hymn was repeatedly

brought before him which he intuited as ordained by God, is

considered as a sign of his life's mission. Another one relates

to his meeting with Vyasa in Badarikashrama at the age of 16 when

the sage extended his life up to 32 years pleased with his

debating skills.

 

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