Sankara Jayanthi - Hastaamalaka

[Guest guest]

Namaste All,

 

On the eve of Sankara Jayanthi, I though I would recall the story of

Hastaamalaka. This story also relates to some of the discussions on

shravaNa, etc.

 

During acharya's dig vijaya, he was approached by a wealthy brahmin,

Prabhaakara. The latter had a son, seven years old. Though the boy

was handsome and healthy, he behaved like an idiot. He had not learnt

even the alphabets. Prbhaakara was hoping to ascertain the cause for

this retardedness.

 

When the boy was asked to prostrate to the acharya, he remained in

the prostrate position. Acharya lifted him up and asked, "Who are

you? Why are you behaving like an inert being?" The boy answered much

to the astonishment all who knew him thus, "O great acharya, I am no

inert being. Even inert things acquire consciousness due to me". He

then went on to expound the knowledge of the self in twelve stanzas.

On hearing him, acharya was surprised to see that he had the

knowledge of the self intuitively and said that he must have acquired

the knowledge even in his previous life. Since his knowledge was as

natural as seeing an amalaka fruit in one's palm, he was called

Hastaamalaka from then onwards. He became one of the chief disciples

of acharya.

 

Bhava sankara desika me sharanam.

 

Harih Om.

Neelakantan