Adi Shankara

[Guest guest]

Jaya Jaya Shankara !

Namastripurasundaryai !

Namo Chandramouleeshwaraaya !

Namo Naarasimhaaya !

 

This is an offering of tribute at the feet of Sri

Shankaracharya, the incarnation of Shiva. So great was and so

majestic was his life that it is not possible for ordinary mortals to

speak about his divine Charita completely. This is just a selection

of some episodes from his inspiring Life.

The influence of Advaita Vedanta preached by Sri

Shankaracharya has pervaded the whole of world. It was this message

of Vedanta that Swami Vivekananda, the messenger of Sri Ramakrishna,

the harmoniser of all religions propagated in the east and the West.

The realization of Advaita is the final stage of religious

experience. But Shankara never disdained the steps that have to be

traversed to attain this stage. It is for this reason that Shankara

appears to us an enthusiastic organizer of worship, devotion and

rites. He was not merely a monist traversing the path of knowledge. A

rare and supreme devotion tempers his entire life and all his

writings. The whole of Hinduism is brilliantly and uniquely reflected

in the ideals of his life. The effulgent form that he gave to the

Sanatana Vedic Dharma may have been dimmed by the passage of time,

but it has not been obliterated. The Hindus owe an eternal debt to

this teacher whose life span extended over only thirty-two years. He

opened up a new and radiant horizon for the spiritual life of India

and brought about a revolutionary transformation in her social life.

To call Srimadacharya a mere monist would be to denigrate his

personality and his impact. His life in fact appears to be a meeting

ground of Advaita, Dvaita and he has gone beyond all these stages to

stand effulgent in the radiant light of the self. Rarely among the

great does one encounter such harmonization.

Swami Vivekananda has said: " The modern civilized world

marvels at the writings of this sixteen year old boy." The modern

civilized world is a world of science and reason. Shankara was able

to establish the religion of the Vedanta on the firm foundation of

science and reason.

Shankara's life offers interpretation of his philosophy.

Hence it would be of immense inspiration to know about the life of

this great incarnation of Sri Dakshinamurthy. This is a presentation

of his life based on Anandagiri's Shankara Vijaya, Maadhaveeya

Shankara Vijaya and works by Swami Apoorvananda.

 

Acharya Shankara is one of those god-men who have appeared in

the world in historical times in order to establish religion firmly.

Shankara's advent took place at a very critical period in the

national and in the religious life of India. At that time the

Buddhist faith in the Indian sub-continent has passed through many

stages of rise and fall for over a thousand years. It had sunk to a

condition in which it was not only of absolutely no use for Indian

religion and culture, but was positively ruinous. Subjected to the

influence of degenerate Buddhism, the eternal Hindu faith had become

enfeebled, devastated and disintegrated.

Within two centuries of Acharya's lifetime, India had to

encounter the powerful incursion of the Islamic faith. Degenerate

Buddhism would not have possessed the vigor to resist the onrush. It

was only the immense strength of the Vedic faith, which is eternal

and man-made, and is the repository of universal truth, that could

stand and did effectively resist the inroad of Islam. The advent, the

career, the life work and the teaching of Acharya endowed the Hindu

faith with the energy needed for the task ahead of self-defence and

survival and ensured the everlasting stability of the Vedic religion

by firmly establishing it on very sure foundations. Such a claim for

Shankara is amply supported by historical evidence. Has Shankara not

come on the scene, it would have been quite within the bounds of

possibility that Hinduism got transformed into a veritable Islamistan.

If the Hindus of today can legitimately be proud of their

great Vedic religion, it is in no small measure due to the services

of this thirty-two year old monk. This needs to be adequately

realized by all especially those belonging to man-made cults and

sects who dismiss Acharya as a Mayavadi. It is unfortunate that some

people indeed have succumbed to falsehood despite of Acharya's

efforts. Shankara strengthened the foundations of the eternal Vedic

faith to such an extent that the vigor imparted by him was an

unfailing support in later years to the work and mission of people

like Madhwa, Ramanuja, Nimbaraka etc. this is an undeniable

historical fact. In Shankara's life and teaching and propagation lies

embedded the immense vitality, which is responsible for the safe

preservation and sure sustenance of the eternal Vedic faith.

To designate Shankaracharya as just an upholder of Monism,

just like any other sectist Acharya's is a tone down to his gigantic

personality and to dilute his contribution. Not in any of his

writings does any evidence exist of one-sided outlook, the narrow

vision, the vigorlessness, and the incompleteness, which are the

characteristics of most of the later preachers and teachers. Indeed

Shankara was the greatest, the noblest and the most luminous

representative of expansive, universal and all embracing Sanatana

Vedic Dharma. All that is sublime, strengthening, glorious in the

Vedanta faith as it obtains today is the handiwork of this

distinguished monk, and this is true not only in respect of the

philosophical aspect of that faith, but also in respect of its

practical side. The resplendent story of Sri Acharya's life is a

veritable lighthouse illumining the path of the universal Vedic faith.

Acharya Shankaracharya is not to be ranked with ordinary

religious aspirants. To style him as a Siddha, a perfected master is

also not saying the whole thing about him. To accomplish a mission of

Providence was he born under divine auspices as Consciousness Awake.

He took birth in a noble Brahmin family of the Nambudari caste in the

province of Kerala at the southern end of India. In Malayalam, `Namp'

means faith and `Puri' means being full. Accordingly, the Brahmin who

is filled with faith in the scriptures is a Nampuri or Nambudri

Brahmin. Shankara was born and lived at the village of Kaladi,

beautiful with groves of coconu and betel, mango and plantain and

with river Alwa (also known as Purna) flowing beside. His father was

Shivaguru; a gem of a Brahmin community and mother was Vishista Devi

(some biographers call her Aryamba), a woman who was goddess-like.

Shivaguru was the only son of Vidyadhara and a scholar versed

in the scriptures. When he was at his studies in his preceptor's

place, he at first had no idea of returning home at all. The earnest

desire of his heart was that he should spend all his life learning

and teaching the scriptures. But because of the importunities of his

father, he returned home from his preceptor's place and rather late

in life entered upon the life of the householder. In due course the

father passed away and Sivaguru took on himself the responsibility of

maintaining the small household, and along with it, in tune with his

interest in the scriptures, he spent long hours in study and

instruction. A small Devottara property (property donated to the

Gods) helped him to supply all the wants of the small family.

Time passed and Shivaguru grewold, but he was childless. The

Hindu idea is tha one;s getting wedded to a wife is only for the

purpose of getting saved from the hell of "Put" by begetting a son.

But such a consummation was not yet the let of Shivaguru. There was

also no joy in the heart of the Childless Aryamba. The couple

deliberated to take a vow. They decided to take refuge with

Chandramoulishwara Shiva, the ever-awake god who had his abode on the

Vrisha hill not far away their village. For a few days they lived

only on roots, and then they subsisted only by drinking the holy

water, which washed the feet of Shiva. Always praying with a full

heart they kept on fulfilling their vow, offering worship and

adoration and engaging themselves in penance, till their bodies

became week and feeble. Even before a year had gone by Shivaguru had

a dream one night. Sadashiva in a resplendent body white like camphor

and with matted locks appeared before him. In a sweet voice the Lord

said, " Child! I am well pleased with your devotion. Tell me what

your longing is. I shall fulfill it. "Shivaguru fell flat at the feet

of the God of the Gods and prayed, "Please grant me the boon of a son

who will be long-lived and all-knowing".

With a smile on the lips Lord Ashutosha replied, "If you long

for an all-knowing son, he will not be long-lived. If on the other

hand, you desire to have a son who will have long life, he will not

be all knowing. Do you ask for an all-knowing son or for one with a

long life? Choice is yours!"

Deeply religious by nature that he was, Shivaguru prayed for

an all-knowing son. Then Mahadeva, the great Lord, told him, "Your

desire will be fulfilled. My dear son, you will indeed get an all-

knowing son, In fact I myself will come down as your son. You need

not continue your penance. You may return home with your devoted

wife."

Overwhelmed by the joy of the occurrence and filled with

ecstasy

Shivaguru made obeisance to the Lord's feet. Being told of the

details

Of the dream vision, Aryamba felt herself exceptionally blessed. The

pure-hearted couple then returned home and spent their time in

worship and adoration of Shiva. It was the fifth day of the fortnight

of the full moon in the month of Vaishakha. The time was the

auspicious mid-day hour. At this divinely ordained hour in 686 AD,

Aryamba was delivered of a son. The child was charmingly glorious

like a very child-become God Shankara. On his looking at his son's

face Shivaguru's delight knew no bounds. He resolved in his mind to

make generous offerings of money and cows and lands to Brahmins, and

in view of his having obtained the Son by the grace of Sri Shankara

or Shiva, named the newborn one "Shankara". Every Avtar who has come

down to earth as a Religious Teacher for the fulfillment of a divine

mission has been born by the will of providence in a manner that is

supernatural and mysterious. The few Supermen who were born in

historical times for the resuscitation of religion all made their

advent in ways which were extraordinary. Rama, Krishna, Buddha,

Christ are well-known illustrations. That Acharya Shankara too was

born partaking of the nature of God Shankara and that he came to

earth especially for fulfilling a divine mission will become clear as

we proceed with the story of his life.

Shivaguru duly performed the rites to be done after the birth

of a child and had the horoscope of the newborn baby cast by the

astrologers. He was delighted to find that the dream in which he had

a boon from Shiva had indeed come true. He saw that his son was of a

divine lineage and bore the marks of an incarnation.

Note: also in obedience to the commands of Mahadeva, the gods took

birth as humans in order to be of help in Shankara's mission of

firmly establishing Vedic Dharma. Padmapada was born of Vishnu's

lineage; Hastamalaka came from Pavanadeva's lineage. In Brahma's line

came Sureshwara and in Brihaspati's avtar came Anandagiri and

Chitsukha in Varuna's lineage. The mark of wheel on the boy

Shankara's head. The impress of the third eye on the forehead and the

sign of the trident (Trishula) on the shoulders made wise men decide

that he was an incarnation of Shiva.

Even from boyhood Shankara was distinguished for his quiet

disposition and sharpness of intellect. The superior genius and the

extraordinary intelligence, which were to fascinate humanity in his

later years, were clearly sprouting in him even when he was a boy.

This wonder of a child had even by his third year finished reading

many books in his mother tongue Malayalam, and by only listening to

the readings and chanting of the Vedas, the Vedanta, the Ramayana,

the Mahabharata and the Puranas learnt them by heart. The most

surprising thing about the boy was that he was a Sruthidhara (a

person able to repeat in full all that he hears just once). Whatever

he read or heard got indelibly impressed in his memory.

Shivaguru was extremely happy to find his son endowed with

supernatural intellectual acumen. He made up his mind to have the

boy's Upanayana ceremony (the investiture with the sacred thread

which distinguishes a Brahmin) performed even in his fifth year, and

then to send Shankara on to the preceptor's house for study. But the

fates willed differently. Shivaguru died before he could have the

Upanayana done. Aryamba was overwhelmed by this sudden bereavement.

She dutifully performed the funeral rites of her husband, and

shedding profuse tears of agony she repaired with her little son to

her father's house to seek asylum there in her forlorn condition. But

she did not forget the last wish of her departed husband. As soon as

Shankara reached his fifth year she returned with him to her own home

and performed the Upanayana according to scriptural injunctions,

after which she sent him to the preceptor's house to be taught and

trained.

Hardly had a few days gone by, when the Guru was charmed by

the genius and the devotion to learning, which he saw in his young

pupil. The correctness of the boy's mode of pronouncing words and the

sharpness of his intellect quite fascinated everyone. Shankara

assimilated effortlessly the contents of all the books he was taught,

and what was more, he sat beside his Guru when he explained the

scriptures to offer pupils and by mere listening to the exposition

very easily mastered all of them too. No wonder that within a short

time the young Shankara became the Guru's favorite. Tow years had not

passed, but Shankara was already proficient in the Upanishads and the

Puranas, in Itihasa and Smriti and in the various philosophical

systems like Nyaya, Sankhya, Patanjala and Vaisesika. Indeed he was

as well versed as Brihaspati, the teacher of the celestials.

In accordance with the rules governing residential pupils

staying and studying in Guru's house, Brahmachari Shankara used to go

out for alms every day. One day he went to the house of a poor

Brahmin for alms. The Brahmin was an extremely poor householder.

There was not in his house that day even a handful of rice to be

given away as lams. The Brahmin housewife, not knowing what to do,

gave Shankara an Amalaka fruit (Emblic myroblam), and shedding

profuse tears told him of their indigent state. The woman's terrible

poverty deeply moved the tender soul of Shankara. Standing there in a

word of compassion he composed a hymn to goddess Lakshmi, the great

mother who removes poverty and misery, and in a voice choked with

tearful weeping and with all his heart centered in Her he laid at the

feet of Bhagavati his soulful prayer for the redress of the poor

woman's plight. Pleased with the hymn, which is known all through the

world to this day by the devoted as the great Kanakadhara Stuti,

Goddess Lakshmi appeared before him and said, "My dear child! I know

what is in your mind. But the members of this poor family did not, in

their past lives perform any meritorious acts which will enable me to

bestow on them, wealth and riches." The boy Shankara then gave a

reply to the Mother, " Why Mother! This housewife just now gave me an

Amalaka fruit. If you are minded to favor me, set this family free

from poverty." The boy's request brought joy to the Goddess, who

said, " So be it. I shall give this family lots of Amalakas of gold."

Shankara was delighted to hear words and assured the Brahmin lady

that she would very soon acquire wealth and returned to the guru's

house. At dawn the next day when the Brahmin couple awoke from sleep

they saw their whole courtyard bestrewn with Amalaka fruits of gold.

Overwhelmed with joy, they started picking and gathering the fruits

of gold and told everyone that it was the Boy-Brahmachari Shankara's

blessing that had helped them to so much wealth. The news of the boy

Shankara's supernatural power spread on all sides. This brief

incident was revelatory of the spirit of compassionate concern for

others, which Shankara possessed.

Supermen endowed with divine authority stay in the embodied

state holding on to just one support, the urge of compassion. We are

indeed fascinated on coming to know of the expression of the quality

of compassion in the life of Shankara even from his very early

boyhood. We shall in the course of this biographical narrative have

occasion to become acquainted and be lost in silent wonder as a

result of it with the way in which in later years this stream of

compassion of which Shankara was the source, moistened hundreds of

dried-up souls and brought contentment to numerous hearts that were

arid and thirsty and parched. And we shall realize beyond any

possibility of doubt that the Lord and Shankara born of his aspect

are oceans of motiveless and disinterested grace and compassion.

Endowed as Shankara was with a superhuman genius and a sharp

intellect and with the uncommon skill of a Srutidhara (of retaining

in the memory everything heard even once), he had not to stay with

his Guru for long. While even the very intelligent students tool at

least twenty years to acquire mastery of all scriptures, Shankara was

able to acquire that mastery in only two years time with the blessing

and the favor of his Guru. As we know from biographies, Shankara

mastered, even in his boyhood, all knowledge, including the secret

knowledge, and much of this knowledge was acquire by him without any

assistance from his teacher. He studied the philosophical systems of

Nyaya, Samkhya, Mimamsa, Patanjala etc. and also the Buddhist

philosophical systems like Sautantrika, Yogachara, Madhyamika,

Vaibhashika etc. he also studied Jaina and Charvaka systems of

philosophy. In addition, he also acquired especial proficiency in

Itihasa, Purana, and Smriti literature. He had studied very many

books on his own.

The Guru considered himself especially honored in having as his pupil

a boy of such unmatched intelligence and caliber. Blessing Shankara

again and again, permitted him to return home long before the expiry

of the prescribed term of pupil hood.

Meanwhile Aryamba had negotiated Shankara's marriage with a

beautiful girl in the neighborhood. Hardly had her son returned home

from the Guru's abode, she told him of her resolve to get him

married. The scriptures have enjoined that soon after schooling I

done and the pupil has left the Guru's abode to the parental home, he

should get married. The wedded state has to closely follow the state

of studies. The Grihastha Ashrama had to be taken up at the close of

Brahmacharya Ashrama, and not for a day should he remain unassigned

to the legitimate Ashrama. But Shankara would not under any

circumstance agree to get married. Aryamba tried many ways of

persuasion and shed many a tear. But Shankara whom his widowed mother

considered as the only hope of all her future happiness and welfare

stood firm in his determination not to get into matrimony, and he

would not relent. Such grimness of resolve on the part of a boy

surprised the mother and bewildered her.

Shankara as a Brahmachari, now lived on at home and devoted

himself to learning and teaching. But it was the serving of his

mother that was for him his all-important duty and his greatest

discipline. He ensured his mother's comfort and happiness by

attending on her and serving her in all sorts of ways. The little

boy's measureless proficiency in studies and uncommon skill in

instructing brought him much renown, and within a few days his fame

spread on all corners. Even aged scholars in large numbers began to

come to him for a deeper study of the scriptures. His sublime and

simple exposition of scripture and flare of genius on the part of a

boy of seven were indeed indicative of Divine Power.

The devout Aryamba used to go for a bath to the river Alwai

(or Purna) everyday. (Alwai is also the name of a town, and the river

Purna flowing by the town naturally came to be called Alwai too.

Alwai is a railway station on the Trichur – Ernakulam broad gauge

line and is 17 kilometers from Ernakulam. Alwai town is situated at a

distance of 55 kilometers from Trichur. From Kaladi, Alwai is about

96 kilometers). And on her way back home, she offered worship at the

shrine of Keshava who was her family deity.

The Alwai was adored as a sacred river in those parts. The river was

a long way off from Shankara's house, but yet his mother, with great

steadfastness, went to the river every day for the holy bath. Once in

the summer season Aryamba went to the river as usual, but even though

a long time passed away she did not return home, and Shankara was

very much worried. He went in search of her and as he was walking

along the riverbank he saw her lying unconscious on the roadside. In

deep misery at the sight he wept profusely and started nursing his

mother back to her senses and when she came round he then slowly led

her home by hand.

Shankara was by nature ardently devoted to his mother, and so

his feelings on seeing the condition of his mother were such as no

words can portray. Her suffering quite unnerved him. All in tears he

sent forth a prayer to God saying, " Lord, Thou art indeed

omnipotent. If Thou only wishest, anything is possible. I cannot bear

to see this suffering of my mother. Be gracious and bring the river

closer to our house. Then there will be no more suffering for my

mother." This was his only prayer and longing and it overwhelmed his

heart and soul, day and night he was immersed in this one

supplication to the Lord.

The All-merciful Lord is not deaf to the prayers of devotees.

He does hear them. Shankara's entreaty moved Him and He responded.

During the night, rains were so heavy that the river changed its

course. Breaking through its north bank, the Alwai River began to

flow by the village of Kaladi. Aryamba was indeed very proud of her

son's achievement and started telling everyone, "It is as a result of

the prayers of my son Shankara that the Lord has brought the river

close to out house". This miraculous incident was big news and spread

within a few days to all corners of the area. People came in groups

to have a sight of this wonder boy. Indeed through the will of the

Lord many an impossible thing becomes possible, and along with it the

glory of devotion as well as the glory of the devotee gets

proclaimed.

Rajashekhara was the ruler of Kerala at that time and when he

came to hear of Shankara' divine powers, he was filled with wonder.

He himself was a very well read man delighting in the study of the

scriptures. He was also of a pronounced devotional temperament, and

was full of respect for the sacred books and the learned. Coming to

know of the unprecedented depth of scholarship and the abundance of

divine power in a Brahmin boy of seven, the ruler ardently desired to

meet him. He sent his chief minister to Shankara, with the gift of an

elephant and extended an invitation to him to meet him at the royal

place. When the minister in all humility told Shankara of the king's

desire, Shankara said, " O best of donors, of what avail is an

elephant to those who live only on alms, whose clothing is only deer-

skin and whose daily round of duties consists of sun-up and sun-down

prayers, adoration of fire, study of Vedas, teaching, and the service

to the Guru? O minister, carry this reply of mine to your royal

master, and expressly tell him that a monarch's primary duty is to

endeavor to ensure that the four Varnas duly perform the duties

allotted to their particular stations and lead righteous lives. A

king should never good people to wrong ways through temptation." With

these words he declined the invitation to call at the royal palace.

This behavior of Shankara in no way displeased or angered the

King. On the other hand, he became even more drawn to the precocious

boy. Accompanied by the ministers of state the ruler himself arrived

at Kaladi one day in order to meet Shankara in his own place. He saw

Shankara clad in deer-skin with a cord of grass as a belt round his

loins, and the white sacred sacrificial thread on his left shoulder

and under his right arm. All round him were seated Brahmin scholars

engaged in scriptural study. Shankara cordially welcomed the king

showing him the respects due to royalty. In years he was but a boy,

in demeanor and conduct he was one of the eminent and wise.

The Kerala monarch's object in coming to Kaladi was to test

and measure Shankara's scholarship. Even after a brief discuccion

with Shankara on the import of the scriptures was it possible for the

ruler to realize that the boy was a prodigy distinguished by

intellectual sharpness and extraordinary discriminating skill, and he

was naturally charmed and amazed. That Shankara was endowed with

divine powers, the king had now not the least doubt. Both king and

the boy merged into a discussion of scriptural themes for a long

while, much to their delight. The monarch then laid at the feet of

Shankara many gold coins, and paying obeisance to him begged him to

accept the money and the gift. But in a severe way did Shankara tell

the royal donor, " Noble King, I am a Brahmana and a Brahmachari. Of

no use to me are these gold coins. The Devottara property made over

to our family by your forefathers for our service in the temple is

quite sufficient to meet my and my mother's expenses. By your

kindness, we experience no want in our home."

Shankara's desirelessness, renunciation and disinclination to

receive gifts greatly astonished the king. Holding together his palms

in reverence he said, " Worshipful one, such sentiments are indeed

becoming of you and you only. I consider myself blessed indeed. But

how can I take back to myself the gift I have intended and set apart

for you? Please distribute the money yourself to worthy

recipients. " Without a moment's delay Shankara replied smiling, "

You indeed are the monarch of the land. It is more in your line to be

able to know the deserving and the undeserving than a Brahmachari

devoted to scriptural studies. The gift of learning is the sacred

duty of a Brahmin, while the gift of wealth is the duty of the ruler.

It is for you to therefore distribute this wealth to fit and

deserving folk."

The monarch saluted Shankara's genius and bent his head in

reverence to his brilliance and ordered the distribution of the

offered money among the Brahmins assembled there. This incident of

Shankara's refusing to accept the preferred money made a deep

impression on the ruler's mind. He saw that Shankara was not merely a

scholar well versed in all the scriptures, but that the boy was a

person of superhuman parts, possessed of powers that were divine in

quality. And he was so much drawn to this boy-marvel that from then

on he visited Shankara's house everyday to benefit by his holy

company. Rajashekhara was the author of books like Balabharatha and

Balaramayana and these dramas in Sanskrit he read out to Shankara and

had corrections made according to his suggestions. The tidings of the

king's offer of favors to Shankara and of Shankara's spirit of

desirelessness soon spread all round. And even from far off places

did many people come to se him, and many scholars flocked to him to

hear from him an exposition of the scriptures.

One day it so chanced that a few astrologers arrived at

Shankara's home. Aryamba and her son Shankara accorded them a proper

reception. After discussing the contents of the scriptures in various

ways, the astrologers expressed a desire to look into the horoscope

of Shankara. On examining the horoscope they said that the time of

Shankara's birth bore the indication of the descent of an incarnation

and they foresaid too that he would become a wandering monk. But an

examination of the astrological position in regard to the longetivity

of his life revealed to them that Shankara would be short lived. They

saw that death might overtake him in his eight or sixteenth or thirty-

second year. On coming to know this, Aryamba was deeply distressed.

But she was told that through penance and austerity the possibility

of death at the eighth year could be averted and an extension of life

by another eight years could be obtained. But death at the sixteenth

year could not, the Brahmins asserted, be escaped except through

divine will. When the Brahmin astrologers took their leave, their

foretelling of coming events had its reaction on Shankara's mind, but

the reaction in his case was of a different kind from that of his

mother's case. He resolved to embrace monasticism. He knew that there

was no possibility of attaining the knowledge of Truth without

resorting to monk hood. And in the absence of knowledge of Truth

there was no possibility achieving liberation from the bondage of

relative existence. Shankara had just then entered on his eighth

year, and that was exactly the time when death might come to him.

Therefore Shankara's only thought now was about how he could manage

to take to monasticism.

As day succeeded day, the desire to embrace monasticism

became stronger and stronger in Shankara. He was quite determined on

taking to Sanyasa. One day he found a suitable opportunity to speak

to his mother about it and told her of his intention of becoming a

monk. Hardly did he mention to her his idea when Aryamba started

weeping and wailing. Embracing him and kissing him she said, " Hush

child, is it right for you to speak such a thing. You are such a

tender stripling now. Let me pass out of life first, and then you may

turn out to be a monk. Whom but you I have for a hold. If you turn

out a monk and walk out of home, who is there to look after me, my

child? Who will take me to places of pilgrimage? Who will perform my

funeral rites when I die? No, no, my dear, as long as life pulsated

in my body I shall not let you become a Sanyasin."

Shankara remained quiet. Here was a command from the mother

not to embrace Sanyasa. There seemed to be no way out of the

situation, and Shankara prayed with an earnest heart to the Lord

beseeching him to make it possible for him to take Sanyasa. He knew

that he had been born with the mission of preaching the super-

knowledge of Advaita and he knew that for the carrying on of that

mission it was imperative that he took to Sanyasa. He was however

confidant that the petty desires of men and women cannot stand

against the divine will.

One day, early in the morning, Shankara accompanied by his

mother went for a bath in the Alwai River. Many others were bathing

there. Aryamba finished her bath and came up to the bank. Shankara

was still in the river bathing, when a crocodile caught hold of him.

He shouted out, " Mother, save me, save me! I am seized by a

crocodile."

Instantly did Aryamba plunge into the river to try to save

her son. Others on the spot also caught hold of Shankara's hands and

tried to pull him up to the bank. But the crocodile continued to pull

him down to deeper waters. Between the pull-up and pull-down,

Shankara said, " Mother I am definitely being taken down by the

crocodile. I am in my last moments. You did not permit me to take

Sanyasa. If at least now you give condescend to grant me permission

for Sanyasa, I shall, contemplating on God, mentally take to the

dying hour Sanyasa and give up life. Even this will give me

liberation."

Aryamba saw that there was no hope of saving Shankara from

death. She said weeping, " My son, so be it. I grant you the

permission to be a monk." Saying this she fell down in a swoon.

Having thus obtained his mother's permission Shankara with a

concentrated mind surrendered himself at the feet of the Lord and

took Sanyasa. All his being was filled with an indescribable feeling

of bliss. All of a sudden, the crocodile vanished from that place,

leaving Shankara free. The crocodile indeed was Lord Sri Narayana,

who had answered Shankara's prayers. As a result of this taking to

Atura Sanyasa the death at the eighth year to which Shankara was

destined was obviated. Shankara and his mother were brought to the

bank. Regaining conscience after a while, Aryamba hugged Shankara in

a warm motherly embrace. She led Shankara back towards home. Shankara

then told his mother, " It is not for mw to stay at home here after.

I am a monk. The scriptures have prohibited a Sanyasin's residing in

his own old house. I shall therefore stay under a tree."

Aryamba felt as if the weight of the sky had descended on her

head. Weeping and sobbing she said, " what is this that you say my

boy! You are but a child, how indeed can you renounce home now? How

long am I going to live? You may indeed leave home after I die."

Shankara did not however loosen his resolve. He said, " It

was with your permission, mother, that I took to Sanyasa at the last

moment, with all my heart. I am one born of your womb, and I shall

not render false an utterance of yours. I shall carry out my

renouncing home."

He consoled the wailing Aryamba with these words, " Who do

you think saved me from becoming a prey to the crocodile? That very

God will look after everything. Whether it be day or night, if in

your last moment you but think of me, I shall wherever I may then be,

know of it, and I shall reach your abode. Before life ebbs out of you

I shall help you have a vision of your chosen deity. That indeed is

the essence of all pilgrimages."

The circumstances which attended Shankara's birth now came to

Aryamba's memory and she saw that all these happenings were but

inevitable and in a voice choked with emotion said, " So be it my

son, I bless you by heart and soul that you attain your desired goal."

It was now clear that Shankara's earnest prayers had reached

the Lord. By the grace of the Lord, Aryamba's entire being was filled

with an ineffable joy. She would no longer hinder her son's ascending

to the absolute Brahman. Shankara then prostrated at the feet of his

mother, and receiving her blessings on his head walked out to have a

view of the family deity Sri Keshava Bhagavan. And the sun just rose

to view on the eastern horizon.

 

Contd…………..