Adi Shankara Considered Ancient India a Nation

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Adi Sankara's life proves India's unity: Advani

 

By Our Special Correspondent

http://www.hinduonnet.com/stories/2003032304471000.htm

 

The King of Nepal, Gyanendra Bikram Shah, receives the book `Jayendra

Vani' from the Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani, at a function in

the Madras University on Saturday. The Kanchi Sankaracharyas, Sri

Jayendra Sarawathi and Sri Vijayendra Sarawathi, and the Queen of

Nepal, Komal Shah, look on. — Photo: Vino John

CHENNAI MARCH 22. No more evidence was needed than the life of Adi

Sankara to prove that India has always been regarded as one country,

the Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani, said here today.

 

Offering felicitations to the Sankaracharya of the Kanchi Kamakoti

Peetam, Jayendra Saraswati, the 69th Acharya, on the occasion

of "peetarohana swarna jayanti" (golden jubilee of the ascension of

the Acharya to the Peetam), Mr. Advani described the Swami as

a "spiritual giant and great leader". Before Independence, India was

not regarded as a nation and was thought to be a geographical entity.

The life of Adi Sankara proved the British theory a myth. Adi Sankara

walked from Kaladi in Kerala to distant Kashmir and from Dwaraka to

Puri.

 

Mr. Advani paid tributes to the Kanchi Acharya for his services to

society and for trying to bring harmony among the people. What India

needed was greater attention to education and health and the Kanchi

Acharya made ennobling contribution in this regard. He released four

books on the occasion with the King of Nepal, Gyanendra, receiving

the first copies.

 

In his benedictory message, Sri Jayendra Saraswati recalled his

visits to Nepal and the religious ties between India and the country.

 

Another association between the two countries was that while Lord

Rama was born in Ayodhya, Sita was born in Janakpur in Nepal.

 

The celebrations were inaugurated by King Gyanendra. The junior

Sankaracharya, Sankara Vijayendra Saraswati, stressed the need for

spiritualism to develop society. When the country was riddled with

confusion, Adi Sankara strengthened unity and `bhakti' among the

people.

 

The former President, R. Venkataraman, said the Kanchi math was

unique and one reason was that it had an unbroken succession of

Acharyas. During his 50 years, Sri Jayendra Saraswati had done a lot

of social work, besides spreading the cause of the Vedas and

scriptures. In one form or the other, the Acharya completely followed

Adi Sankara.

 

The former Prime Minister, P.V. Narasimha Rao, described the Acharya

as a great benefactor. He was one of the great souls who had made

India what it was. A communicator par excellence, he was easily

understood by ordinary people.

 

The Governors of Karnataka, Sikkim and Mizoram, T.N. Chaturvedi, V.

Rama Rao and A.R. Kohli, and the VHP leader, Ashok Singhal, and some

Union Ministers, were also present.