1217th JAYANTI of Sankara Bhagavadpada - the great philosopher.

May 13, 2005

Dear member-devotees,

All of you may be awre that today (13th May) is the 1217th Jayanti of Adi Sankaracharya which is celebrating all over the world with great enthusiasm and in particular, in his birth place KALADY

(incidentally myself born and bought up very near to this place - i.e. Koovappady) with a variety of entertainment programmes.

Sankara born to Kaippilli Illathu Aryamba and Sivaguru and his date of birth is falling between 509 B.C. and 788 A.D. as Historians has different opinion about it. Whatever may be the year which Western scholars and their Indian counter-parts attribute as the year of his birth, the contributions of Sankara to the world of Advaita, Vedanta, Sruti and Smriti etc. - religion and culture, sanskrit literature would stand undiminished.

The advent of Sankara has been anticipated, even in the vedas and later works like Vishnu Dharmottara Purana, Siva Rahasyam, Linga Purana, Kurma Purana etc.

Sanakara (siva) is going to take avataras in order to establish supremacy of srutis (vedas), smritis (manuals compiled by sages) so as to do good to mankind. (Siva Rahasyam).

In Kaliyuga Rudra (Mahadeva or Sankara) will shine for establishing dharma in the pristime form. (Linga Purana); Neelakanta or Sankara will make an avatara himself in order to revive and establish

srutis and smritis with a view to doing good to all. (Kurma Purana); In Vayupurana, it goes: in the Kaliyuga after about 2000 years in order to do good to the world Sankara with four disciples make an avatara.

In the gita 'yada yadaahi dharmassya glanirbhavati bhaarata: abhyudhhanamadharmassya thadaatmaanam srijamyaham', clearly indicates the lakshya of avataras.

Sankara's works itself comes to about 18 bhasyas, 34 prakarana granthas; 61 stotras which is impossible for a human being even during the electronicyuga; but Sankara could do!

Om Namashivayah:

NR Pillai

Dombivli West.

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