VOICE OF THE RISHIS - 44

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PRIYA BHAGAVAT BANDUVULLARA!

RISHI VANI - 44

COURTESY : SHRI RAPARLA JANARADHANA RAO

 

CHANDAALOSTU SATVUDWIJOSTU

GURURITYESHAA MANISHAAMA

--ADI SANKARACHARAYA

In these great words Sri Sankaracharya proclaims the equality of men

setting aside the caste divide in forceful and unequivocal terms.

The untouchable (Chandala) and the Brahmin (Dwija) both serve equal

as my great teachers (gurus). This is the lofty attitude of

equality in considering men, that the great Guru Adi Sankara

displayed in these prophetic words.

Steeped in casteism and the unfortunate caste divide of upper and

lower castes, Indian philosophy was on the wane. And the saintly

words of Adi Sankara himself born in a family of Brahmins equating

himself with that of a `Chandala', untouchable, as Guru, dispel the

arrogance of `holier than thou' attitude of the so called upper

castes people.

As the legend goes, while Adi Sankaracharya was going with his

disciples, a low caste untouchable came in their way. And the

disciples warded him off calling him a `chandala'. The chandala, it

is said, gave a repartee to the disciples asking then who a chandala

was. Adi Sankara observing the chandala as an image of the Lord

recited five slokas known as " Manisha Panchakam " . This sloka

strikes at the roots of casteism . It should be known that all

great saints and teachers are known for their purity, equality in

spirit and it is only the passage of time that modified the purity

of their teachings as seen ithis saying.

The Bhagavat Gita also says, " Vidya Vinaya Sampanne Brahamane Gavi

Hastini,

Suni Chaiva

Swapakecha Panditha Sama Darshinaha

 

(Gita 5:18)

The Pundit treats, " The Brahmin, the cow, the elephant, the dog, the

man who eats the dog's meat, with equanimity. " The Lord says, he is

Jnani.

Srimadramanuja also claimbed to the Gopuram of the temple and

uttered the Maha Mantra " Om Namo Narayanaya " even against his guru

words., for the betterment of the society, nay, the world.

In Vamana Purana, Shri Mahavishnu says, Sudropi Seela Sampannah,

Gunavan Brahmano Bhavet, Brahmnopi Kriya Heenaha, Sudrat Pratyavaro

Bhavet " , which means,

The Character is the primary element to decide who is Brahmin and

who is Sudra.

The person who is born into Brahmin caste without good Character is

a Sudra.

The person who is born as a Sudra is a Brahmin with good Character.

Here it is pertinent to note the birth histories of two Maharshis

viz., Adi Kavi Valmki, who penned Ramayana, who is born as a

Tribal. The author of Mahabharat Maharshi Ved Vyas is born into a

Fisherman's family. But both are Loka Pujyas. A Brahmin known as

Kousika has learnt the Truth from Dharma Vyadha, the butcher.

The above voice from Adi Sankara is great teaching and pertinent

more so in the modern world.