Adi Shankaracharyar

Adi Shankaracharya

Shruti Smriti puranam alayam karunalayam.

Namami Bhagavadpadam Shankaram Lokashankaram

I salute the compassionate abode of the Vedas, Smritis and Puranas known as Shankara Bhagavatpada, who makes the world auspicious.

Childhood of Adi Shankaracharya

Adi Shankaracharya was born as Shankara, over 2500 years  ago born in the year 509 BC (see the tailpiece below) in Kaladi village of Kerala.

Sankara was born to the nambudiri brahmana couple, Sivaguru and Aryamba. The couple had remained childless for a long time, and prayed for children at the vadakkunnathan (Vrishachala) temple in nearby Trichur.

Aryamba had a vision of Lord Shiva, in which he promised her that He would incarnate Himself in the form of her first-born child.

Lord Shiva was pleased with their reply and was born to them in the star, Thiruvathirai. They named their son as “Shankara”.

Upanayanam

Shankara showed great intelligence right from his childhood. Shankara lost his father at the age of 3. His mother performed his Upanayanam with the help of her relatives. Sankara excelled in all branches of traditional Vaidhika learning.

He mastered all the Vedas and the Vedanta in Gurukulam itself and could recite the epics and Puranas by heart.

The Golden Amla Shower - Kanakadhara Stotram

As a Brahmachari in Gurukulam, he went about collecting alms (bhiksha) from families in the village. There was a household lady to whom Shankara asking for bhiksha and due to her dire poverty, she did not want to send away the boy empty handed, hence she could offer Shankara only a small Amla fruit (Goose berry) which alone she was having.

Shankara, sensing the poverty of the lady, rendered Kanakadhaara Stothram (Kanakadhara Stavam / Kalyana vrishti Stavam) to Goddess Mahalakshmi , the goddess of wealth, right at her doorstep. As a result, Golden Amla fruits started showering there prospering the poor lady.

Kal Adi – Changing the River Direction

His father died when Shankara was three years old. Shankara’s mother grew weak. Shankara’s mother was finding difficult to go to River Purna for Her daily bath. 

Shankara requested the river to follow His footsteps (Kal Adi) to flow near his ancestral house. The river changed its course and began to flow near house. His mother was pleased and blessed him.

Adopting Sanyasa

Adi Shankaracharya was attracted towards sanyaasa right from his childhood. So, he asked his mother’s permission to become a sanyaasi. She refused, saying, "I am old. Who will look after me? You should get married and live here with your wife." Shankara was deeply upset. 

Sankara's mother was consulting astrologers about horoscopes of suitable girls for her son's marriage. But Sankara had a firm resolve to renounce the world and become a Sannyasi. Sankara's mother was very much grieved that there would be no one to perform her funeral rites after her death. 

One day, while bathing in the Purna River, a crocodile caught his leg. It appeared that he would be dragged to his death. His mother, who was on the bank, was greatly alarmed. 

Shankara shouted, "O dear Mother! A crocodile is dragging me down. I am lost. Let me die peacefully as a sanyaasi, Please give me your permission now! Let me take Apath-Sannyasa now itself". 

His mother could not refuse her son’s final request, so she agreed. Thus Sri Shankara obtained permission from his mother to become a Sanyasi.

Shankaracharya recited the mantras of renunciation and immediately, the crocodile released Shankara and disappeared into the river. Shankara came out of the river, safely. His relieved mother realised now that this had been God’s plan all along. She understood that Shankara was meant to be a great sanyaasi and Saint. Thus started the life of Shankara as a Sanyaasi (monk / ascetic). He left Kerala and travel towards North in search of a Guru.

Meeting Govinda Bhagavatpada and Enlightenment

At the banks of the river Narmada, he found the river gushing forth into floods. By using his powers, he encapsulated the river in his Kamandal and released it in the banks of the river.

Sri Govinda Bagawathpathar, an ascetic who saw this, marvelled at Sri Sankara and took him on as his Shishya.

Impressed by his knowledge of the Vedas and the Vedanta, he took Shankara under his tutelage. Under the guidance of his Guru, Shankara mastered Hatha, Raja and Jnana Yoga. Thereafter he received initiation in the knowledge of Brahma. Thus, was born Adi Shankaracharya, whose aim in life was to spread the Vedic teachings of the Brahma Sutras throughout the world.

He also said the principle that everyone in this world is the manifestation of God and that God and Atman are one and the same.

Padmapada – Ultimate Gurubakthi

Sri Shankara and his many disciples went to Kasi. One of the sishya, Sanandana was once drying Sri Shankara’s clothes on the banks of Ganges. When Shankaracharya asked for his clothes from the other side of the river, Sanandana started crossing the mighty Ganges, little realising that he would drown.

However, the Grace of his Guru resulted in many lotuses emerging from the river and supporting Sanandana’s weight, saving him from drowning. After that, Adi Shankaracharya bestowed Sanandana with the name 'Padmapada'.

Manishapanchakam

While visitng to Kasi Viswanath temple, Sri Shankara was blocked by a man who was accompanied by his wife and 4 dogs. Sri Shankara’s disciples shouted at him to keep a distance. The man smiled and said, ""According to your principle of Advaita, which you practice, all the Jivatma are same as God. Then why you asked me to keep a distance. Your paramacharya and i all are same under God’s creation. Then, How do you ask me to go?”

Sri Sankara realised that Lord Shiva himself came along with His consort and the four Vedas. He prostrated before the Lord and sang five slokas called "Manisha Panchakam". 

Lord Shiva presented himself along with Visalakshi and blessed Sri Shankara.

Arguement with Vyasa Rishi

When Shri Shankara was 16, a very old Brahmin started arguments with him about Brahmasutra bashyam which Shri Shankara had written. Shri Sankara was astounded by his intelligence and arguments but they continued their discussion.

Later he understood that it was none other than Vyasa Rishi, who was the creator of Brahmasutra. Sri Shankara said that he has done a great disrespect to the sage by entering into an argument. Vyasa Rishi said "I fully agree with your bashyam. I bless that you should live another 16 years and you should spread this Advaita throughout the country."

Last rites to his Mother

When Sri Shankara was at Sringeri, he divined by his superior powers that his mother was in her deathbed. He went to Kaladi to pay his last respects to the his mother as per his promise while taking Sanyas.

Totakacharya

Sri Shankara, with his three principle disciples, namely, Padmapadar, Sureshwarar (Mandana Mishra) and Hastaamalaka, travelled across India from place to place, and preached Advaita. One of his students, Giri was considered a fool by Shankaracharya’s other disciples. One day, all the disciples were ready to listen to Sri Sankara's discourses. Sri Sankara waited for Giri to arrive. The other students don’t want to wait for Giri as they considered what he is going to understand.

Shankaracharya then decided to reward Giri for his devotion and mentally transferred all his knowledge to Giri. Giri turned up but instead of keeping silent on that day, burst forth into eight slokas which had never been heard by the disciples earlier. These were the creation of Giri. On hearing this, all the disciples felt ashamed and praised Giri. These slokas are called "Totaka Ashtakam".  Giri was named as Thotakar by Sri Shankara.

Kshetra Darshanam 

Sri Shankara Went to Tirupathi and recited “Vishnu pathathi keshanta stotra” which describes the Lord from foot to head. He established a Yantra which increase the number of followers to the temple.

Thatanga Prathistai

Sri Shankara presented SriChakra Thatangam (Ear rings) to Goddess Akilandeswari, Tiruvanaikoil – Trichy to reduce the fierceness of the Deity.

Sri Shankara travelled to various parts of our country to spread “Advaitha” 

Sri Shankara completed his travels and went to Badrinath. Lord Vishnu appeared before him and told that his sculpture in Alaknanda river should be taken out and a temple should be built for it. This temple is called Badrinarayan temple and is one of the important religious places for Hindus.

Adi Sankaracharya Teachings and Works

The philosophy and teachings of Adi Shankaracharya were based on the Advaita Vedanta. He preached ‘Non-Dualism’; It means that each and every person has a divine existence, which can be identified with the Supreme God. The mere thought that human being is finite with a name and form subject to earthly changes, is to be discarded. The bodies are diverse, but the soul of all the separate bodies is the same, the Divine One.

He was the founder of Dashanami monastic order organizing section of the Ekadandi monks under an umbrella grouping of ten names.

He has written spectacular commentaries on Brahma Sutra, Bhagavad Gita, ten principal Upanishads, Sri Vishnu Sahasranamam etc. He has composed many stotras (poems) praising God and Goddesses. Ganesha Pancharatnam, Lalitha Pancharatnam, Vaidyanatha Ashtakam, Bhaja Govindam, Viveka Chudamani, Atma Bhotham, Kanakadhara Stotram are to name a few.

Shanmatha Sthapana

He also founded Shanmatha tradition of worship of six supreme deities Shiva, Vishnu, Shakthi, Ganesha, Shanmukha and Soorya.

The Adi Shankaracharya Peetas

Adi Sankara organized the Hindu monks of these ten sects or names under four Maṭhas (monasteries) in India.

• Vedanta Jnana Peetam, Sringeri (South India) 

• Govardhana Peetam in Jagannath Puri (East India)
• Kalika Peetam, Dwaraka (West India)
• Jyotir Peetam, Badarikashrama (North India)

Adi Shankara established the fifth as Kamakoti Peeta at Kanchipuram in Tamilnadu as the Dakshina Moolamnya Sarvajna Peetam and became the head of that Matha till his lifetime.

Kailash Yatra

One of the most notable event in the history of Acharya is "Kailash Yatra".  Had darshan of Lord Parameshwara and Devi Parvathi. He worshipped them by singing "Sivapadadi-kesanta stotram" and "Sivakesadipadanta stotram".

Lord Shiva immensely pleased with his prayers and presented him five sphatika lingas and handed some palm-leaf manuscript of "Soundarya Lahari", which is Lord Shiva's own hymn in praise of Goddess Parasakthi.

The living Acharyas of these mutts belonging to the lineage of Adi Shankara worship these lingams on a daily basis with a ritual called Chandramoulishwara Aradhana. For example : The name of the lingam worshipped in Kanchi Shankaracharya mutt is called Indra lingam. 

This is why all the names of Shankaracharyas in the kanchi mutt end with Indra Saraswathi. (Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi, Sri Jayendra Saraswathi, Sri Vijayendra Saraswathi etc).

Tail piece

One day a vey reputed Geologist happened to visit Kanchipuram to have darshan of MahaPeriyava. After enquiring about his family, Swamigal requested him to take sand from two different locations of the River Purna (presently called River Periyaaru).

One location should be where the River Purna enters Kerala before it diverts into entering Kaladi and the other location should be at Kaladi itself. Later Swamigal asked him to use the technique of carbon dating to ascertain the age of the sand at these two locations.

The geologist performed the exercise as instructed by Swamigal and provided the results, which was that the sand taken from the first location yielded an age of being more than 100,000 years whereas the sand from the second location in Kaladi was close to about 2500 years!

History says that as Adi Shankara’s mother was finding it difficult to go to River Purna for Her Snanam, Adi Shankara requested the river to follow His footsteps (Kal Adi) to flow near His ancestral house.

Thus the age of the river sand at Kaladi confirmed that Adi Shankara was indeed born in the year 509 BC, which is 2500 years back!

Keerthi Sthamba of Kalady (6 floors depicts Shanmatha)

Jaya Jaya Shankara ! Hara Hara Sankara !! 

Composed by : Sri.T.S.Sivaramakrishnan, Chennai

Images taken from: www.kamakoti.org