GREAT GURU'S (1)

Adi Shankara :

Adi Shankaracharya was born in the early 9th century AD at Kaladi in Kerala. He was a child prodigy, who mastered the Vedic scriptures at a very early age and renounced the worldly life at the age of eight. After he became a monk he left his native place and traveled to various parts of the Indian subcontinent. During his travels he impressed many with his intuitive knowledge and philosophical bent of mind. Adi Shankara believed in the non duality of existence and became a great exponent of the Advaita school of Hinduism. He lived a very short life of 32 years but in that brief span of life he made astounding contribution to the cause of Hinduism. He enriched Hinduism with his immortal works, such as Atmabodha, Vivekachudamani, Saundaryalahari, etc. He also wrote commentaries on Brahmasutra, the Bhagavad gita and the major Upanishads. He established Shakara Matths and started the tradition of Shankaracharyas. Adishankaracharya was undoubtedly the greatest son of the Indian subcontinent after the Buddha. He revived Hinduism and strengthened its base at a time when it was about to face a major challenge from Islam. In terms of contribution as a philosopher and scholar, there is none comparable to him in Hinduism.

Shankara’s teachings
When Shankaracharya decided to enter ‘samadhi,’ Sudhanva, the foremost disciple of Shankara, requested that the essentials of his teaching may be summarized and given to them. Shankaracharya then said the Dasa Shlokas, or Ten Verses, which elaborated the omniscience, omnipotence and omnipresence of Brahman – the core concept of Hinduism (Sanatana Dharma).

1. The five elements do no express my real nature; I am changeless and persist forever.

2. I am above castes and creeds. I am seen when ‘maya’ is removed, and do not need concentration or worship as shown in Yoga Sutras.

3. I have no parents, I need no Vedas as proclaimed in the scriptures, no sacrifices, no pilgrimages. I am the eternal witness.

4. All the teachings of various religions and philosophies do no reveal my true nature and are but shallow views of my deep being.

5. I pervade the whole universe and am above, in the middle and below, in all directions.

6. I am colourless, formless, light being my form.

7. I have no teacher, scripture or any disciples, nor do I recognize Thou or I, or even the universe and am changeless and the absolute knowledge.

8. I am neither awake, in deep sleep nor dreaming, but above consciousness with which the three are associated. All these are due to ignorance and I am beyond that.

9. I pervade everything, everywhere and the eternal reality and self-existent. The whole universe depends on me and become nothing without me.

10. I cannot be called one, for that implies two, which is not. I am neither isolated nor non-isolated, neither am I empty or full.