Deivathin Kural Series - 122

Om Namah Sivaya

Deivathin Kural # 122 of 23 Dec 2006.
(Continued from the previous message # 121 of 22 Dec 2006.)
8. There is clear proof in the Vedas, that Sri Sankaracharya is Siva 'Avatara'. In Yajur Veda, there is Sri Rudram, in which it is said, 'prostrations to Kapardi, prostrations to vyupta Kesha'. 'Kapardi' means, with thickly matted hair. The next word is, 'vyupta kesha', meaning, with shaved off head. When did Siva who is ever depicted as a 'jatha dhari', become 'shaved off'? This happened only when the young boy Sankara, took Sanyasa! Veda, which is aware of 'tri-kala' ie., past, present and future, by being transcendant of time; could say this before the event.
9. Parameswara under the banyan tree, is the non-moving Dakshina Moorthy. He is known as Sambu. 'Sam' means 'permanent bliss! 'Sambu' is the source of permanent bliss. He is the spring of ananda and bliss. He does not move, does not see, does not speak, but remains in total Samadhi and Nishtai and Silence. He is young. His students, are the four old ones starting with Sanaka. They went in search of Brhma Gnana. They got their fill of 'Aananda', through silent 'Upadesa'.
10. For the sake of people like us, who do not go in search of Brhma Gnana; Parameswara came down to be amongst us, as Jagat Guru Sankara Acharya! Say, there is a devoted wife, whom no neighbour had heard or seen. But suddenly one day, her child falls in the well. She comes out of the premises and makes a hue and cry, drawing everyone's attention. Similarly, Parameswara as the silent Dakshina Moorthy, seeing His children falling in the deep ravines of sinfulness, discards his silent stance and comes as 'Sankara'. From being the spring of happiness, as 'sambu', He becomes the doer of happiness, as 'sam kara'. In this order, Sri Rudram, first mentions Sambu as Kapardi, then Sankara as Vyupta Kesha, and then gives the Guru Mantra of the Five lettered, 'NA MA SI VA YA', of Panjatchara.
11. In olden times, there were seperate caste of people known as 'Asuras'. Vishnu had to carry special weapons and come down to earth, to sort out these Asuras. In Kali Yuga, there are no seperate caste as Asuras! We read in Ramayana, that Rakshasas Subahu and Mareecha, interfered with Viswamithra'sYagas and Sri Ram had to kill them. Had Viswamithra been here in Kali Yuga, there would not have been any need for Subahu and Mareecha! Viswamithra's brain itself would have been corrupted with the mentality of an Asura. He would not even have thought of conducting a Yaga or Yagna! When the Asura like mentality has pervaded the general public, whom to sort out and whom to let live?
12. So God decided to stop the Vaishnava Avataras, which were effective, in sorting out Asuras who used to stand apart from the general public. Now , so as to deal with the changed circumstances, in which the Asura-like mentality, has become spread across the minds of all, the 'Gnana-Upadesa', ie.,the Teachings had to be more active. The Moorthy who was silent and static as Sambu, had to become dynamic, more vocal, more multi-pronged! He walked more, argued with more opponents, wrote more Treatises, Commentaries and Slokas. As much as he was silent as Dakshinamoorthy, he was more vociferous as Sankara Acharya.
13. His greatness is to be gathered from the fact that, all the 72 so called religions, vanished into thin air, during his life time. Some of the Religions, that he countered, such as Sankhyam and Vaiseshikam, are to be known only through books now. There is no one who follow such religions in practice. Certain others like Kapalikam and Vamachara Saktham, are to be barely discerned from some ruins. Buddhism which emphasised only Atma Gnana, leaving Karma Anushtana, was left to survive, for the sake of people of other countries. Within a short period, he re-established Sanathana Vaidika Religion, established Adwaita Matas, in five equi-distant parts of the country, and walked around the country three times in doing so, covering every nook and corner! He defeated all those religions, by logical arguements on principles! Though Visishtadwaita and Dwaita, became ascendent, after his time; they have not made any dent in, Adwaita.
14. Sri Adi Sankara, accepted all the Vedas in their entirety, including all the Deities and Anushtana Karmas. He established Adwaita as the quintessence of Vedas, that the Individual Jeeva and Collective Brhma, are One and the the same. After Sri Krishna, Adi Sankara also got the title of 'Jagat Guru'.
15. Sukla paksha panchami of the month of Vaisakha, is the day of Avatara of Sri Sankara. That day will be either Siva's Arudra or Sri Rama's Punarvasu, star. I have always held that his birth-day, is more important than many other jayanthis. You may think that I am being parochial. It is not so. Before the period of Sankara, when the Vaidik Religion itself was tottering, people were loosing their faith and beliefs. None of the Jayanthis were being remembered and observed. But for Sankara Jayanthi, observance of Ganesha Chathurthi, Naga Panchami, Gokula Ashtami, Sri Rama Navami, Vijaya Dasami, and Vaikunta Ekadasi, might have all gone by default.
16. Being a brahmin sanyasi, he single handedly, did a lot to re-establish the Sanatana Dharma. His visit to all the villages of India, from Kanyakumari to Kashmir, (South to North); and Dwaraka to Puri, (West to East); is really a Digvijayam, or Victorious March. This should motivate us to do a Digvijayam, to the far corners of our own minds! Acharya's teachings, start from the 'Baja Govindam' song and ends in Brhma Vidya. "It does not matter, if you do not know any song or procedures or paddathi. It makes no difference, if you do not know grammer of Sanskrit or Musical meters. It is enough to say 'Govinda, Govinda'. Yama, the God of Death, does not waste even a fraction of a second. He is coming closer and closer, all the time. We do not know as to, when is our turn to be cought by him! But if we catch hold of Govinda's feet, we need not fear Yama, anymore. We should get in to the habit of chanting His name, at all times," he says.
17. Anyhow, we can never give up, eating. If we take God's name, every time we eat food, that may help immensely! It will increase the periodicity of repeatedly remembering, God's name and His Qualities. This small exercise, can dissuade us from thinking of other unnecessary thoughts and prevent us from eating avoidable foods. Bodily and mental discipline automatically follows. To cleanse one's Mind and Chitta, it is essential for the food to be clean. Eating all sorts of things in all sorts of places, is one of the main reasons for, lack of attitudinal and behavioural indiscipline, in modern times!
18. As an indication of having heard of Sankarachariyar's greatness to-day, you must bring in at least these small changes, in your daily actions In the mornings some Vishnu Smarana. In the evenings some Siva Smarana. In the night, before going to sleep, think of Ambal, the Shakthi Swarupa. Every day, review your actions, as to if you have done anything that day, for Self improvemet or Self-realization; or done some help to sombody else, as Paropakara or social service! 'Amma! Pardon my mistakes and guide me from now, on the right lines,' should be the sincere prayer, before going to sleep.
19. Whenever we see indications of any function or ritual or celebration, connected to Hindu Religion; let it remind us of the immense contributions of Sri Sankara. We should celebrate Acharya's Jayanthi, like we do Navarathri and Gokulashtami. His Padukas should be reverred everyday. By Guru's grace, may we all be blessed!
Sambhomahadeva.