#shankaracharya

[postcard-from-the-past]

Shankaracharya Temple in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India

British vintage postcard

[ritish16]

Adi Guru Shankaracharya

[dimensional-tourist]

" If you begin to be what you are you will realize everything, but to begin to be what you are you must come out of what you are not. You are not those thoughts which are turning, turning in your mind: you are not those changing feelings: you are not the different decisions you make and the different wills you have: you are not that separate ego: Well, then, what are you?

You will find when you have come out of what you are not, that the ripple on the water is whispering to you 'I am That', the birds in the mango tree are singing to you 'I am That', the moon and the stars are shining beacons to you, 'I am That': you are in everything in the world and everything in the world is in you since for you it only exists because it is mirrored in you; and at the same time you are that - everything"

Shankaracharya

[hinducosmos]

Aum Shankaracharya India 30's Print AUM SHANKARACHARYA w/ Mantras 17in x 22in rare Solden and Co, Madras. dated 1936 (via eBay: Indian Allegory @Allegory003)

[ramayanaa]

Nirvana Shatakam

8th century, when Adi Shankara, a child of 8 years old, while wandering seeking self-realization, he encountered a sage who asked him, "who are you?". The boy replied in 6 stanzas which is known as "Nirvana Shatakam". 'Nirvana' in Sanskrit relates to inner peace and tranquility, 'Shatak' means number 6. It is also known as "Atma Shatakam", 'Atma' meaning the true-self. I believe these 6 stanzas…

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[kalitirtha]

Sri Gurubhyo Namaha 🙏🏼

In one of the Agama Tantras, Devi Gouri once requested Devadidev Mahadev to describe the greatness of Guru, and asked the following questions:-

1) How does a human becomes capable of bearing the grave responsibility of being a Guru?

2) Who is a Sadguru?

3) Who is the greatest Guru?

He who is known as Adinatha (original cause of all causes), is also known as Shiva, and Shiva Himself is Guru. He is always united with Mahakali and is the personification of truth, consciousness and bliss.

He is eternal Parabrahma and He is both Trigunatita and Trigunatmaka. Even Devadidev Himself has attained His Shivahood by the grace of Adinatha.

Therefore it is to be known that a human is never a Guru. The way Devatas are invoked in trees for the purpose of offering worship, similarly for the purpose of Diksha Guru Tattwa is to be invoked in the gross body.

Because human body is the container Guru Tattwa, which otherwise is eternal, pervades the world, shows the pathway to Sadchidananda, and exists as Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara.

Gurukripa hi kevalam 🙏🏼

In the frame: My Paraparaguru Kulavadhootacharya Sri Paramananda Tirthanath (Sri Mihir Kiran Bhattacharya Mahashay)

[arjuna-vallabha]

Shankaracharya by Bharatheeya Chithra Kala

[kalyan-gullapalli]

Post # 102

The Legend of Adi Shankara and the Chandala...

Once upon a time, Adi Shankaracharya was on a pilgrimage in Varanasi. One day, he took his bath in Ganga and was going to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple. On the way, he met a Chandala - an untouchable, who was strutting down the street towards him, along with his four dogs.

In those days, when Brahmins crossed the streets, others made way. Chandalas with dogs were no exception. But this one was weird. He didn't budge.

Shankaracharya politely but firmly asked the Chandala to step aside. What happened next is a part of lore!

Chandala asks Shankara what he should move. Should he move his body, which is a heap of food anyways - Annamayakosha, and is made from a combination of the five primordial elements- Earth, Water, Air, Fire and Space - Panchabhutas? Same as Shankara's.

How can a Chandala's body defile a Brahmin's body, when both of them are exactly of the same nature?

Or should he, the Chandala, move his soul, which is formless and is identical for all creatures?

"What, O! Shankara, should I move aside?" asked the Chandala, naughtily.

Adi Shankara stood stunned!

He, the doyen of Hindu resurgence, advocate of Advaita philosophy (non-dualistic nature of soul), master orator-debator-commentator, was stunned by an untouchable!

Suddenly it dawned on him. The Chandala was none other than Lord Shiva - the original Shankara - and the four dogs represented the four Vedas.

Overwhelmed by the situation, Adi Shankaracharya burst out into a Shloka, popularly called Manisha Panchakam.

This Shloka has five stanzas, it explains the non-dualistic nature of Atman, and re-affirms Shankara saying again and again, “One who looks at the creation from a non-dualistic viewpoint is my true teacher, be he a Brahmin or a Chandala.”