di Shankaracharya was an Indian philosopher and theologian who championed the doctrine of Advaita Vedanta. He brought together the ideologies of ancient ‘Advaita Vedanta’ and also wrote his own analysis of Upanishads, Brahma Sutras, and the Bhagavad Gita. Among his invaluable contributions towards Hinduism was the reordering and restructuring of the ancient Sannyasa order.
Adi Shankara was born in a humble Brahmin family in Kaladi, a village in Kerala. It is believed that his mother, Aryamba, had the vision of Lord Shiva who told her that he shall incarnate as her son. Considering his message as Lord Shiva’s blessings, they named him Shankara. Hence, many also consider him as a reincarnation of Shiva.
He traveled across India on foot multiple times and throughout his journey, he discussed his ideas with various other philosophers, shared his knowledge, and refined his own teachings. Shankaracharya also founded four monasteries (mathas) that continue his work and spread his teachings.
Here are three fascinating stories about Adi Shankaracharya:
When Adi Shankara adopted Sannyasa
Shankara was inclined towards Sannyasa from early childhood. He wanted to lead the life of a Sannyasin (monastic). He had expressed his thoughts and passion for Sannyasa to his mother openly, for quite some time.
Once, when he was taking a bath in the river Purna, a crocodile caught his leg. His mother tried to rescue him but all her attempts were futile. While this may seem like a strange time to take a big decision, Adi Shankara didn’t doubt it. He quickly sought his mother’s permission to enter into Sannyasa.
Once she permitted him, Shankara chanted all the mantras that asserted his entry into Sannyasi life or take rebirth as a monk. Miraculously, the crocodile let go of his leg right after it. This is how Shankara moved into the life of an ascetic at a very tender age.
When Shankara entered the body of a king
One time, Adi Shankara defeated Mandana Mishra, a Hindu Philosopher, in a heated debate. But Madana’s wife, Sarasavani, who acted as the judge (moderator) in the debate challenged him. Now, Shankara was known to come on top in debates or battle of the wits, but what Sarasavani had thought was truly challenging for him.
She asked him difficult questions about sex and family life, as she knew that Adi Shankara won’t be able to answer or counter because of his astute Brahmacharya (celibacy). However, Shankara was too wise to give up and asked for some time to give her the answers.
Shankara went out for a walk through a jungle along with his disciples and encountered a dead body of a king, Amarukan. He told his disciples that he is going to enter (transfer his soul) into the body of king Amaruka. He asked them to carefully preserve his body in a cave till he returns. A tough and baffling ask, but they went ahead with the request.
As Shankara became king Amaruka, he went back to his palace and learned all about the sexual pleasures and family life, during his time as the king. Having gained the knowledge he lacked, he returned to his own body after some time. With an enlightened and calm mind, he answered all the questions.
This incident is believed to be the oldest ‘Parakaya Pravesa’ or ‘Transmigration of Soul’ story.
When Adi Shankara explained true freedom
One time, while Adi Shankara and his disciples were walking through the marketplace, they saw a man dragging a cow by a rope.
Shankara told this man to wait, asked his disciples to surround both of them, and said, “I am going to teach you something.”
He asked them, “Tell me who is bound to whom? Is the cow bound to this man or the man is bound to the cow?”
Instantly, the disciples answered that “Of course the cow is bound to the man! The man is the master. He is holding the rope. The cow has to follow him wherever he goes. The man is the master and the cow is the slave.”
“Now watch this”, said Shankara. He then took a pair of scissors from his bag and cut the rope. Immediately, the cow ran away from the master and the man ran after his cow.
“Look, what is happening”, said Shankaraa, while smiling faintly at the disciples.
“Do you see who the Master is? The cow is not at all interested in this man. The cow, in fact, is trying to escape from this man.” The disciples were shocked and in deep thought.
Shankara continued that this is how our mind is as well.
Like the cow, all the unyielding information or thought we hold in our mind is not interested in us, but we are interested in it. It is us who is keeping it in, trying to control or tame it.
He explained that if we lose interest in such thoughts filling our mind, the moment we understand the futility of it, it will start to disappear.
Like the cow, it will escape us and disappear. He concluded that feeling free, relaxed, and at peace is a choice. We have control over it, if we can control what’s in our mind.
