Date: 13-05-1997 :: Cl: Religion
Some of the literary compositions of saints not only contain
their sincere prayers to the Lord but also advice to humanity,
besides being replete with anecdotes testifying their excellence
in several fields. Reciting one of the verses by a great
religious reformer, we can clearly comprehend, "This is how we
should conduct ourselves." The import of this verse is, "Let me
possess humility; let me not have arrogance. My mind wanders all
over. So let it remain firmly fixed on you. I desire to possess
whatever I see but let me not wallow in the mire of wants; make
me compassionate and bless me with liberation."
The way in which a man should behave is revealed in this verse by
Adi Sankara. A person should be humble, control his senses and
should desire nothing. This prayer indirectly describes the
important attributes of an ideal human being. "Instead of
wasting our time, if we recite at least a single verse of
Sankara's hymns daily, great merit will accrue to us," said Sri
Bharathi Theertha Mahaswamigal of Sringeri on the occasion of
Sankara Jayanti. In his commentary, Adi Sankara had established
that liberation can be attained only through knowledge of the
Self. Authentic information about his life is available in
`Sankara Digvijaya' authored by Madhava Vidyaranya.
Some of the verses in this book praising Sankara state, "Only in
men with a background of great meritorious deeds will the tree of
spiritual life take real roots. Control of mind is the sprouting
leaf-bud of that tree; control of senses, its tender foliage;
contentment, its blossoms; forbearance, its nectar; and faith,
its fruit. Your teachings are like a necklace of splendorous
pearls, strung on the golden thread of sound reasoning which
scatter the darkness of ignorance by their brilliance."
Adi Sankara was a `knower of Truth'. At the same time, he was
an expert in managing worldly affairs. His patience, fortitude
and ability to get along amicably with one and all, set him apart
as a brilliant leader. He admirably removed a misunderstanding
that had cropped up among his disciples. He had full authority
over them but was not a dictator. The admirable manner in which
he promoted national integration is apparent in the manner in
which he established the pontifical seats.
Sankara Bhagavadpada wanted the propagation of the law of
righteousness to go on forever. His vision was that good deeds
should continue to be performed for centuries to come. He
possessed such a nonpareil intellect and farsightedness that
within a short span of 32 years he accomplished unbelievable
tasks. Adi Sankara was a great adept in yoga and instances
clearly show that he had acquired astounding powers.
Copyright: The Hindu, Chennai, INDIA