Jagad Guru Adi Shankaracharya played the most significant role in the revival of Hinduism in the 8th century. His efforts, if pondered , will bewilder any thinking individual.
1.First and foremost, being born in the Southern part of the
country, he travelled on foot all over
the country- North,East , West and South, not once but, three times. Can we even visualize this feat? At
a time when people need a transport for even going half a kilometer, Adi
Shankaracharya’s efforts are simply ethereal. In a brief span of 32 years what
all he achieved is another marvel!
2.
His name is associated with almost all major temples in
India, a few of them were covered in this blog earlier. I had seen a special
segment dedicated to Adi Guru, in the Pasupatinath Temple,Nepal. How he would
have gone by foot there defies one’s imagination? Then he had visited
Badrinath, Kedarnath, Mukaambika , Dwarka ---the list is endless.
3.
Through such visits, he could bring back the lost glory to
Hinduism. 4 Maths he set up in all 4
parts of India—Puri in East, Sringeri in South ,Badri in North, Dwaraka in West
- what a visionary! All these Maths are working with great glory over the past 12
hundred years—read 1200 years with Guru parampara/ lineage--- and subsequent Mathathipathis- called
Shankaracharyas- have done great contribution to the survival/renaissance of Hinduism despite the attacks on it for almost
8 centuries during foreign rule!!
4.
Then comes, the writings of Adi Shankaracharya and the
Philosophy he puts forth with such conviction and logic that even today few
will be able to dispute it…..that is intellect of the highest order. Some 162
works/kritis are attributed to him!!
5.
A brief on Adwaita Sindhanta re-iterated by him, quoting from
Vedo-Upanishads- Bhagavad Gita extensively will be apt. He did not create any
new philosophy, but brought to the fore the hidden, forgotten and neglected
teachings of Hinduism with such force/conviction
that today, we can hold our head high with Pride among all the religions in the
world.
It
is a fact that none of the religions have come forward for an open debate on
the comparative merits of Hindu teachings- as
the Vedo Upanishad contents are logical and difficult to dispute in an
open examination. That is why so many foreign nationals during the 19 and 20th
centuries have recorded their appreciation for the Vedo Upanishads, the most
prominent being Max Muller. There are many others. See blog 91 too.
But
the issue here is whether the Hindus of today are sufficiently aware of the
contributions of Adi Shankaracharya . Should we not make efforts to reach them
to each and every Hindu, post haste, is the question?
A massive effort is currently taking place in Kerala- birth place of Shankaracharya. Soundarya Lahiri is being taught across the state on online mode , under the directions of Sringeri Shankara Math and it is planned to have a joint recital by over 100,000 persons on 19.11.2021 at Thiruvanathapuramand all over the world.
Similar exercise was done in Karnatake for over a decade and in 2017 our Hon. PM participated in the said function.
Hopefully other states will also follow, and probably all Hindus will have a national level chanting, say in 2022- when we will be celebrating our 75 year of independence!
That will be a true and befitting tribute to Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya.
Above merits a serious consideration.
Don’t you think?
***ASK NOT WHAT HINDUISM WILL DO FOR YOU,
BUT WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR HINDUISM***
Be happy. Be safe.
ॐ तत् सत्
8 AM
Sir, your profound thoughts on Sri Aadi Shnkara Charya are commendable. However, today's generation is much concerned about how to get the next meal at the end of the day. Under given circumstance of COVID, lakhs of people last their dear ones, few crores of people last therir businesses and jobs. As my life experince teaches me what we live now is the real for a human being because one cannot leave in the past nor in future as it is yet to be materialsed. Other day I was listening Ekhort Tolly. What he says is even future will also come as present and now and we have to live it as now only. Hence, if we live in the present and help the people as per our capacity that itself transcend into a great service to God. Becuase as God is supreme or omnipotent and omnipresent we need not emphasize his greatness. What we can do at the most is if we can imbibe few traits of God and follow them manasa, watcha, karmane that is sufficient to please the almighty ultimately the inner soul of every human being. Hence, let us unite for helping for a cuase rather than harping on most trying subjects of scriptures, sastras, vedas, upanishads and puranas which could only understood by few enlightened souls like you. Hence, our aim of this life should help the needy in whatever possible manner whether it is serving them, nursing them, offering free teaching on subjects for lively hood etc., Raise and register our voice aginst the curent dispention or future ones in regard to disparity in the society and living standards of the people of this country. There are numerous issues with this society and country. Raising prices, deminshing wges, declining jobs, falling economy, raising hunger levels of the poor, addressing calamities, controlling population, unaffordable helth care, unaffordable education, unaffordable shelter and many more. These are the core problems faced by the country and let us come together to offer our bit to improve and clean the system rather than only cherishig what our forefathers did. Since, our forefathers did some thing we are enjoying the fruits of the same. what we are going to leave behind is most important. Rather than what we enjoy for self.
ReplyDeleteRao garu,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your detailed response.I appreciate the contents.Society changes very gradually,slowly and reluctantly.The koshish..trial..has always been to put what is good for society.That is what Vedas did as also Shankaracharya and others.In a fleeting world outcome is not in our hands..and should not be over concerned also.Ganges will continue to flow its course.Thank you once again. Such observations strengthen the objectives of Blogging.
Great 😊🙏
ReplyDeleteIve read the post on Jagadguru Adi Sankara. That inspires me to read and learn more about Him.
ReplyDeleteI’ve gone through some of your other blog posts too and found interesting and inspirational.
It is nice to know you were in many organizations, authored many books, same time very simple. God bless you.
ReplyDelete