Jai Sriman Narayana !!
Jaya Jaya Sankara Hara
Hara Sankara !!
Sruthi Smrithi Purananam
Alayam Karunalayam
Namai Bhagavad Padha
Sankaram Loka Sankaram
Lord Vishnu was witnessing the cosmic dance forms
of Lord Shiva with immense pleasure; eventually it has increased the heaviness
of his body due to this incredible happiness. As a result, Adidesha’s
body partially sunk in to the ocean; he earnestly enquired Lord about the
reason for the same. Lord Vishnu delightfully responds to him that it was
Lord Shiva’s cosmic dance forms brought him in a state of ecstasy.
After listening to the Supreme Lord, Adishesha also had the yearning to witness
the dance forms of Lord Shiva, earnestly prayed to Lord Vishnu to provide an
opportunity. Lord Vishnu blessed
Adishesha and instructed him to descend to Earth. He took birth as Sage Pathanjali on
Earth and arrived at Chidambaram, one of the prominent temples of Lord
Shiva. Sage Pathanjali compiled Yogasutra and commentary on Vykarana
Sastra known as Mahabhasyam, he desired to give lessons on the above to his
disciples, within a short span of time the number of disciples has increased
tremendously. He felt it was not that easy to clarify the doubts of
thousands of disciples at a time, so decided to have the form of Adidesha, so
that he would be able to answer his disciples with his thousand tongues.
Therefore, a curtain was raised in the 1000 pillared hall of Chidambaram; Sage
Pathanjali took seat behind the curtain and the disciples on the other
side. There were two strict conditions laid before the students; it was
no one should raise the curtain while the discussion on lessons and another one
was no one should leave the class in the middle that would cause them to
afflict with the curse. In this way Sage Pathanjali commenced his
classes on Mahabhashyam. As the class was in progress a disciple
had to leave the class in the middle as he has to attend nature’s call and
another disciple had a doubt about how it would be possible for their master to
answer thousands of questions simultaneously, So he raised the curtain before him
against the strict order of his master, instantly all the disciples were burnt
into ashes due to the mouthful of venomous air of Adishesha. Sage
Pathanjali was thoroughly disappointed at the turn of events and disillusioned
at the thought of no one to share the commentary on Mahabhashyam. Soon
there appeared the disciple who was abruptly left the class in the middle; his
presence brought immense happiness in Sage. The compassionate Sage
Pathanjali started giving lessons to him elaborately. Unfortunately, the
disciple had a curse upon him to take birth as Brahma Rakshass and should give
the lessons on Mahabhashyam to a true disciple that would relieve him from the
curse.
The Brahmarakshass continued search for an ideal
disciple for long time and he was disheartened at the nonappearance of a
disciple to learn Mahabhsyam. In the meantime, Chandra Sharma who was
lived in Kashmir had a heartfelt desire to learn from Sage Pathanjali, so he
decided to leave to Chidambram. On his way, Chandra Sharma arrived in a
temple situated on the river banks of Narmada. Brahmarakshass had a discussion
on Vykarana Sasastram with Chandra Sharma and clarified all his doubts.
Chandra Sharama revealed his purpose of journey to Chidambaram. After
listening to Chandra Sharma, Brahma Rakshass informed him that he had learnt
Vyakarana Sastra from Sage Pathanjali and Sage was not available in
Chidambaram, Brahma Rakshass revealed its intention to conduct lessons on the
same. Chandra Sharma blissfully agreed but Brahmarakshass put forwards
two conditions before him. It was Chandra Sharma should not get down from
the tree while learning; he has to wait until the lessons are over and he
should not sleep while the lessons are on. As per the conditions Chandra
Sharma took seat on the Banyan tree where Brahmarakshass was already settled
and started learning lessons. Chandra Sharma sincerely learnt the lessons
without sleep or food for nine days, using the Banyan tree leaves for writing
purpose, dried branches as pen and his blood as ink to compose the same.
In this way, Chandra Sharma completed the study of Vyakarana Sastras in nine
days; eventually Brahmarakshass was relieved from the curse and regained his
old form as Gaudapadhar. After the glorious period of Sage Suka,
son of Maharishi Veda Vyasa , it was Gaudapadhar who initiated the tradition
of veneration of Acharya and disciple on Earth. Chandra Sharma made
a bundle of all those leaves written by him and recommenced his journey, due to
hunger and lack of sleep chandra Sharma fallen asleep, when he got out of the
sleep found some of the leaves were already consumed by goats, currently
the remaining of these sacred scriptures of Mahabhasyam are
available for our learning purpose.
It was believed that the compassionate Sage
Pathanjali took birth as Chandra Sharma and learnt the Mahabhashyam from the
Brahmarakshass in order to remove the curse of his disciple of previous
birth. Chandra Sharma accepted Grahasthashrama for quite some time.
Later, he returned to Gaudapadhar and embraced Sanyasa with the name Govinda
Bhagavad Padhar.
Maharishi Veda Vyasa, father of Sage Suka/
Sukabrahmam enlightens Govinda Bhagavad Padhar with the knowledge that Lord
Shiva will take birth on Earth to compose commentaries on the Vyasa Sutras and
Govinda Bhagavad Padhar should serve him as master. Maharishi Veda Vyasa
advised Govinda Bhagavad Padhar to reside on the river banks of Narmada to
receive his marvelous disciple, a personification of Lord Shiva. As
instructed by Maharishi Veda Vyasa, Govinda Bhagavad Padhar underwent deep
meditation under the tree where he had learnt lessons from his Acharya Gaudapadhar.
Sri Sankara started his journey from Kaladi after
obtaining permission from his mother Smt.Arayamba for Sanyasa travelled
extensively through the length and breadth in search of Acharya, finally
arrived on the river banks of Narmada. The Narmada was brimming with
water; Sankara had to cross the river to meet his Acharya.
Instantly, Govinda Bhagavad Padhar recognized the presence of his disciple,
wanted to test him. Govinda Bhagavad Padhar shot a question ‘Who are
you?’, Sankara mellifluously replied ‘Aham Ithi Brahmasmi’ ( I am not the body,
I am the Brahmam) in a beautiful ten verses known as Nirvana Sathakam.
Thus, Govinda Bhagavad Padhar realized the true wisdom of his disciple.
Sankara compressed the brimming water of Narmada into his Kamandalu(Vessel) and
made his way to his Acharya, he prostrated before him and embraced
Sanyasa with the title Sri Sankara Bhagavad Padhar.
Sri Sankara initiated the Philosophy of
Advaitha and sheltered Sanathana Dharma and Veda Sastras. Sri Sankara
educated the world about the quintessence of Advaitha Philosophy and the
significance of Vedasastras. During this period, there were 6 sects of
worship such as Ganapathyam, Saivam, Saktham, Vaishnavam, Kaumaram and Sauram
was established in place of 72 sects of worships and wrote
commentaries on Vyasa Sootras. Sri Sankara asserted eternal knowledge
of Athman/soul is the Truth and rest are illusion. Sri Sankara
travelled extensively through the sacred lands of Bharatha propagating the
knowledge of Advaitha Philosophy and the significance Veda Sastras. Sri
Sankara along with his Acharaya Sri Govinda Bagavad Padhar and Parameshti
Guru Sri Goudapadhar visited the shrines of Badri and Kedarnath and underwent
strict austerities. Sri Sankara served his Acharyas and with their
blessing proceeded to Mount Kailash.
Jaya Jaya Sankara Hara Hara Sankara !!
Jai Sriman Narayana !!
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