My salutations to the holy feet of the parama Jagadguru Sri Adi Shankara Bhagavatpada and to the holy feet of the current Jagadgurus of Sringeri Sharada Peeta. This book is brought out by Tattvaloka team as an English translation of the original Sanskrit composition by Brahmasri Sankara Dikshitar. Brahmasri Sankara Dikshitar (1900 - 1989) hailing from Krishnarayapuram spent a considerable amount of time studying Vedanta and Sastras at Kalady. He was heavily influenced by Jagadguru Sri Chandrashekhara Bharathi swami, 34th peetadipathi of Sringeri Sharada Peeta. Sri Desikastakam is a composition made of 8 verses that describes the various events and provides a historical biography of Adi Sankara. This composition was formed in a very divine way wherein Sri Dikshitar claimed that he constantly heard in his ears or tongue was vibrating while walking down the banks of Cauvery. When he wrote down these verses, they turned out to be the life history of Adi Sankara. Sri Dikshitar has never claimed to be the author of this magnificent composition and attributes the same to be divine gift for the betterment of humanity.
The most popular life history of Sankara Bhagavatpada was written by Sri Madhava, who later became Sri Vidyaranya and adorned the Sringeri Sharada Peetha as the 12th Jagadguru. This work is called “Madhaviya Sankara Vijayam” which forms the reference for understanding the compositions of Sri Dikshitar.
Sloka 1 highlights the importance of remembering Guru in one’s mind constantly, while also emphasising on the importance of human birth and path towards Moksha. Sloka 2 provides the details about the various avataras taken by devatas in alignment with Parameshwara’s avatara as Adi Sankara. This also provides an insight into the early life and childhood of the prodigy including the deviation of Purna river and the famous Kanakadara Stotram.
Sloka 3 provides insights into the prophecies of sages like Agastya, initiation into Sanyasa including the crocodile incident, meeting of Sankara with his guru Sri Govinda Bhagawatpada, Vyasa’s predictions on who would write the Bhashya, Sankara’s visit to Kashi Vishwanatha and subsequent authoring of commentaries on Brahmaputra, Upanishads, Bhagawad Gita, Vishnu Sahasranama, Sanatsujatiyam. This shloka also gives an insight into the Dasasloki composed by Sankara whose verses ends with “Sivah Kevaloham” (Only one remains and that Siva I am). This is considered to be quintessence of Advaita.
Sloka 4 includes the Chandala incident and subsequent composition of Maneesa Panchakam, introduction to his sishyas like Kumarilla Bhatta, how Sanandana becomes Padmapada, Bhattapada’s recommendation to win over Visvarupa (Mandana Misra) and Ubhayabharathi. There is an interesting incident where Vyasa as an old man visits Sankara to check the lessons being taught and subsequent debate on “tadantara adhikaranam”. After Sankara identifies the old man and offers his work to which the great Rsi comments “This Bhashya is dear to me as my own son Suka”. This shloka also captures the incident of Kumarilla Bhatta entering fire, suggestion to win over Visvarupa and Ubhayabharathi, subsequent great debates including Sankara’s transition into the King’s body to answer the questions posed by Ubhayabharathi. A very interesting note is that Acharya recited stotra on Lakshmi Nrisimha to nullify the effects of fire which would have been set by the King’s soldiers.
Sloka 5 highlights the travels of Acharya to various teertha kshetras like Mukambika (Kollur), Rishyasringapuram (Sringeri). Nrisimha swamy has a very strong and constant presence in acharya’s life as can be observed by the incident relating to Padmapada and a Bhairava Upasaka who wanted to annihilate and offer Acharya as a sacrifice. The incident of Padmapada meeting a young boy in Ahobila forest and subsequent meeting of Nrisimha swamy summoned by the boy is very divine. The shloka also gives an insight into the previous and current life to Hastamalaka, reason for his amplified knowledge and his simplified version of Advaita “Naham Jada, kintu jadah pravartate matsannidhanena” (I am not Jada. I am the consciousness whose presence activates the Jada).
Sloka 6 and 7 captures the details of the Digvijaya yatra undertaken by Acharya, his various visits to teertha kshetras like Rameswaram, Kanchi (where he set the right mode of Sakti worship), winning over scholars like Srikantacharya, Haradatta, Abhinavagupta (who would have used Abhichara against Acharya). There are various anecdotes relating to Giri’s life and his subsequent transition to Totakkacharya, Acharya’s prophecy about Sureshwaracharya’s rebirth, Padmapada’s experiences with his Uncle who burns his compositions and subsequent recollection of Padmapada’s original composition which is famous as Pachapadika. I would highly recommend the readers to read the section on Rameshwara - Very pertinent.
Sloka 8 captures the incidents leading to Acharya’s ascension of the Sarvajna Peetha in Kashmir including the last critical question by Maa Sharadamba herself. This shloka also captures the establishment of Amanya Peeta in various parts of Bharathavarsha and their peetadipathis. The shloka also captures the origin of the hot water stream in Kedarnath after Acharya saw his sishyas suffering from cold weather. Finally, this shloka also captures the ascension of Acharya on Nandi vahana holding Brahma’s hand.
Sloka 9 is the phalashruthi.
This is MUST READ book which captures the various incidents from Acharya’s life in a very succinct and crisp form. HIGHLY RECOMEMNDED.
Note: For the biographical accounts of Brahmasri Sankara Dikshitar and Madhaviya Sankara Vijayam, I have referred to the contents from the preface of this book. All the contents are from the same and none of the details were known to me prior to reading this book.
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