Part 10 - Sri Sankara Vijayam

Thanks to my spiritual Friend Subramanian Garu for sharing this information.

In Tiruchendur, while having darsan of Subahmanya, Sankara composed the famous Subrahmanya Bhujangam.Bhujangam means serpent.This work is in a metre, which when chanted,comes under the rhythm, which is like the serpent moving about.This work is also appreciated for its power to cure the diseases.The work contains 33 verses.

Sankara then came to Sri Rangam, between the banks of Kaveri and KoLLadam rivers.He had a darsan of Sri Ranganatha and sang the famous Sri Ranganatha Ashtakam.It starts as: Ananda rupe...

In Sri Rangam, Sankara met two sub-groups of Vaishnavites under Vyasadasa and Brahma Gupta.The first group followed Saranagati path and Karma anushtana path.Saranagati path merely said, you surrender to Narayana and he will take care of everything.There is no need even to do Gayatri japa and go to temples and do Vedic sacrifices.The Karma Anushtana path said that you do all karmas,wear tulsi garland and Urthva Pundarikam (the red and white marks on the forehead) and pray to Narayana's idol at home or temple.There is no need to surrender to a Guru or even to Narayana.The karmas themselves will show the path to liberation.

Sankara explained to them how both the subgroups are following incorrect paths without any investigation.The ability to Saranagati,will come only after following all the karmas that are applicable to you, starting from Gayatri, Vibhuti or Urthva Pundarikam etc.,Surrender fore-states the purity of mind.Surrender is possible only by sacrificing the ego and this becomes possible only when the mind becomes pure first.An impure mind, can never give way to surrender.Again, on the same count, mere performance of karmas will not confer Jnana.Karmas again gives you Chitta- suddhi and with that purity of mind, one should explore the way to liberation.Both when done together and properly too, will help you to enquire with Brahman within.

Both the groups were satisfied with Sankara's explanation and they agreed to combine karmas and bhakti, and mature into surrender which will only pave way for Jnana.

From Sri Rangam, Sankara came to Tiruvidai Maruthur.This is the temple of Mahalinga Swami - Siva.This is about 6 kms from Kumbakonam.The temple is quite big.Siva is called Madhyarjuna because he is under a jasmine creeper.This is also called Idai Maruthur, because this temple is in between Sri Sailam and Tirupudai Maruthur in Ramanathapuram District of Tamil Nadu. All the three temples have got jasmine plants under which Siva is seated.

Sankara came to Tiruvidai Maruthur and prayed to Mahalinga Swami.There is also one version of biography which says that Sivananda Lahari was composed here and not in Sri Sailam.

Here Sankara met many Saivites and Vaishnavites. They also listened to his Satsangh but maintained that Siva/Narayana is the primordial god and the godhead should be in form and not formless for effective prayer and meditation.Sankara said that he was not opposing Siva or Narayana, but Advaita maintains that one should go beyond the form and have the formless Brahman within the Heart.For a true non dualist form-worship is not prohibited.The form- woship helps one to concentrate and meditate.Karmas and bhakti cannot be given a go by, just because you are an Advaiti.

Sankara said that They can adopt Advaitam as way for attaining the Self, but this had not quarrel with Siva or Narayana worship.In due course, such worships will also drop away and one would do only Self enquiry and attain Brahman which is Sat, the Substance, and also Chit, Knowledge, and Anandam, Bliss.

Sankara spoke to the great crowd in front of Mahalinga Swami temple in Tiruvidai Maruthur.He said:

1. To attain Jnana and merge in the Self, the mind is the only instrument.It is only with the mind, that the enquiry should be conducted and the Self merged with.The devotion, good karmas etc., will not lead one to Jnana by themselves.

2. Mind should be rubbed with the mind, that is within Brahman and the Brahman would reveal itself, when the time is ripe.

3. Do not be deluded by the gods in forms.Brahman is formless and nameless but it is Bliss, Ananadam.This Anandam should be experienced in nondual state.Seeing Brahman is only Experiencing Brahman.Brahman is not seeing God outside.

4. The one who is intent on attaining Jnana and the Self realization, should start looking at the body as a corpse.You observe Death, do not fear Death.

Brahmasri Nochur Venkataraman said:The Jnanis are opposite to physicians.The physicians experiment with dead bodies and find out medicines for cure.Jnanis, experiment with their own body as dead one, and find out Jnana, the way to Self realization.

Yama offered many things to Nachiketa.He said:"I shall give you gold, horses, ever-full stocks of food and drink and dancing girls!"Nachiketa said:"Keep your dancing girls with you.They will also become old one day and die.The horses and cows will become senile and die.The food stocks and drinks will dry up one day.The gold will dwindle one day.I will also become old and die one day. Give me that which is ever with me, eternal, non-dying, ever fresh, ever pure, untainted, even beyond the lives of gods and goddesses, give me Amrutham, Deathlessness".(Kathopanishad.)

From Tiruvidai Maruthur, Sankara came to Swamimalai, the town of Swaminathan, Murugan, on the other side of the present Kumbakonam Town, about 14 kms from Tiruvidai Maruthur.

Sources:

1) http://www.arunachala-ramana.org/forum/index.php?board=10.100
2) http://www.celextel.org/adisankara/subrahmanyabhujangam.html
3) http://www.celextel.org/adisankara/ranganathashtakam.html