TAMIL
Life and works of Sankara
C. L. RAMAKRISHNAN
JAGADGURU SRI ADI SANKARA: Veeyesvee; New Hozizon Media Pvt. Ltd., 33/15, Eldams Road, Alwarpet, Chennai-600018. Rs. 60.
THIS BOOK draws its material from Vidyaranya's Sankara Vijaya, Deivathin Kural, Swami Chinmayananda's commentary on the Bhaja Govindam and the Tamil translation of Sankara (in English by T.M.P.Mahadevan) by the late Narayanaswami.
The narrative on the life and contributions of Adi Sankara is readable and informative.
The author justifies the preceptor's name since he had shown the path to liberation, The reference to the environs at the time of Sankara's birth mentions naturally inimical animals behaving in a friendly manner. One may draw support for this phenomenon from the Yoga Sastra. The compulsion for the Acharya to leave behind his aged and unattended mother when he renounced is well explained. The mission of his birth was for redeeming everyone and that was placed on a higher pedestal even above service to mother. The criticism against worldly attachment, dealt with in the Bhaja Govindam, has been well brought out.
The episode relating to Kumarila Bhatta is written in a vivid manner. Again, the identity of the residence of Mandana Mishra, to whom Kumarila referred the preceptor for debate, is given by both the popular verses revealing the scholarship of Mishra.
The author's reference to Sankara entering a dead body for the purpose of acquiring knowledge of family life, in his debate with Mishra's consort Sarasavani, is a disputed point. One who is the incarnation of Lord Siva has to be omniscient. The pentad of verses `Mathru Panchaka' is referred to as `Mathru Pancharatnam', though they are doubtlessly five gems extolling one's mother. On page 67, the word `mudhamate' in the Bhajagovindam is translated as `muudane' in Tamil. It might suggest that it refers to a fool. This word `mudha' is derived from `muh' or "one who is deluded." The whole universe not being real according to the Advaita school, the ignorant take it to be true due to illusion, arising out of his deluded state. Study of material sciences — grammar in this context — will not rid one of such delusion. Hence Sankara exhorts that devotion to Govinda leads to liberation. The author should be complimented for bringing out this useful and concise volume.
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