Sri Sankara Charitham - Chapter 4

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THE ESSENCE OF HINDU TRADITION AND CULTURE

Jaya Jaya Sankara
Special Series on the Life of Sri Adhi Sankara
( Based on the series in Tamil by Sri Ra. Ganapathy Anna)
Translated by Sri Narayanan Bala

(Original Drawings by Sri Maniyam, recreated by Sri
Narayanan Bala)
Volume 33
January 2015 - Anusham
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Chapter 4 of Jaya Jaya Sankara by Sri Narayanan Bala (original in Tamil by Sri Ra.Ganapathy)
Sri Kanchi Maha Periva Thiruvadigal Saranam

Introduction
Hari Om!
Namaskaram from the Kanchi Periva Forum community. We are pleased to bring you our Thirty Third
edition ebook, which is a continuation of the special Anusham series Jaya Jaya Sankara, a wonderful
treasure originally authored by Sri Ra Ganapathy Anna, and translated by our moderator Sri Narayanan Bala
(anusham163 in our forum).
Sri Narayanan Bala is a very well-known moderator to our Forum members (by the Forum name
anusham163) and he has already made his presence strongly felt through many drawings/sketches of
Periva and by his phenomenal translation works on Periva and on materials related to Periva.
An ardent devotee of Sri Maha Periva, Sri Narayanan is a born artist. While he did not get a formal coaching
from anyone, his manaseeka gurus were Shri Maniyam, Shri Gopulu and Shri Silpi. We would like to
express our sincere thanks to him for coming forward to translate and bring out this beautiful series, which
will help to cement this wonderful treasure in the minds of the present and future generations.
On behalf of this Forum and our respected members, I would also like to specially thank our moderator Smt
Sumi, who has put in a lot of effort in putting this title together and for getting it published well in time.
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Jaya Jaya Shankara, Hara Hara Shankara!

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Note from the Translator

Om Sri Gurubhyo Namah! Sri Maha Periva Thiruvadigal Charanam.This
narrative titled Jaya Jaya Sankara on the life of Sri Adhi Sankara
Bhagavat Paadhal was written by Sri Ra .Ganapathy as a serial in the
KALKI weekly in 1962, with wonderful and lively drawings by Sri
Maniyam.
I have undertaken the ambitious task of translating the same into English. I bow my head to and
submit my Ananhthakoti Namaskarams at the Lotus feet of the AdhiGuru and Sri MahaPeriava, to
guide me through this task.
I am greatly indebted to my very good neighbour and a very good friend of over forty years Sri
N.V.Subramaniam, who has taken it on him the task of reading my manuscript word by word,
comparing with the original and suggesting a lot of improvements in the selection of words and
reconstruction of sentences. A million thanks and Namaskarams to him for this great help.
I welcome your feedback on this compilation. I can be reached on beeyen.bala@gmail.com

Narayanan Bala
About the Author of the original series Sri Ra Ganapathy Anna

Sri Ra.Ganapathy Anna belongs to a rare breed of writers, who could bring
through his pen and with his authentic personal experience, the
quintessence of religion expounded by great sages.
A naishtika brhmachari, he has a distinct style in Tamil that is enjoyable

to read and teases you sometimes with complex structure of
sentences. Sanskritised in certain narrations, he still does no violence to
the purity of language but captures beautifully the native Indian spirit in his works.
Read more about him & download his ebooks here: http://divyavidyatrust.org/
CHAPTER 4
The Time Has Come
Ayasakans wife felt relieved only after seeing Sankaran at the door. Will
Parameswaran, who begged the rishis of Thaarukaa Vanam (forest of
Thaarukaa) stubbornly for their arrogance, leave and go without getting the
Biksha given here with love ?
The lady dropped the Amla fruit into the Biksha Pathram
(
). She did it with a feeling of utter humiliation. In that one moment,
the cruelty of her poverty struck her forcefully.
One can manage oneself without having anything at all; but what if there is
nothing to offer to those who come for alms ? The peace which she enjoyed
a moment ago by seeing Sankaran at the door was blown away.
She ran inside the house with a heart - breaking sob.
Sankaran looked at the Amla fruit. He saw the ladys mind as clear as an
amla fruit in the palm. He noticed a pure heart in that fruit. Wealthy persons
donate their wealth only, but this poor lady ? Had she not given away her
whole heart?
The tender heart of Sankaran melted with compassion at seeing that Brahmin
ladys uncontrollable grief at not being able to show her overflowing love
with a material object. That compassion flowed out of His mouth as words
in the immortal language.
Yes, the milk of wisdom given by Devi has started bearing fruit ! The tender,
tiny mouth started praying to Sri Lakshmi Devi ! He prayed to Her to turn Her
loving glance towards these poor people.
Her glance is always towards Lord Jagannath who has the whole universe as
His body. Haris heart will get thrilled, when Her look falls on Him; as an
external indication of that, His whole body would get goose pimples.
That will beautify His body more than the other ornaments. Sankaran prayed,
Would you not turn your eyes with which you decorate your dear husband
thus, towards these poor people for my sake ?
Sankaran has seen many times, how a beetle touches the waterlily, how
the flower will shake, and how the beetle will get scared and move away
from the flower, only to come back and sit again.
Same way, when Her look falls on His dark blue body, it will vibrate;
immediately, Her look which went to Him with affection and love, would turn
away from there with a blush. Why not you turn that wonderful glance
towards these poor people ?--- prayed Sankaran.
Saathakam ( ), is a kind of cuckoo often mentioned by poets. It is
said that it has a hole in its throat. It cannot drink the water from the
ground surface, as normal birds do. When it flies with thirst in search of
water, the rain water drops will enter its throat and quench its thirst.
In the same way, why not you yourself shower the rain of wealth from your
loving glance on these poor people who suffer from the thirst of poverty ?
They might have committed some sins in their previous births; but you have
that cool breeze of compassion which can quell that fire and push that
loving glance of love towards these poor folks-----The child boy (Sankaran)
sang thus impressively.
Indhirai (Sri Lakshmi) appeared before Sankaran.
Sire ! You are asking me to wipe off the sins with compassion ! But if such
compassion is shown towards those who commit sins, then no one will desist
from committing sins in the world. Is it not relevant to block the flood of
compassion with justice ? She asked Umapathi, whom Her consort married
manifesting as Mohini.
Sankaran whose lotus feet are capable of changing the fate, replied, There
are times when compassion will wipe out the divine doctrine of justice; it is
when the love shown by sinners that wipes out the fruits of their Karma.
The feeling of love that overflowed that ladys heart when she gave me this
amla fruit, would destroy the sins of all her previous births.
That is all ! MahaLakshmi, immediately showered Her compassion and Love , in
the form of golden amla fruits, In the courtyard of the poor Brahmin lady
who offered Him just a decayed amla fruit !
SuVarnam () has two meanings; one, glittering gold with pure
colour; and two, a beautiful alphabet ( ). First a rain of
beautiful words showered from Sankarans mouth, and consequently, a rain of
pure gold also came down.
The Avatar of Sankaran took place solely for establishing Dharma by Wisdom;
but still, Acharyar happened to perform a few miracles bound by the power
of love. Those miracles are not important to us; what is important is the
Love, which happened to be the origin of such miracles.
They would fade away from the memory of the characters in the drama as
fast as they happened.
That prayer on Sri Lakshmi which emanated from the tender heart of
Sankaran is the KANAKADHARASTHAVAM (). Is not
compassion (love), the birth place of poetry ?
Did not the feeling of sorrow felt by Sri Valmiki Rishi on seeing the injured
KROUNCHA bird ( ) which was hit by the hunter, become a
Sloka and create the First Epic Ramayana ? Adhi Sankarars first Grantham
also was born out of compassion.
Before the age of eight, Sankaran mastered all the Vedas, Sastras, and Epics.
The stay in the home of Guru () concluded. Now, He has to
return home.
One very early morning, there came a sound of somebody crying, disturbing
the atmosphere of peace and tranquility. Aryambikai, the head of the
wealthiest family in Kaladi, for the first time after losing her husband, came
out of her home, and entered the GuruKulam crying aloud. Pasupathi ran
towards His mother as a calf would, to its mother cow.
Aryambikais whole body shivered when she embraced Him. She told those
noble Brahmins who pacified her, The Almighty is frightening me in the
dreams also as if the grief I am undergoing when awake, is not enough.
This early morning I had a dream where my dearest child is wearing saffron
robe and is going away with a Dhandam, like a mendicant. Her body was
shaking violently while saying this.
She folded her hands up towards the sky, and said, My Lord ! For the
pleasure of seeing my son again now, I am prepared to have thousand such
bad dreams, but please do not make this dream come true ! Sankarans
heart also was overwhelmed with emotion.
Arya returned home with her son, and got back her peace of mind which she
had lost for a very long time. She felt much happier now than when she gave
birth to Him seeing her son as a treasure of wisdom and a noble being,
But the well-being was restricted to her mind only; her health was
deteriorating.
One day, when Arya went to Alaway Puzhai for bath, she swooned and fell
down on the river bank. The son who went in search of His mother was
shocked to see her in that condition.
He lifted her head and placed it on His lap. Arya regained conscience when
something very chill struck her face. Somebody is spraying water from a wet
lotus bud; Oh ! It is not somebody !
In front of her, and near the lotus bud, she saw another lotus flower----Sankarans face ! She could see tear drops in the corners of His lotuslike
eyes also. The mother read thousands of stories of joy in that face !
Next day, the son did not allow his mother to go to the river for bath. When
there were many servants waiting to do the chores, He Himself went to
fetch water, with the noble thought that He should do service to His mother.
He started for the river with two pots in His hands. Alaway Puzhai was proud
that the Supreme Being who punished and contained (river) Ganga in His
head, was Himself coming to her. But the river which was flowing in a noble
land, changed her course and started flowing near Sankarans house !
Sankaran told His mother, I do not know what is this miracle, Amma, but
the river is flowing near our house only !----as if He does not know how !
The Devas were worried that the task of Eswara Avatar has not started yet
and more over Parameswaran had told them that He would discard the
human life in a short period. They wanted to remind the Supreme Being of
this.
The Bagavan also was acting as if He forgot all about it, in order to check
whether they (Devas) were doing their duty properly. He had actually scared
them by saying that He would return within a short period, in order to
prevent them from getting arrogant after getting their boon they asked of
Him.
Agasthya Rishi, Naradha Rishi and other ascetics sent by Devas disguised
themselves as aged Brahmins to hide their identities, and came down to
Kaladi. They treaded that holy place sanctified as it was by Him, with
hesitation, and came to Sankarans house. They reminded Him that the time
had come for fulfilling the goal of His Avatar.
Arya heard only the words Time has come, and understood them in a
different way. Did not Virushasalesan bless them with a child with a short
life? She thought that these Brahmins were saying that her sons life was
nearing its end and was agitated.
I lost my dear husband; now should I continue living after my son also
leaves me ?
Sankaran asked His mother why she was crying ? How could she mention it to
Him in so many words ? Somehow, she struggled and stammered and told
Him the matter, and started crying uncontrollably.
Though the time to depart from the earth had not come yet, He had to now
leave His mother and go away. Therefore Sankaran decided to prepare her
mind to accept His separation from her.
Now that He got the opportunity for that, He started talking to her seriously.
Mother ! Are you worried that I would leave you ? Why this worry ? If God
Himself had said that I would die young, what is the use, then, of you
worrying about it ? We can change what humans do; but where is the
alternative for Gods will? Therefore, brace yourself and accept it.
He continued further, You had so many children in your previous births. Tell
me what is the relationship between them and you now? The attachments
we develop in this worldly life are not permanent , Mother!
Dont you know this? The attachment we create with something that is ever
permanent, is the only relationship that is permanent, is it not?
What Sankaran spoke in the cool voice, froze Aryambikais mind. She just sat
there speechless and breathless.
Sankaran heaved a sigh and continued to speak steadily, clearly, word by
word, like a musical sound.
In a big flood of water, there appear many many air bubbles on the surface.
Among them, some air bubbles attach themselves to each other; after some
time, neither this bubble nor the other one exists. They dissolve into the
water.
We are all like those bubbles, in the flood of time, created by Maya
(illusion) which shakes the still reservoir of supreme bliss. Does it not follow
then that all of us should sink into that bliss ?
Arya was listening to her son, openmouthed. But even she who is a
matured intellectual, could not understand what Sankaran was saying. Like the
ordinary illiterate folks, she blurted out, Is this what you speak to a mother?
Are you saying, you have sent my father away from this world; you may
send me also away and live in this world?
Sankara! Think in your mind that I should go away, say it aloud in so many
words ! Then it will come true ! I will also join your father ! Even if I do not
have the joy of performing your marriage. Her voice choked and she
could not speak further.
Sankarans heart sobbed when He realized His mothers wish; but immediately
afterwards, He smiled.
What a strange thing ! Marriage for Him ? Which object He will marry ? His
form is Kalyanam; His qualities are Kalyanam (virtuous); Is there any other
object of virtue, except Him, or outside of Him, which He should search and
marry ?
He remembered a sloka, When the Supreme Being, which is the form of
total virtue, takes an Avatar in a human form to bless those who surrender
to Him, people want to perform marriage for Him also !
But there is nothing strange in this; even Brahman who recites the four
Vedas, searched for Kalyani, outside of Him; why not, then, Aryambikai speak
about marriage for Sankaran?
Aryambikai talked about marriage; but Sankaran, on the other hand, had been
thinking about renunciation for some time. He had decided to leave His home
to teach Dharma to the world as promised to Devas; to sacrifice a personal
life with wife, children, wealth etc, and to start living for the welfare of
others.
He did not want to adopt sainthood without His mothers permission. But
how to make her agree to it ?---He started to think of a way.
Mother! Come, let us go and have bath !------Sankaran called His mother
one day. Both of them went to the river, which was running very near to
their house, to have bath leisurely.
Sankaran got into the water. Next moment, a loud cry Ahhhhhhh!, rose
above the noise made by the river flow.
Sankara ! What happened !----Aryambal shouted in a louder voice.

My leg..leg..------cried Sankaran.
When she looked at His leg-----Oh ! a crocodile had caught hold of His leg
between its ferocious jaws ! Its sharp teeth were digging into the silky flesh
of Sankarans leg !
Aryambikai was shaken beyond control. She was throbbing and palpitating, not
knowing what to do. Oh ! I am going to lose my gem after all, that too in
this horrible fashion .
But Sankaran was shouting helplessly, asking her to rescue Him. But who will
rescue Him and how ? Is it humanly possible to relieve Him from the
crocodiles firm grip ? If that were possible, the objective of the Avatar
would not have been fulfilled, is it not ?
The villagers who gathered near the river bank could not be aware of all this.
They tried their best to drive away the crocodile. But there were some
persons among them who did not make any attempt, not knowing it was
impossible.
They were the relatives of Sankaran (who might have inherited the family
property, were He not born !) who had, by His late arrival to the family, had
dashed their hopes !
Therefore, externally they acted as if they were uneasy about not being able
to save Him, though, in their heart of hearts, they were gleeful. As if her
sons pain was not enough, the attitude of the relatives broke Aryas heart.
She started running madly.
Mother ! Mother ! please do not leave me !-----shouted Sankaran.
Sankara ! What is that I can do for you now ? Should I stand here and
watch you slowly being------sobbed Arya.
You do not know what to do ? If only you put your mind to it, you can
save me !---said the child. He said this casually as if He was not feeling the
pain suffered from the crocodiles hard grip.
Me ? To save Him ? what would she not do, if that were possible ? She was
even ready to sacrifice her life if only that would save her son. That being
the case, why He is saying that if you put your mind to it, you can save
me?
What are you saying my dear child? How could I , a helpless lady, save
you?said Aryai.
Please give me permission to have a re-birth ! I will, then be saved !----said
Sankaran. The ONE who GIVES the boon of no rebirth, is ASKING a boon
from His mother to have Rebirth ! Arya was confused.
She did not need to permit Him to have rebirth---because, that ferocious
crocodile is going to swallow Him now anyway ! His present Janma is going
to end now and consequently, next birth will follow.
Aha ! Did He not speak about previous birth and future birth very recently ?
Should all that come true so quickly and in so horrible a fashion?
Sankara ! You never speak anything without substance ! Only I cannot
understand what you are talking about, my dear child ! I am already a fool,
now I have become senseless due to my suffering.
Please tell me once again clearly so that I can understand. How does it
matter whether I give you permission or not, for you to have your rebirth ?----asked Aryambikai.
Sankaran started to speak. The moment He had been waiting for, has now
arrived!
TO BE CONTINUED IN CHAPTER 5..
Sri Maha Periva Divya Darshan

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E-Book from Kanchi Periva Forum

THE ESSENCE OF HINDU TRADITION AND CULTURE

Translated by Sri Narayanan Bala

Sri Kanchi Maha Periva Thiruvadigal Saranam

Jaya Jaya Shankara, Hara Hara Shankara!

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Note from the Translator

I welcome your feedback on this compilation. I can be reached on beeyen.bala@gmail.com

About the Author of the original series Sri Ra Ganapathy Anna

A naishtika brhmachari, he has a distinct style in Tamil that is enjoyable

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The Time Has Come

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Sankara ! What happened !----Aryambal shouted in a louder voice.

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Sri Maha Periva Divya Darshan

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