Thread by @pr_akash_

Let us.. look at how #traditional people, of times when #Shankaracharya lived, treated him though him being one of the realised beings of his times & respected, when it comes to #scripts&how he responded
One incident is of the cremation of his #beloved #mother.
Thread follows
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#AdiShakara’s father #Shivaguru passed away when he was a child.

#SanatanDharma
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#AdiShakara’s father #Shivaguru passed away when he was a child.

#SanatanDharma
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The #mother #Aryamba brought him up and performed his #Upanayana according to #tradition.

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Sri Shankara felt the call of #Sanyasa but Aryamba was unprepared to part with her only son, the solace of her #widowhood.
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One day when Sri #Shankara was bathing in the river Poorna, a crocodile caught his leg and started dragging him in. Aryamba knew that she would have the satisfaction of at least having her son alive even if it were in the robes of a #Sanyasin.
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On the other hand, if the crocodile does not free her son, she would still be consoled by the fact that her son would abandon his body as an ascetic. Aryamba consented to Sri Shankara's request and the crocodile released its hold on #Shankara.
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Promising his mother, Sri Shankara made the following statement, as described in the Madhaviya Shankara Vijayam "Oh mother! When you think of me I will give up all my work and come to you, whether you think of me at day, night or ..

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in between them (Sandhya time, that occurs at sunrise and sunset), whether you are conscious, unconscious or burdened with sorrow. If you die, I will myself perform your last rites. You can believe me.'
Shankara then traveled to various places & when his mother
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was passing through her last days Sri Shankara as promised, reached #Kaladi, #Kerala.Aryamba was freed from all distress on seeing him.
Sri Shankara began to instruct her on the Impersonal he recited hymns &Aryamba left her mortal coil with her #self absorbed in #truth.
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#Shankara wanted to cremate her #body as promised to her. However #traditional people, did not allow him to cremate the body, quoting #Shastras which forbade, him being a #Sanyasi. They #boycotted him, however he went ahead & performed last rites as promised, ignoring them.
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Another incident was when Shankara was going towards #Kashi #Viswanatha Temple. On his way, he met a #chandala and he asked him to get away from his path.. #Siva is said to have come in the disguise of that chandala.
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To Sankara’s order, the chandala asks:
Hey Dvijavara(Knowledgeable), which one do you want to distance yourself from? Do you want to distance your #annamaya (physical body) form my annamaya? Or, Do you want to separate my #consciousness from your consciousness?
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Which one do you desire by using the expression “go away’? Please clearly tell me what you want.

After these #words struck like a lightning in #Sankara, he replies in five verses, which is the #Manisha Panchakam. Word "Manisha" has two parts, Manasa(#mind) & #isha(self).

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Shankara fell at Chandalas #feet.
Manisha Panchakam describes that the #human self is not limited to his #birth or #caste or #karma and any #occupation does not give greatness to a person.
He went ahead and sang #Kashi Panchakam glorifying the greatness of #Kashi..
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Both of these key incidents highlight, traditional #misconceptions which are still persisting, & it shows clear path about #truth which is #SPIRITUAL, beyond all #shasthras, #traditions & #divisions among humans.May traditional people read & understand the life of #Shankara

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The #videos are from the movie "Aadi Shakaracharya" in #Sanskrit released in 1983
Watch it here:
Write-up courtesy to Speaking Tree and Aham bhrahmasmi blogs..
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