Short Messages from Sringeri Jagadgurus:
Jagadguru’s Anugraha Bhashana Video Series – Volume 2:
Sri Adi Shankara Bhagavatpada & His Teachings:
Chapter 1 - Birth and History of Sri Adi Shankara Bhagavatpada (Kannada):
"In our land, Bharata, many great souls have taken birth. They all came for the welfare of the world. Among such great souls, Sri Adi Shankara Bhagavatpadacharya is the foremost.
Sri Adi Shankara incarnated about 1200 years ago in our land. His incarnation took place in Kerala, South India, in the "agrahara" of Kalady on the banks of the holy river Purna. His parents were Shivaguru and Aryamba. The couple had no children for a long time. The couple ardently prayed to and worshipped Lord Parameshwara for progeny. As a result of their service to Lord
Parameshwara, He Himself incarnated as their son. They named Him Shankara.
During their period, many non-Vedic doctrines were prevalent in our land. Each of these doctrines were opposed to our Sanatana Vaidika Dharma. People did not have proper knowledge of Vedanta. Each one started speaking in their own manner. There was a general unrest amongst the people. It was as if there was no place for duties ordained by the Vedas. A situation had risen where the tenets of the Upanishads were not known to anyone. There was an air of confusion and indecisiveness. In such a state of affairs, when the Devatas prayed to Lord Parameshwara, The Lord, responding to their prayers, incarnated as the son of Shivaguru and Aryamba.
In childhood itself, Sri Shankaracharya acquired the knowledge of all languages and scripts. His Upanayana took place at a very early age. He completed the Adhyanana (study) of all the Vedas, and acquired great proficiency in all the Shastras. He took up Sanyasa at the age of eight itself. Endowed with complete renunciation, He accepted Sanyasa from Mahatma Govinda Bhagavatpada who was residing on the banks of the holy river Narmada. At His behest, Sri Shankara traveled the length and breadth of the country. He made the masses aware of the tenets of Sanatana Dharma. He enlightened them with the Vedanta Tattva.
Vedanta means the final portions of the Vedas. We call them the Upanishads. The Atma Tattva has been propounded in the Upanishads. This Atma Tattva has also been expounded by the Lord in Bhagavad Gita. Bhagavan Veda Vyasa Maharishi compiled Brahmasutras that elucidate the Atma Tattva. The Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita and Brahmasutras -- these three go by the name "Prasthanatraya". In all these three, the non-dual Atma Tattva alone is propounded. The same (Atma Tattva) has been explained by Sri Shankaracharya in His commentaries.
Sri Shankaracharya wrote excellent commentaries on the Prasthanatraya. He attained fame as "Bhashyakara Sri Shankaracharya". Today if we wish to understand the correct import of Vedanta we must study Sri Shankaracharya's commentaries on the Prasthanatraya. The Tattva expounded by Sri Shankaracharya in His commentaries on the Prasthanatraya, have been subsequently extensively elaborated by many great personages such as Sri Vidyaranya, Sri Appaya Dikshita.
Thus, Sri Adi Shankaracharya Bhagavatpada is the great Acharya who conveyed to the masses the correct import of Vedanta Tattva. If He had not incarnated then, we would not have had the correct knowledge of Vedanta Tattva today. If we are in a position to understand the Vedanta Tattva today, it is a result of the incarnation of Sri Shankaracharya.
Hence, every follower of Sanatana Dharma should have the utmost faith and devotion towards Sri Shankaracharya. We will know about the tenets taught by Sri Shankaracharya subsequently (in the following discourses.)"
Video: [ Ссылка ]
Copyright: Dakshinamnaya Sri Sharada Peetham, Sringeri
Source: [ Ссылка ]
