Recently, I came across a very insightful speech by the UP Chief Minister, Yogi Adityanath, where he spoke about Adi Shankaracharya and Varanasi. He narrated an episode from Adi Shankara's life, which is also mentioned in Manisha Panchakam and Sankara Digvijaya.
One morning, during Brahma Muhurta (around 3-4 am), Adi Shankara was on his way to take a dip in the river Ganga. On the way, he encountered a ‘Chandaal’ (who earns his living by disposing of corpses on cremation grounds on Ganga Ghats), and in a moment of instinct, Adi Shankara said, “Move away, move away!” The Chandaal then asked a profound question: "Whom do you want to move—the body or the spirit(consciousness)?" Adi Shankara was taken aback by this question.
The Chandaal continued, "From where has arisen this great delusion, which sees one as a ‘Brahman’ and the other as a ‘Chandaal’, Don’t you see ‘Brahm’ within me? Don’t you recognise the Paramatma in me?"
Adi Shankar was shocked and recognised his error, he bowed down before the Chandaal and touched his feet in a profound act of humility and devotion. In that moment, he perceived the Chandaal as the manifestation of ‘Vishwanath/Shivaa’ Himself, who had removed the final remnants of imperfection within him.
After listening to this, it pushed me to take the Veda Saar article forward and read about Adi Shankaracharya’s Vedanta.
In Veda saar we saw the essence of Vedas in Shri Aurobindo’s words as ‘The chants of Vedas are episodes of the lyrical epic of the soul in its immortal ascension’. The soul can go from ‘Asat’ to ‘Sat’. From ‘Mrityu’ to ‘Amarta’. From ‘Atma’ to ‘Paramatma’. It says, Atma can rise to the level of Param-atma. But to answer the question whether they are different or same. The question of duality. Adi Shankar says it is ‘Advait’. It is non-dual. In all of us we have ‘Brahm’.
This non-dual philosophy is further emphasised by Adi Shankaracharya in his Nirvana Shatakam:
मनोबुद्धयहंकारचित्तानि नाहम् न च श्रोत्र जिह्वे न च घ्राण नेत्रे
न च व्योम भूमिर्न तेजॊ न वायु: चिदानन्द रूप: शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम्
In summary it means :
I am not ‘Mana’(Mind), not ‘Buddhi’ (Intellect), not ‘Ahankar’ (Ego), not ‘Chitta’(Consciousness/ ’Chetna’).
I am not five senses, not sky, not earth, not light, not air.
I am ‘Chidanand Rupa’ (Form of Blissful consciousness), Shivoham (I am Shiva/ Param-Brahm / Param-atma).
So this clearly gives answers to lots of questions.
‘Brahm’ within All: In all of us, we carry the essence of ‘Param-Brahm;. This means that the divine is not external but resides within every being. This concept of the divine presence in everyone gives answers to profound questions about existence and our connection to the universe.
Equality of All Creations: All creations are fundamentally equal. Since everything is a manifestation of the same Param-Brahm, there is no true distinction in essence between one being and another.
Oneness of Atman and Paramatma: Advaita Vedanta emphasizes that the individual soul (Atman) is not different from the supreme soul (Paramatma). This non-duality establishes that the separation we perceive between ourselves and the divine is merely an illusion.
Simplification for Common Understanding: This philosophy simplifies the essence of the Vedas and Vedanta, making it easier for people to grasp. By realizing that all of creation is one, it conveys the message of equality, unity, and divinity in every individual, which can be understood by common people.
The essence of the Vedas and Vedanta remains the same—whether it is expressed as ‘Aham Brahmasmi’ (I am Brahm), ‘Tatvam Asi’ (You are That), or in the common invocation of ‘Har Har Mahadev’ (Everyone is Mahadev).
Adi Shankaracharya's Advaita Vedanta brings these teachings to the common people and masses, simplifying the complex wisdom of the Vedas. Through his travels and teachings, he carried the ‘Secret of the Vedas’ to every corner of Bharat, making the profound truth of oneness accessible to all.
Notes and References:
1. First verse of Manisha Panchakam:
अन्नमयादन्नमयमथवा चैतन्यमेवचैतन्यात्
यतिवर दूरीकर्तुम् वांछसि किम् ब्रूहि गच्छ गच्छेति
The Chandala questions: O great among the twice-born! What is it that you want to move away by saying, ”Go, go”? Do you want the body made up of food to move away from another body made up of food? Or do you want consciousness to move away from consciousness?
2. Adi Shankaracharya and an untouchable - a blog by Ajeyam
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