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MANISHA PANCHAKAM
Submitted by K Prabhakar Rao on Sun, 04/06/2008 - 23:10. Bliss Brahman Chandala Eternal happiness Sankaracharya self knowledgeThe one who is free of the illusion of outside world
And knows that the experiences while awake,
And while in sleep and also while in dream,
That Brahman is behind such all experiences and stakes
MANISHA PANCHAKAM
Submitted by K Prabhakar Rao on Thu, 04/03/2008 - 08:11. Brahman Chandala enlightened soul Infinite SankaracharyaAdi Sankaracharya the doyen of Advaita Philosophy has penned outstanding works in his short sojourn of 32 years on this earth during 7 century. Manisha Panchakam is a set of five Sanskrit verses from the great scholar. There is a small story behind the origin of these enlightened verses. Once, Sri Adisanakara was walking on the banks of holy river Ganges along with his disciple Padmapada and others after taking bath in the holy river. They were proceeding to the temple of Vishwanatha (Shiva) in the city of Benares on the banks of holy Ganges. At that instant, a Sweeper (Chandala an untouchable) holding a broom confronted him on the path. Sri Sankara immediately shouted at the Chadala to get out of the way. Sri Sankara as a person reached great enlightenment by this time and yet he behaved like any common man influenced by the caste divisions that was the hall mark of the Hindu society even in those ancient times
SADHANA PANCHAKAM
Submitted by K Prabhakar Rao on Sat, 02/16/2008 - 11:00. evil of pleasures Karma Sankaracharya VedantaSri Adi Sankaracharya the doyen of Advaita philosophy was a master composer and he lived in 7 th century in India. He graced the world by his very short presence of just 32 years and within this small span made very great impact on the Hindu religious thought. He traveled throughout India and reestablished Hinduism to its past glory and saved it from the influence of Buddhism. He penned great Sanskrit compositions and these are the greatest treasures to the world. Sadhana Panchakam is a small set of five verses in Sanskrit that specifies 40 principles to pursue Vedanta by an individual. These verses are presented in the form of English poems and are discussed
Atma Bodha: Treatise on Knowledge of Soul, Part III
Submitted by K Prabhakar Rao on Sun, 11/25/2007 - 00:07. atma bodha faith Hinduism SankaracharyaAtma Bodha (Treatise on knowledge of soul) is one of the master pieces penned by Adi Sankaracharya (believed to be the incarnation of Lord Shiva). It contains 68 Sanskrit verses and explodes the secrets of Soul. This article presents the contents of Atma Bodha in simple English verses, Part II.
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Atma Bodha: Treatise on Knowledge of Soul, Part II
Submitted by K Prabhakar Rao on Sat, 11/17/2007 - 16:41. atma bodha faith Faith, Meaning & Purpose Hinduism SankaracharyaAtma Bodha (Treatise on knowledge of soul) is one of the master pieces penned by Adi Sankaracharya (believed to be the incarnation of Lord Shiva). It contains 68 Sanskrit verses and explodes the secrets of Soul. This article presents the contents of Atma Bodha in simple English verses, Part II.
See Part I also.
ATMA BODHA-- PART II
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Atma Bodha: Treatise on Knowledge of Soul, Part I
Submitted by K Prabhakar Rao on Mon, 11/12/2007 - 08:38. atma bodha faith Faith, Meaning & Purpose Hinduism SankaracharyaAdi Sankaracharya (believed to be the incarnation of Lord Shiva) graced the world by taking birth in India in State of Kerala in 8 th century. He was the greatest exponent of Adwaita philosophy in Hinduism. He lived for a short period of only 32 years. But during his short presence on this earth he contributed immensely to the Hindu philosophy, vedic scriptures and faith. He led scholarly crusade against Buddhism that was engulfing India. He became an ascetic at a very young age, mastered the scriptures and traveled throughout India and defeated scholars on religious matters and reestablished Hinduism to its past glory subsequently Buddhism declined rapidly in India and literally disappeared from the land where it originated. Atma Bodha (Treatise on knowledge of soul) is one of the master pieces he penned. It contains 68 Sanskrit verses and explodes the secrets of Soul. This article presents the contents of Atma Bodha in simple English verses.
ATMA BODHA ( Part I )
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The Commandments for an Hindu for Whom Hinduism is a Way of Life
Submitted by K Prabhakar Rao on Wed, 09/26/2007 - 09:32. advaita bhagavad gita Faith, Meaning & Purpose Hinduism Sankaracharya upanishads vedas vidyaranyaThe entire universe is filled with various types of living beings and these living beings throughout their lives are struggling to find happiness. Except human being all the other living beings are not blessed with capability of judging good or bad as humans do. Incase of animals, birds and other living beings the actions are more by instinct. They live by instinct and perish ultimately. Thus human being is the supreme living creature on this world. However the human mind is constantly in search of truth to know the origin of the world and the great power that is responsible for controlling these activities. Hinduism that is mostly confined to the Indian subcontinent is the pioneer in this philosophy. The most important scriptures that form the basis of Hinduism are the Vedas, the most ancient and most revered scriptures of Hinduism. Most of the learned are of the opinion that there is a very powerful divine force that is responsible for the formation of this world and for various activities that control the activities of all the beings in this world.
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Should Religions Try to Convert Others?
Submitted by K Prabhakar Rao on Mon, 02/12/2007 - 14:58. akbar asoka constantine conversion fundamentalism intolerance proselytism SankaracharyaEditor's Note: This article offers a concise history of proselytism, showing the good the bad and the ugly of humanity's zealous efforts to lead one another to religious salvation. In the great Commons of Faith, proselytism treads ever so closely to the overgrazing that destroys the commons for all. Please read this article if you believe that coercing others to your religion will "save" them.
The aspect of conversions by various religions has always been controversial in the world. Hatred between certain societies in the world has been the outcome of this phenomenon. Inspite of modernity and dawn of scientific age and growth of scientific education in all corners of the world, the desire to spread the religions across various societies has not been eliminated and is being pursued with vigor too. Out of the important religions that are being practiced in the world today, Christianity and Islam are the active religious groups that are proselyte and are trying to expand their faith. Christianity from the beginning was a missionary religion and Islam did not lag behind either. Buddhism too is a missionary religion while Hinduism and Sikhism did not pursue this policy in vigor and remained passive. In fact Sikhism did not take up missionary activities. Most of the scholars claim that Hinduism has no missionary zeal although in ancient times Hindu princes invaded Malayan peninsula and established Hindu kingdoms.
God Men: Holy Men in the Path of the Pursuit of God
Submitted by K Prabhakar Rao on Mon, 02/05/2007 - 21:40. buddha god-man jesus mohammed SankaracharyaThe greatest spiritual men in the world have reached the status of divine men only when they completely submitted themselves to the God and freed themselves from the family bonds. They were only ordinary men as long as they remained within the frame work of worldly affairs. Gautama Buddha was known as prince Siddhartha as long as he stayed in the comforts of palace at Kapilavastu in India. He renounced his family including young wife Yasodhara and a small child Rahul and spent years in the search of truth and finally he attained realization under Bodhi tree in Gaya. He was called Buddha from then onwards and is being worshipped as God. Hindu mythology has granted him the status of 9 th incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) remained Mohammed as long as he stayed with his family and became Nabi only when he visited the cave near Mecca regularly and when submitted himself completely to Allah and realized the truth. Jesus was an ordinary boy and person till he left the parents, house and submitted himself to the God during his absence from 13-27 years about which the scriptures are silent. Some scholars claim that he visited India and came in contact with Buddhism that made impact on him and these are reflected in his teachings. Then onwards He was known son of the God and rest is history. Sankara was only a learned boy as long as he remained with his mother in a village in Kerala , an Indian southern state and he was known as the Holy Sankaracharya (Acharya means great teacher) only after he renounced the world and submitted himself to the God completely. Thus we see that great men such as Prophets attained their status only when they submitted themselves completely to the God. Things were not different for Nanak who found Sikhism (1).
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Moha Mudgara (Bhaja Govindam ie Worship God) of Sankaracharya Speeks For All
Submitted by K Prabhakar Rao on Thu, 12/07/2006 - 19:13. Hinduism SankaracharyaProf Dr Colonel (Retired) K Prabhakar Rao
Adi Sankaracharya the doyen of Hindu philosophy was born in a small village Kalati in Kerala State of South India in the year 677 AD in a pious holy Brahmin family. His parents were Siva guru and Arya. They were learned and holy couple. It is believed that Sankara was born to fulfill the boon given to his father by Lord Shiva one of the Trinity worshipped in Hinduism. As per mythology, Adi Sankara could recite scriptures at very young age of seven years with authority that is possible with only divine birth. His father passed away when he was very young and his mother brought him up. He learned Vedas under a renounced teacher and soon mastered the scriptures. The request of Sankara to renounce the world was repeatedly denied by his mother who was the only son and wanted him to get married and lead a life of a house holder. It is believed that once Sankara went to a river Poorna to take bath. A crocodile suddenly attacked him, caught hold of his leg and was pulling him into deep waters. His shrieks were heard by his mother and she rushed to the river where he saw her son struggling with the reptile.
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