Prabodha Sudhakaram - Adi Shankaracharya Bhagavatpada

[Guest guest]

Salutations to the mystic of mystics, the a devotee of devotees, the

guru of all gurus, adi guru, parama guru, jagadguru SHANKARA !

 

For 'Telugu' (South Indian Language) knowing seekers, this valuable

book by Adi Jagadguru Sri Shankara Bhagavatpada Acharya is available

on the net to read in DjVu at this URL.

 

http://www.archive.org/texts/texts-details-db.php?

collection=millionbooks&collectionid=PrabodhaSudhakaramu

 

'Prabodha Sudhakaram' was believed to be the last work of Adi

Jagadguru and his final gift to the mankind.

 

This book is known as 'Samanvaya Sastra' as Sri Shankara skilfully

reconciled establishing the Oneness of Saguna Bhakti and Nirguna

Bhakti while proclaiming the highest truth as 'Krishna tattvam' which

has been declared in Srimad Bhagavatam by Sri Veda Vyasa.

 

No other Acharya has given such a profound and thorough explanation

in simple words for an easy understanding of the spiritual aspirants

of all classes.

 

I wish this book should have been printed in English!

 

At last these quotes from the book were found on the net to share:

 

nity-Anand-aikarasaM sach-chinmAtraM svayaM-jyotiH .

purushhottamam-ajam-IshaM vande shrii-yAdav-AdhIsham.h ..

 

Verse 1. Chapter 1 (Deha nindA prakaraNam)

 

I adore Krishna,

the Supreme Person,

the Unborn Lord,

the Self-effulgent One,

the Supreme Lord of

the descendents of Yadu,

Whose nature is that of

existence and consciousness,

and Whose essence is

entirely that of eternal bliss.

 

>From Prabodha SudhAkara of Shri ShankarAchArya

 

.....

 

- "In the Prabodha-sudhaakara, Shankara describes the experience of

the Bliss (Ananda) that is Brahman in terms of tasting a sweet thing

such as jaggery.

By studying the books (scriptures), one comes to

theconclusion, "jaggery is sweet."

The Guru will point out the place where jaggery is to be found.

But only by self experience, ie. by actually tasting jaggery

himself/herself, does the seeker feel "Yes! I am tasting jaggery and

it is sweet!" and know the taste."

 

shrii kR^ishhNArpaNamastu ..

 

Jaya Sri Radhey!

[Guest guest]

zankaraM zankarAcAryaM kezavaM bAdarAyaNaM

sUtra bhASyakRtau vande bhagavantO punaH punaH

 

Acarya Shankara, the unrivalled propounder of Advaita Vedanta,

advised his own mother practise devotion to Lord Krishna, and blessed

her with the vision of the Lord.

 

Listen to his proclamation in the last chapter of

'Prabodha Sudhakaram', verse 150 -

 

kAmyopAsana yArthayanty anudinaM kincit phalaM svepsitam,

kecit svargam athApavargam apare yogAdi yajnAdibhiH,

asmAkaM yadunandanAMghri yugala dhyAnAvadhAnArthinAm,

kiM lokena damena kiM nRpatinA svargApavargaizca kiM?

 

"Those who waste their time for the attainment of

celestial joys or liberation (mukti- apavarga) are FOOLS!

I do NOT want any of that!

I only desire to remain engrossed in the sweet remembrance

of the lotus feet of Lord Krishna.

What is the need for pleasures of this world or heaven or

Mukti to exalted Prema bhaktas of the Lord?"

 

Thus Sri Shankara appears to consider all objects, including final

liberation as insignificant in comparison to constant loving

meditation of the lotus feet of his beloved Lord, Sri Krishna.

 

Jaya Sri Radhey

 

 

 

> For 'Telugu' (South Indian Language) knowing seekers, this valuable

> book by Adi Jagadguru Sri Shankara Bhagavatpada Acharya is

available

> on the net to read in DjVu at this URL.

>

> http://www.archive.org/texts/texts-details-db.php?

collection=millionbooks&collectionid=PrabodhaSudhakaramu

>

> 'Prabodha Sudhakaram' was believed to be the last work of Adi

> Jagadguru and his final gift to the mankind.

>

> This book is known as 'Samanvaya Sastra' as Sri Shankara skilfully

> reconciled establishing the Oneness of Saguna Bhakti and Nirguna

> Bhakti while proclaiming the highest truth as 'Krishna tattvam'

which

> has been declared in Srimad Bhagavatam by Sri Veda Vyasa.

[Guest guest]

Namaste.

 

In these exquisite verses of 'Dhyana Vidhi Prakaranam' Acharya

Shankara has described the transcendental beauty and the irresistible

attraction of Lord Krishna revealing how great rasik saint he

actually was.

 

yamunA nikaTa taTa sthita

vrindAvana kAnane mahAramye

 

kalpa druma talabhUmau

caraNaM caraNopari sthApya (shloka. 184)

 

tishTaMtaM ghana nIlaM

sva tejasA bhAsayanta miha vizvaM

 

pItAmbara paridhAnaM

candana karpUra lipta sarvAGgam. (185)

 

Lord Krishna sits with His

one leg crossed over the other,

under the wish-yielding Kalpa. tree,

in a most beautiful flowery bower in Vrindavana,

situated near the banks of the river Yamuna.

 

His complexion as a dark rain-ladden cloud,

illuminates the whole world with its Luster.

He is dressed in yellow silk garments and

all parts of His transcendental body are anointed

with the paste of sandalwood and camphor.

 

Akarna pUrna netraM

kuNDala yuga maNDita zravaNaM

 

manda smita mukha kamalaM

sa kaustubhO dAra maNi hAraM (186)

 

valayAGgulIya kAdyA nujjvala yantaM svalankArAn

gala vilulita vana mAlaM sva tejasApAsta kali kAlaM. (shloka. 187)

 

His large captivating eyes seem to reach almost to

His ears which are adorned with glittering earrings.

 

A sweet, gentle, enchanting smile blooms

from His lotus face. He is wearing jewelery

made of precious stones, pearls and

the celestial jem, Kaustubha.

 

The radiance of His transcendental body

enhances the splendour of the golden bracelets, rings

and the other ornaments present on Him.

 

Around His neck, the vanamala garland

made of five heavenly fragrant flowers,

is gently swaying to and fro.

His very brilliance and beauty drives away

the sinful effects of the dark age of Kali.

 

gunjAravAli kalitaM

gunjA puGjAnvite zirasi

 

bhuGjAnaM saha gopaiH

kunjAn tar vartinaM hariM smarata. (188)

 

mandAra puSpa vAsita

mandAnila sevita parAnandaM

 

mandAkinI yuta padaM namata

mahAnanda daM mahA puruSaM. (189)

 

The curly locks of His dark hair surrounded by

the vines and fragrant flowers of the divine bower,

are attracting the intoxicated, noisy, bumble bees.

 

Fondly remember and contemplate upon Lord Hari

Who is frolicking in the bower along with His

cowherd playmates and eating His midday meal joyfully.

 

Offering worship and prayers, meditate upon

that Supreme Personality, Sri Krishna,

the Bestower of the highest Bliss!

 

He is fanned by the gentle breeze, scented with

the fragrance of heavenly 'mandAra' flowers,

and His lotus feet are attended by

the sacred celestial river, Ganges.

 

surabhIkRta digvalayaM

surabhi zatair AvritaH paritaH

 

surabhIti kSapaNa mahA

sura bhImaM yAdavaM namata. (shloka. 190)

 

His Divine fragrance pervades all around

as He is encircled by hundreds of blessed cows

who are attracted by His captivating beauty and

soul-stirring ethereal music pouring from His flute.

 

Let us offer our humble obeisance to beloved Lord,

Sri Krishna, the Descendent of Yadu dynasty,

Who even drives away the fears of heavenly gods

by terrifying and conquering the demoniac forces

with His supreme valor.

 

-'Prabodha Sudhakara' verses 184-190

Adi Jagadguru Sri Shankaracarya Bhagavatpada

 

This prayer meditation is melodiously chanted daily twice (at 5.00

a.m

and 5.00 p.m) by all sadhakas in Jagadguru Sri Kripaluji Maharaj

Ashrams around the world.

 

Jaya Sri Radhey!

[Guest guest]

Namaste. Happy 'Guru' vaar to all.

When I was on my Vrindavan, Barsana and Bhuvaneshvar pilgrimage, I

heard a beautiful Sanskrit verse melodiously chanted by Sri Kripaluji

affectionately ridiculing Adi Jagadguru Shankaracarya's prayer to Sri

Krishna.

He also used to give a 'short' explanation of this Sanskrit shloka in

Hindi for the amusement of surrounding devotees who upon hearing broke

into laughter.

But I used to keep my seriousness as my mind and heart were carried

away by the exquisite poetic style and deeper sentiments expressed in

the verse of Sri Shankara and longed to know the source and full text.

 

To my sweet surprise I've found it in 'Prabodha Sudhakara'!

 

udAsInaH stabdhaH satatam aguNaH saGgarahito

bhavAM tAtaH kAtaH paramiha bhavej jIvanagatiH

akasmAd asmAkaM yadi na kurute sneham atha tat

vasasva svIyAntar vimala jaThare 'smin punarapi ..

 

"(In Your 'Brahman' aspect) You're unmovable,

indifferent, devoid of material qualities

and attributes as well as associates.

 

If You contnue to be so, how can I ever exist

and who could be my eternal shelter?

 

(In Your 'Bhagavan' aspect) O my Divine Father, Sri Krishna!

If You do not actively accept me

at once with your causeless Grace,

please at least be prepared to stay passively for

innumerable lives in my pure heart again!" (In Your 'Paramatma'

aspect)

 

Also in the preceding verse Sri Shankara expressed his relational

feeling to the Lord addressing Him as his Divine Mother:

 

mAyAhaste 'rpayitvA bharaNakRtikRte mohamUlodbhavaM mAM

mAtaH kRSNAbhidhAne cirasamayam udAsiinabhAvaM gatAsi

kAruNyaika adhivAse sakRdapi vadanam nekShase tvaM madIyaM

tatsarvajJne na kartuM prabhavasi bhavatI kiM nu mUlasya zAntiM ..

 

"O my Lord Krishna in the form of Divine Mother!

Why have you resorted to this indifference

and negligence towards Your own helpless child

who's been placed from time immemorial in

the terrible hands of Your Maya Shakti,

the generating power of ignorance,

the power of Your own material energy!

 

You're all knowing Lord and the Ocean of mercy!

You haven't yet looked at my distress and sorrowful face.

O Mother how can I attain any peace or joy!"

 

Jaya Sri Radhey!

[ranjeetmore]

I love it when Sri Maharajji lovingly jokes on Sripada Shankaracharya.These mahatmas are just too cute !!!