Bhagavatpada: The Universal Benefactor
Shankara Bhagavatpada, who came into this world to restore Sanatana Dharma, had extraordinary accomplishments within a life span of 32 years.
Foremost among them are his treatises, ranging from commentaries of the Prasthana Traya to stotras, such as Bhaja Govindam, which have become popular world over.
Prasthana Traya is the collective name for the Upanishads, the Brahma Sutras and the Bhagavad Gita. They teach Advaita or non-dualism in aphorisms, but Shankara Bhagavatpada has explained them elaborately in his Bhashyas and Prakarana Granthas.
Of course, many others had earlier written commentaries on the Prasthana Traya, but their interpretations were contrary to Shastric norms. Sri Shankara repudiated them and expounded the correct meaning in his Bhashyas.
The Madhaviya Shankara Vijaya graphically describes this:
श्रीशङ्कराचार्यरवावुदेत्य प्रकाशमाने कुमतिप्रणीताः ।
व्याख्यान्धकाराः प्रलयं समीयुर्दुर्वादि चन्द्र प्रभयाऽवियुक्ताः ॥
As the sun of Sri Shankara rose, the gloom and darkness of ill-informed interpretations were totally destroyed.
To help upasakas, Sri Shankara wrote the Prapanchasara which is a highly authentic and famous text on mantra sastra.
To help devotees, he composed numerous stotras whose recital helps to unite one’s mind with God.
It is, therefore, imperative that all of us cherish the memory of the Universal Benefactor for all times to come.
सर्वतन्त्रस्वतन्त्राय सदात्माऽद्वैतवेदिने ।
श्रीमते शङ्कराचार्य वेदान्तगुरवे नमः ॥
Salutations to Sri Shankara, the preceptor of Vedanta and master of all Sastras, ever aware of the non-dual self.
