Shankara Bhagavad Padal holds a special place in our hearts and minds for the simple reason his slokams are so inspiring, has incisive analysis and clarity of expression - His devotion and poetic expressions leaves one in awe and reverence. What makes him more endearing is the amazing sense of empathy for lesser mortals like us, and his capacity to identify himself with the emotional psyche of a ...woman, be it his own mother or that Universal Mother!
Few of Shankara's slokams are place related -
Sivananda Lahiri, Subhramanya Bhujagam, and the lesser known "Vishnu Pathathi Keshanta Stotram". While Sivananda Lahiri was composed in Sri Sailam, Bhujangam was extempore pouring when he meditated upon Sri Subramanya at Tiruchendur, the "Vishnu Pathathi Keshanta Stotram" was recited when Sri Sankara visited Tirupathi - Like the 100th daskam of Narayaneeyam, this slokam describes the Lord from his foot to the head!
(Check out this amazing link to read the entire slokam @ http://www.slideshare.net/
Other slokams are incident related -
Kanaka Dhara Stotram was recited when Shankara was touched by the poor lady's gesture who offered a gooseberry for alms, and the 21 mellifluous hymns on Goddess Lakshmi poured golden goose berries as rain to the poor woman’s house.
Lakshmi-Narasimha Stotram - Recited when Shankara was about to be sacrificed by a Kapalika, the god Narasimha appeared to save Shankara in response to Padmapada's prayer to him.
Manisha Panchakam - While on his way to the Vishwanath Temple, Shankara came upon an untouchable accompanied by four dogs. When asked to move aside by Shankara's disciples, the untouchable replied: "Do you wish that I move my ever lasting Atman ("the Self"), or this body made of flesh?" Realizing that the untouchable was none other than god Shiva himself, and his dogs the four Vedas, Shankara prostrated himself before him, composing five shlokas known as Manisha Panchakam
No comments:
Post a Comment