Sages,Rushis &
Saints |
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Biographies of Great
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SHANKARACHARYA |
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The
DisciplesHow at Shringeri during his stay
Shankara showered his blessings on a disciple called Giri is very interesting. The co-
students used to look down upon Girl thinking that Vedanta for him was a hard nut to
crack. Once Shankara at the time of his lecture said, "Let us wait for Giri."
The other pupils said, "Why should we wait for him, Sir? A wall is much better than
that dullard."
Shankara felt pained when such a student as was devoted to the service of his master
was jeered at. "What do you know about his nature and spiritual achievements? His
ability will reveal itself shortly," said the Master. "Isnt it enough if
Master knows my merit? Should it be made known to others also? Let me not have such
conceit" - so Giri used to feel within himself and was serving his master silently.
On that day as usual he came late and did obeisance to Acharya. Acharya said with a smile,
"Look Giri, We want you to give a discourse on the Self and its nature. We have been
waiting for you."
It was the masters command as well as blessing. The so-called dullard Giri, in a
very modest way and full of devotion expressed in his eyes, presented the very gist of
Vedanta in Trotaka Vritta, a highly complicated metrical form, but very enlighteningly as
if he was making with all reverence as offering to the Master. The other students felt
ashamed of their folly. They apologised to both Acharya and Giri. Shankara, thus revealing
the literary ability latent in Giri, called him "Trotakacharya" to make this
incident remembered for a long time.
Among the disciples of Shankara the most prominent are four Padmapada, Sureshwara,
Hastamalaka and Trotaka. Shankara nominated them as the chiefs of the four Vedanta centres
he had established: Sureshwara for shringeri the South zone center, Padmapada for Kalika
Peetha of a, Trotaka for Jyotih peetha Dwarak of Badari, and Hastamalaka for
Govardhana Peetha of Jagannath. He told that at their lives should be dedicated to
re-organise ancient Hindu Dharma. |
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