Adi Shankara And The Chandala - The Birth Of Knowledge (Jnana)

This poem is based on an incident which took place in the life of Adi Shankara after he became an ascetic. One of the greatest Indian philosophers, Adi Shankara established the 'Advaita' or the 'Non - Dual Consciousness' philosophy.


"Tat Tvam Asi...
Aham Brahmasmi..."

"That Universal Consciousness, That Bliss Thou Art...
That Universal Consciousness, That 'Brahman' I Am, Not Apart..."

The voice of Adi Shankara faded across The Ganges, the holy river,
Not a breath was drawn, not a sound, not a whisper.
His disciples dwelt on this thought with great intent,
Ponder they did on what the words meant.
In silence this eternal truth they hailed,
A sense of peace upon them prevailed.

In a group, they began to wind their way,
Through the narrow streets of Varanasi, towards the temple by the quay.
The words still echoed in their ears,
The words of Adi Shankara, the words of the seer:
"Tat Tvam Asi...
Aham Brahmasmi..."

Across their path, a form appeared,
Straggly locks and unkempt beard.
The smell of the graveyard clung to his clothes,
Four curs yapped around his toes.

A 'chandala' he was of lowly caste,
Towards them he proceeded at a pace fast.
The disciples stopped dead in their tracks,
They motioned him to keep far back.

What audacity of the 'chandala' to cross their path,
This impertinent act did incur their wrath.
"Your presence brings utter distress!
Go away! Cause no more stress!

Adi Shankara here is the ultimate 'guru', you know,
Deference and respect to him you must show.
Move aside you 'chandala'! Give way!" they riled,
"We..with your body have been defiled!"

"What do you ask me to do?
Do I require this body to move?
This body made of water and food,
This body the same as yours too..
Is there a difference between us you see?

The sun's reflection in the waters of the flowing 'Ganga',
Its reflection in the ditch waters near the quarters of the 'chandala',
The space in a pot with a golden sheen,
The space in a mud pot empty and clean..
Is there a difference between them you see?

The disciples knitted their brows and wondered,
No answers did they have, they were bewildered.
Was not the chandala's body and soul,
Impure and polluted down to the sole?

Their souls, their bodies were holy and pure,
Adherence to the divine path had this ensured.
To question them, he had no right,
Ignorant he was, a piteous sight!

Adi Shankara stood composed,
Unwaveringly he focused on the questions posed:
'Is there a  difference between you and me?
A difference between all things I see?'

"You have made me think and think deep,
Oh 'chandala'! Thou art Lord Shiva..now I see!
With folded hands, I bow to thee!"

And then.. words and verses from Adi Shankara tumbled in a spate!
Bursting, flowing..the opening of the floodgates..
The 'Manisha Panchakam' thus came to be,
The essence of the Non-dual, the 'Advaita' philosophy...

"Pure consciousness is 'Brahman', it is in all,
From the creator to the ant small.
That person irrespective of caste and creed,
Who reveals this is my 'guru' indeed!

I am pure consciousness, 'Brahman', pure bliss,
I think I am separate because of my mind, my senses.
That person irrespective of caste and creed,
Who has attained true knowledge about 'Brahman', is my 'guru' indeed!

The universe as many different things appears,
When you realise each is 'Brahman', the differences disappear.
That person irrespective of caste and creed,
Who lifts the illusion with a calm mind is my 'guru' indeed!

The 'self' controlled by the mind and senses is not revealed,
Like the sun which by the clouds is concealed.
That person irrespective of caste and creed,
Who meditates on the 'self' is my 'guru' indeed!

The 'self', the 'Brahman' is infinite love, light and bliss,
A fraction of which satisfies Indra and the holy sages.
That person irrespective of caste and creed,
Who gains fulfilment with 'Brahman' is my 'guru' indeed!

You are 'Brahman'..the universal conciousness..eternal..free..
I am 'Brahman'..the universal consciousness..blissful..as pure as can be..
No other..other than 'Brahman'.. can be..

Tat Tvam Asi...
Aham Brahmasmi...
Tat Tvam Asi...
Aham Brahmasmi..."



Footnotes
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Brahman - pure consciousness, pure bliss
Chandala - a person who deals with corpses
Guru - teacher