Sri Adi Sankara Bhagavadpada - Part II

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Miracles are a part of saints' life. According to Ramana Maharshi, a true saint or a Jnani does not take credit to the miracles that are performed on account of one's powers. He said miracles are natural happenings wrought by the very presence of a saint who is free from the illusion of one is the body or the mind.

The life of Adi Sankara was laden with numerous miracles. Once in Kashi Sankara had called out to one of his devotees, Sanandhyaya who was drying clothes on the other bank of the river. The ardent devotee paying heed to his master's words, unmindful of being drowned began crossing the river immediately. His devotion earned him lotuses for each of his step placed in the water by the grace of Sankara. He thus crossed the river without any harm. From hence he was called Padmapadha (lotus feet).

In Kashi another remarkable happening in the life of Sankara took place where once when He and His devotees were walking on the streets. Sankara and His disciples were confronted by an untouchable and his wife with four dogs who blocked their way. The disciples shouted out to the confronters to keep away from the path of their master. Immediately the man replied that in essence he was one with their master and how could he go away from Him!. His words were packed with Advaitic meaning that alerted Sankara that his confronters were no ordinary people. He realized them to be Lord Shiva and Parvati and the four Vedas in disguise. Sankara at once prostrated in front of them and sang the 'Manisha Panchakam'. And 'lo and behold' Lord Viswanatha and goddess Visalakshi appeared before Him in response.

When Sankara was sixteen years of age, was blessed with another sixteen years to spread the doctrine of Advaita by Maharshi Vedavyasa . Vedavyasa entered into an argument with Adi Sankara about the Bashyam written by Sankara for his Brahmasutras. On realizing that He had entered into an argument with none other than Vedavyasa, Sankara repented and the sage very happy about the way the Bashyam was presented blessed Sankara.