Shankaracharya and an Untouchable-An exposition of Manisha Panchakam

by Ranganathananda

While attempting to avoid a Chandala ("untouchable") on the road, Sri Shankara is upbraided for his behavior by the Chandala who, through his wise words, reveals Shankara's hypocrisy in the light of his teachings. Upon this revelation Shankara composed his Manisha Panchakam , a small but important treatise interpreted by many as the essence of Advaita Vedanta.

In this little book, Swami Ranganathananda extracts a radical social message from this ancient encounter in an effort to bring the essential truth of Advaita Vedanta to a world plagued by discrimination of all kinds.

Let him be a Chandala, let him be a Brahmin, whoever has realized this truth, he is my guru.
-- Adi Shankara

Genres: Hinduism, Nonfiction

40 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Swami Ranganathananda (1908–2005), born Shankaran Kutty, was a Hindu monk of the Ramakrishna Math order. He served as the 13th president of the Ramakrishna Math and Mission.

Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swami_Ra...

Reviews

[Muktipada Behera]

This is an excellent book written by Swami Ranganathananda. The author has tried to see from pure social angle by removing all sorts of mythology. Advaita preaches oneness - to see same divinity in all. The untouchability has gone so deep into the bones of the people of India that even a man of wisdom – of Advaitic realization – became subject to it.

There are some confusion is peoples mind about Shankara's view on caste. This book clarifies that.
This is a remarkable book since here Adi Shankaracharya admits the possibility of a sweeper being illumined. He accepted him as his Guru. It directly contradicts his own commentary on Brahma-sutra-vasya - I.iii.34-38 where he preaches - "lower caste people are not eligible for knowledge in this life - Jivan Mukti. Rather they are eligible for Krama-mukti in heaven through study of mythology." It is unfortunate that Shankara's caste position in Sutra-vasya is widely known while his later change of heart through Manisha Panchakam is subsided.

[Celia Sánchez · Rating 4 out of 5]

"That conciousness which shines forth most distincty in waking,dream and deep sleep,that which is the one witness of the universe that threads all bodies from Brahma's down to the ant's;that I am,and not anything phenomenal...

...Shankara

"Manisha Panchakam" a set of five verses by Shankaracharya (680-712 CE) ,had been read and interpreted by generations as the essenec of Advaita Vedanata(monism)An encounter between the saint and the untouchable provides the background to the text.

[Saravanan Manavalan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Revolutionary concept. The Story narrated is true in the life of Adi Shankaracharya, then it's a revolutionary concept.

[Krishnan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting take on untouchability that prevailed in India.