Finding Shankara: A Dramatized Biography of Adi Shankaracharya by Divya Narain Upadhyaya
"Finding Shankara" by Divya Narain Upadhyaya is not a typical biography. This book immerses in the wisdom and intellectual growth of him. I could find the journey of how he transformed from a child with pretty good questions to a person with clarity in his beliefs.
In this book, the author portrays him not merely as a saint but a seeker who is always seeking the reason behind every task. He provides logic and reasoning, and the related shlokas and stotras from the Vedas make it more engrossing and insightful.
I appreciate the part when Shankara made the Dakshinaamnaya Sharda Peetham and installed the idol of Maa Sharada. He sang praises of the goddess of learning, and he received a request to train Aanandagiri. He taught him as he appreciated the simplicity of heart, unquestioning loyalty, and devotion towards his guru. Later he miraculously transferred all the knowledge of the Shastras to Giri.
What makes the book particularly poetic is that the author finished it while in Kedarnath, the same sacred site where Adi Shankaracharya was last seen before disappearing from public view. It eloquently maps his voyage across the length and breath of India, from the banks of the Narmada river where he met his guru, πΊππ£ππππ π΅βππππ£π£π‘ππππ, to the spiritual cities of Kashi, Varanasi, and Kashmir.
The wording is lively without becoming unduly elaborate. The inclusion of the holy Sringeri Sharada Peetham sholakas and their translation in English at the end is commendable. Here each stotra and its meaning in simple language at the end of each page make it easy to understand about the Bhagavad Gita and other included holy wordings.
By the conclusion, I realized I had not only learned about Adi Shankaracharya but had also walked beside him. Whether you're interested in Indian philosophy, Advaita Vedanta, history, spirituality, or simply compelling storytelling, Finding Shankara provides something more than just knowledge.
Purchase here.
#Bookishlife2022_ #OpinionMatters
