The caritas are not at all reliable when it comes to the ideology of Sankaradeva. Written centuries into the post-Sankaradeva era when the Eka Sarana religion of Sankaradeva had already become distorted, with the original path of pure devotion reverting to the old karmic ideology, these biographies provide an account that is extremely inconsonant with Sankaradeva’s own pronouncements and exhortations (regarding the path to be followed). Among these glaring inconsistencies is the one pertaining to traveling to sacred spots (tirtha). However, even among this abundance of contradictions, there are certain passages that seem to give the correct version of events. The ideology expressed in these passages aligns beautifully with the one revealed by Sankaradeva in his own writings. It is these passages that give us the real Sankaradeva.
The Sarana of Ramadasa (Daityari, pp. 52-53)
Sankara’s words to Gayapani (Ramadasa) on the futility of tirtha and the glory of the pure devotees’ company:
jānilom̐ śaṅkara-, -deve bulilanta kahiẏoka mahāśaẏa .. 20 .. kibā paḍhi āchā, tehe bole alpa nāhike paḍhā bistara . eka guṭi śloka, paḍhiẏo eteke jānibo bole śaṅkara .. 21 .. "tatraiva gaṅgā yamunā ca tatra godāvarī tatra sarasbatī ca . sarbbāni tīrthāni basanti tatra ẏatrācyutodāra kathā prasaṅgaḥ .." ehi guṭi śloka, paḍhilanta tehem̐ iṭo sarbbaśāstra sāra . āra bāra mātā, bulilanta tāṅka paḍhā paḍhā āra bāra .. 22 .. ehimate tini, bāra paḍhāilanta śaṅkaradeve eteke . rākhilanta śloka, bulilanta tāṅka bujiẏo āra arthake .. 23 .. tehem̐
kahilanta, nubujiẏo artha śuniẏā śaṅkare hāsi . ślokara samasta, artha bakhāniẏā kahilā tāṅka prakāśi .. 24 .. kṛṣṇara udāra, kathāra prasaṅga yathāta hove niścaẏa . gaṅgā godābarī, ādi yata tīrtha nibāsa tathā karaẏa .. 25 .. hena śuni tente, bole kaika yāi tīrthaka yāibāra mana . tīrthara āśāka, teji sehi dinā |
“I
have known,” Sankaradeva said, “Tell
me, sir.” 20 I
will know,” says Sankara. 21 “tatraiva gaṅgā yamunā ca tatra godāvarī tatra sarasvatī ca . sarvāṇi tīrthāṇi vasanti tatra ẏatrācyutodāra kathā prasaṅgaḥ ..” “Read it out once more!” He tells him, In this manner, after he had him read it three
times, Sankaradeva kept aside the sloka. He then said to him, “Now please explain to me its meaning.” 23 He replied, “I have not understood its meaning.”
Hearing, Sankara, laughing a little, the entire meaning of the sloka he explained and revealed to him in full: 24 “Wherever the `noble and munificent` (udāra) facts (kathā) pertaining to The Supreme Personality of Joy
(Krsna) are undoubtedly have their residence.” 25 Listening to these words, he (Ramadasa) said to
himself, “Oh! Where do I go with the objective of visiting
these tīrthas!” |