Śaṅkara sets off on his own towards Kāśi, at the behest of his Guru who tells him to spread the knowledge of the Vedas in Kāśi, because Kāśi is the epicenter of Dharma, the place where Śiva, dwells in every stone, tree, building, air, water, and soil.
Chapter 15 of Śaṅkara Charitam, titled Guru Parampara, takes us through the experience of Śaṅkara taking his leave from his Guru Govinda Bhagavatpāda and embarking on his journey to Kasi. The Guru Parampara, the lineage of the Gurus who preceeded Śaṅkara, is explored.
"Rather than getting entangled in doctrinal differences, it might serve us better to find the confluences, the shared understandings, and the universal truths that have guided humanity for millennia. In that spirit of unity, the river of consciousness presents a philosophical bridge, beckoning us to ponder, reflect, and ultimately understand."
In the second part, Dr. Pingali Gopal discusses the evolution of political Hindutva after independence, and sheds light on the failure to define the basic terms as we struggle with the alleged rise of ‘Hindu fundamentalism'.
Who exactly is a ‘Hindu’ and what are ‘Hinduism’ and ‘Hindutva’? Does it mean the land (geography), ancestral roots (history), or a shared culture?
Dr. Pingali Gopal tackles this proverbial bull by the horns, systematically looking at attempts to define and distinguish ‘Hinduism’ and ‘Hindutva’ by Western thought, the Indian liberal elite, and practising Hindus.
Chapter 14 of Śaṅkara Charitam, titled Aja Bakṣiṭha Bāśyaṃ, takes us through the experience of Śaṅkara’s Guru Govinda Bhagavatpāda learning from Gauḍapāda, cursed to be in the form of Brahmarākṣasa. What happens after the lessons are over, where destiny takes each of them - Śaṅkara, his Guru Govinda Bhagavatpāda, and his Guru's Guru Gauḍapāda; will be revealed in this chapter.
In the 10th Chapter of Śaṅkara Charitam, Śaṅkara starts his life as a saṃnyāsi and takes his first steps toward his Guru, his destiny. Shri Ramesh Venkatraman also delves into evidence regarding Śaṅkara being an avatāra-puruṣa, the active and vocal aspect of Śiva.
In the 9th Chapter of Śaṅkara Charitam, Shri Ramesh Venkatraman takes us to the moment of Śaṅkara's Saṃnyāsa. The unfolding of events is captured; as well as the pre-requisites, eligibility and implications for Śaṅkara after taking the pledge of Saṃnyāsa.
These verses are selected and translated from the poet Rabindranath Tagore’s vast repertoire of Bengali Brahamsangeet song lyrics. These song lyrics are rich in terms of literary finesse, outstanding as musical compositions of a classical or semi-classical nature; and, they demonstrate an intense religious longing in the poet – a yearning to attain and dwell in a constant state of union with the Divine.
In the 8th Chapter of Śaṅkara Charitam, Shri Ramesh Venkatraman leads us to the events preceding and foreshadowing Śaṅkara's Saṃnyāsa.