About Adi Shankara
Adi Shankara
The great Adi Shankara of the eigth century summarized the entirety of advaita vedanta in six stanzas. When a young boy of eight years, while wandering in the Himalayas, seeking to find his guru, he encountered a sage who asked him, “who are you? The boy answered with these stanzas, which are known as Nirvana Shatakam or Atma Shatakam. Nirvana is complete equanimity, peace, tranquility, freedom and joy. Atma is true self. The boy was talking to was Swami Govindapada Acharya, who was, indeed, the teacher he was looking for. These few verses can be of tremendous value to progress in contemplation practices that lead to self-realization.
1. Mano BuddhyA-hankara ChittaNi naaham Nacha Shrotra Jihve Na Cha Ghrana Netre Nacha Vyoma Bhoomir Na Tejo Na Vayuh Chidananda Rupah Shivoham! Shivoham!! I am not mind, intellect, ego and the memory. I am not the sense of organs (ears, tongue, nose, eyes and skin). I am not the five elements ( sky or ether, earth, light or fire, the wind and the water). I am supreme bliss and pure consciousness, I am Shiva, I am all auspiciousness, I am Shiva.
2. Na Cha Prana Sangyo Na Vai Pancha Vayu Na Vaa Sapta dhatur Na Vaa Pancha Koshah Na Vak Pani Padam Na Chopastha Payu Chidananda Rupah Shivoham! Shivoham!! I am not Prana ( energy) nor five vital airs (PanchVayu), nor the seven essential material( sapta dhatu ), nor the five sheaths of the body ( pancha kosha ). I am not the organ of speech, nor hand nor the leg, nor the organs of procreation or the elimination(anus). I am supreme bliss and pure consciousness, I am Shiva, I am all auspiciousness, I am Shiva.
3. Na Me Dvesha Ragau Na Me Lobha Mohau Mado Naiva Me Naiva Maatsarya Bhavah Na Dharmo Na Chartho Na Kamo Na Mokshah Chidananda Rupah Shivoham! Shivoham!! I have no hatred or dislike, neither greed nor liking, no delusion, I have no pride or haughtiness, nor jealousy. I have no duty to perform(dharma), no desire for any wealth or pleasure (kama), I have no liberation (moksha) either. I am supreme bliss and pure consciousness, I am Shiva, I am all auspiciousness, I am Shiva.
4. Na Punyam Na Papam Na Saukhyam Na Dukham Na Mantro Na Teertham Na Veda Na Yajnaha Aham Bhojanam Naiva Bhojyam Na Bhokta Chidananda Rupah Shivoham! Shivoham!! I have neither virtue, nor vice. nor pleasure or pain, I do not need mantras(sacred chants), nor pilgrimages. nor scriptures (Vedas), rituals or sacrifices (Yagyas). I am neither the enjoyed nor the enjoyer, nor enjoyment. I am the supreme auspiciousness of the form of consciousness-bliss(chidananda Rupah). I am the auspiciousness I am supreme bliss and pure consciousness, I am Shiva, I am all auspiciousness, I am Shiva.
5. Na Me Mrityu Shanka Na Me Jati Bhedah Pita Naiva Me Naiva Mata Na Janma Na Bandhur Na Mitram Gurur Naiva Shishyah Chidananda Rupah Shivoham! Shivoham!! I have no fear of death, nor do I have death. No doubt about my existence, nor distinction of caste. I have no father or mother, I have no birth. I have no relatives, nor friend, nor the guru, nor the disciple. I am pure knowledge and supreme bliss, I am Shiva, I am all auspiciousness, I am Shiva.
6. Aham Nirvikalpo Nirakaara Roopah Vibhur Vyapya Sarvatra Sarvendriyanaam Sada Me Samatvam Na Mukthir Na Bandhah, Chidananda Rupah Shivoham! Shivoham!! I am formless and devoid of all dualities I exist everywhere and pervade all senses Always I am the same, I am neither free nor bonded I am pure knowledge and supreme bliss, I am Shiva, I am all auspiciousness, I am Shiva.
The song of the self "Nirvana Shatakam" also known as "Atma-Shatakam" by Adi Shankara explains about who we are and indirectly says what happens after death.
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