The Hymns of Sankara (Shankaracharya)

In connection with Sri Sankara Jayanti celebrations at Sankara Vihara, Ayanavaram, Madras, every year it has been a regular practice to bring out some small publication based on the works of the Great Master as also works about him under the head 'Jayanti Series'. The present work comes under that category.

Besides writing his well-known commentaries and Advaita manuals, Adi Sankara composed a vast number of moving hymns filled with ardent devotion. Were this fact better known, the charge leveled against Sankara's Advaita, viz., that there is no place for bhakti in the path of jnana would not have been made.

This book includes some of his hymns. At the end Totakacarya's well-known hymn to Sankara is added.

The text is given in Devanagari script with transliteration, English translation and commentary.

About the Author:

The Late Dr. T.M.P. Mahadevan was born in 1911 and was educated in Madras. An earnest Advaitin by training and temperament, Dr. Mahadevan, remained engaged in intensive research and teaching throughout his life. Several of his works, noted for their width and range, depth of insight and clarity deal with the ancient scriptures and religion in general and Advaita in particular.

The Hymns of Sankara first published in 1970 has long been out of print. I am happy that the present Revised Edition is being sponsored by the well known Indological publishers Messrs Motilal Banarsidass.

I am grateful to Sri N.P. Jain for agreeing immediately and unhesitatingly to accept my proposal to bring out this revised edition.

The version of my commentary on the Hymn to Daksinamurti is entirely a new one based on Svayamprakasa yati’s vyakhayana.

In Connection with Sri Sankara Jayanti Celebrations at Sankara Vihar Anyanavaram every year I have been privileged to bring out a small publication based on the works either of Sri Sankara or about him under the head Jayanti Series. The first book n the series a morning prayer and hymn to Daksinamurti was published in 1956. Then followed Isavasya Upanisad (No.2, 1957) Kena Upanisad (No.3, 1958) homage to Sankara (No. 4, 1959) Readings form Sankara (part One No. 5 1960) Readings from Sankara (part Two. No 6, 1961) Bhaja Govindam (No. 7, 1962) Hymn to siva (No. 8, 1963) Self knowledge (No. 9, 1964) Vedanta in ten verses (No. 10, 1965) and the wisdom of unity (No. 11, 1967) as some of these publications have gone out of print they are being reprinted here either in full or in part. The present publication the Hymns of Sankara is No. 12 in the series among its contents the hymns of Daksinamurti is taken from No. 1 in the series the Hymn to Guru From No. 4 the Bhaja Govindam from No. 7 and the Sivanandalahari is a reproduction of No. 8 There are two appendices. One is Manasollasa taken from No. 1 in the series and the other is Totakestaka taken from No. 4 I thank Messrs Ganesh and Co. for sponsoring the publication of this number. I am grateful to Dr. N. Veezhinathan for reading the proofs.

Of Related Interest:

Life of Shankaracharya - The Adventures of a Poet Philosopher

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