(adi Sankara) 09 The Untouchable Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

Sankara was on his way
To the temple, one day,
After his bath in Ganges
Along with his disciples.

By then, a low caste man,
With his unclean woman,
And four dogs by his side,
Sankara’s path, he crossed.

A disciple began to yell,
“Go away, you Sandala,
Our Master is here
Don’t come near.”

The man laughed
And then he said,
“You preach Advaita.
What’s this Advaita? ”

“If everything is divine
Why this difference then?
Bodies are many, not one,
But you say Atman is one.”

“Should body or Atman,
Which one you mean,
Should go far away
From your pathway? ”

Sankara, wonder struck
At the man’s sharp prick,
Could immediately guess
They weren’t from low class.

'Lord Viswanath, as a man,
Goddess Visalakshi, as a woman,
They both had come to test
In this way, ' Sankara thought.

He sang in praise of them,
And then worshiped them.
Casting away their disguise,
They came out to praise.

“You rose up from me.
You should also see
What you preach others
You should practice thus.”

“To test you I came here.
This, the world should hear.
This drama is now over.
May your fame live forever.”

The Lord disappeared.
Sankara was pleased,
Having seen Him
In His real form.