(adi Sankara) 13 Madana Misra (2) Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

Taking leave of Bharati,
Sankara went to Kasi.
King of Kasi was dead.
This news he heard.

He entered the king’s body.
Leaving his physical body.
The disciples kept his body
In the hole of a tree shady.

With queens he moved,
And got what he wanted.
In him, they saw a change
And something strange.

They came to a conclusion,
He wasn’t an ordinary man,
But a Mahatma’s soul
Had replaced King’s soul.

Soldiers went to locate,
Where his body was kept,
But back Sankara entered
Before his body was destroyed.

In the fresh debate held
Bharati was again defeated.
Mandana Misra took sanyas.
Sankara had one more success.

Mandana Misra, who became
Sureswara Acharya, new name
Of the Sanyasi, selected first
To take over the Sringeri Mutt.

Success after success,
Sankara achieved thus.
Jagadguru he became.
With all the due fame.

His success was so complete
None was able to compete
With his supreme position
As a Founder of the institution.