(adi Sankara) 20 Sankara At Kanchi Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

Sankara saw the Town Kanchi,
Blessed by Goddess Kamakshi,
That would prosper further
When changed in Srichakra order.

The king redid the town,
In the Srichakra design,
With a temple for Kamakshi
At the center, as Kamakoti.

This ‘Kamakoti Peetam’
He kept at last for him.
To spread the knowledge,
Thro’ his spiritual message.

“God’s names aren’t one,
But many chosen by men,
While in the Veda-Religion,
He remains as the only One.”

“It’s out of ignorance,
Men find the difference,
While He appears as One
To those wise realized men.”

Sankara still allowed
Those men who followed
Deity of their own choice
As personal to themselves.

Once a boy of seven,
A knowledgeable one,
With Sankara debated
For three days, but failed.

Sankara well appreciated him.
As first disciple in the Peetam
He took this boy thereafter
Seeing his pious nature.

The purpose of his birth,
Was over on this earth.
So, to go up it was time,
Wherefrom he came.

One day, his prayer ended.
With that his life also ended,
But he left an indelible record,
Of what, in his life time, he did.

There’re Mutts at Sringeri
Badrinath, Dwaraka, Puri,
Besides the one at Kanchi,
Dedicated to his memory.