Leveraging content- lessons from Shankaracharya

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Shri Shankaracharya is a lion that slays the dumb elephant that personifies the difference between shiva & Vishnu?

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We are in the age of content. The power of an idea or thought is measured by the content generated. Content helps one trend, get better search results, and share for voice. Content available for target users represents the sign of empathy & care an organization has. IN Sanatanic culture, leaders are those who presented new ideas & ideals. We pray for those who preached universal thoughts & followed them in their life. All the Rishi’s were “mantra drishtara’s” i.e. those who visualized the hymns, which represented ultimate truth & provided the most powerful tools for spiritual awakening. They were from the sections of the society & all sections of the society respected them, celebrated them & followed them. What was used by them & what was used to celebrate them was the literature and content.?

Aadi Sankaracharya like all other aspects of his life contributed handsomely to the literature. These helped a lot in communicating his thoughts. It is important to mention two critical facts

His works can be classified into 4 groups - Commentaries, Works that illustrate his philosophy, Devotional Stotras & works around Tantra

1. Commentaries on prastanatrayas which formed the basis of his philosophy

.Commentaries by Shankaracharya were the major source of understanding Uttara meemamse/jnaanakhanda for ages to come.? Unfortunately for some of the scholars who came after Shankaracharya (eg. Ramanujacharya & Madhvacharya), his original texts may not have bere available for reference & they had to rely on the commentaries on Shankara’s work by his disciples for review.

2. Works that illustrate his philosophy

Understandably bulk of works from Shankaracharya are meant to illustrate his thesis. Some of the major works include Vivekachudamani,? Atma? Bodha, ? Drig-Drishya? Viveka, and Upadesa? Sahari.? Atma Bodha though a very small work is considered to be a really summary of everything Shankaracharya stood for.?

3. Devotional stotras

Devotional stotras by Shankaracharya present an amazing treat for lovers of language, and literature. Poetry and worshippers. While Shankaracharya proposed Nirguna Brahma, he appreciated the need for human beings to worship Saguna Brahma to attain purity in thoughts. Instead of denouncing Karma khanda, he proposed all rituals, worshippings, and a necessary tool for attaining ChittaShudhi. While integrating multiple rituals & 6 major sects of worship, he wrote, many devotional poems. Shankaracharya has written amazing poems for all Gods established in most major temples of the country. These works are both musical for rendering, heartwarming for remembering & impactful while understanding.? These works also give us an understanding of Shankara's travel, his efforts to integrate multiple sects, his belief in the importance of practicing Sanatana Dharma & his conviction on how Sanatana Dharma binds the whole country.

4. Works that form the basis of Shrividya/ Tantra

Earlier we read about how the presence of Shankaracharya in Kashi gave him exposure to Shakta, Tantra & other mechanisms. Shankaracharya ensured that these practices are integrated within the principles of Dharma. His works around ShriVidya stem from his deep understanding of the same.? He wrote some very interesting and profound works like Soundarya lahari in this direction

Shankara's poetic skills are as heartful as his theories being mindful. One rarely sees examples of such a sharp intellect with the heart of a poet.?

A few examples of Shankara’s poetic brilliance are below

1. Amazing work from “Manisha Panchakam”, to explain futile practices of castism, when all of us are part of Brahma.? A perfect example of staying extremely logical while being sublimely creative in presenting a case against castism.

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Is there any difference between the reflection of the sun in the waters of the Ganga and its reflection in the water in a ditch in the quarters of the outcastes? Or between the space in a gold pot and in a mud pot? What is this illusion of difference in the form, “This is a Brahmana and this is an outcast” in the indwelling self which is the ripple-free ocean of bliss and pure consciousness??

1. A heart-touching work from “matru panchakam”, offering salutations to mother. Sheer depth & description is second to none in recognizing the pain that a mother goes through.

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At the time of giving birth to me, O Mother!, you suffered from unbearable pain. You did not speak about the suffering of your body nor of your painful condition while lying in the bed for almost a year. For even one of the sufferings that you underwent during pregnancy, O Mother!, a son is unable to offer atonement. To that mother, I offer my salutations!?

1. Interesting poem from? “Shiva Keshaadi Paadaanta Stotra”. In this poem, Shankaracharya uses a beautiful poetic imagination as to why Shiva is Neelakanta. Why poison consumed by Shiva during “Amrita Manthana”, rests in his throat only.? HE uses some facts from Purana that illustrate Parvati resides in half portion of Shiva’s body (Arda nareeshwara) . & Shri Vishnu resides in another half(Hari Hara).?

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The moment Shiva partook in the poison, both Parvati and Vishnu were afraid for different reasons. Parvati feared that if the poison enters her husband’s stomach, it might cause him harm. Vishnu, on the other hand, is afraid that if the poison comes out of Shiva’s mouth, the whole world will be turned into ashes. This concern of Parvati & Shiva ensured Shiva remains Neela Kanta.

For anyone who likes poetry, the work of Shankaracharya offers some great example of “rasa & dhwani”. Filled with Alankaras, prases, and right poetic meters, they are a treat to even an atheist who just wants to appreciate literature. The choice of his words and the musical notes each of those words generate makes them popular even today. They are not just being loved by worshippers but even by those who just want to soak themselves in the musical concerts where those poems are rendered. His works have stood the test of time, even in terms of their literary values.

Today, we see shadow writers writing biopics of successful entrepreneurs and an army of freelance content writers trying to build propaganda material. While the pace is the rule & there is a need for lot more hands working on content generation, one can never underestimate the power of an entrepreneur who communicates through his writings. One of the essential skills Entrepreneurs should develop is the ability to write & communicate well. Writing that is not only meant for promotion but writing that aims to give back their learning, writing that just relieves the entrepreneur, writing that ensures entrepreneurs stay in touch with passions & hobbies

Today, there are no religious institutions without publications. But most publications are driven by agenda & hardly appeal to those who don’t follow the institution. Shankaracharya gives us an example of how literature is not only? meant for propaganda but for just the sheer appreciation of truth & beauty