Shankar-Diksha

Shankar-Diksha is a novel written by Pt. Janardan Rai Nagar. It is one of the ten novels based on the life and times of Jagatguru Shankaracharya, addressed as Shankar in many of these novels. Shankar set off towards the river Narmada to seek Diksha from Guru Govind. He kept on walking without repose passing through numerous villages. Meeting people on the way and motivating them finally he reached the abode of the teacher Guru Govind. He exercised severe acts of trance and meditation. With the blessings of guru Govind he attained powers- siddhi. Guru gave the sermon of the Elements of Brahma through four sentences of wisdom viz. " Tatvamasi", "Pragyanam Brahm", "Ayamatma Brahm" and "AhamBrahmasmi". Though difficult to translate these are dictums suggesting "That is thou", " Knowledge is God", " This soul is God" and " I am Brahma, the creator".Having bestowed with spiritual powers Shankar wanted to continue living in the spiritual shadow of his master but having satisfied with the learning of Shankar, Guru Govind motivated him to proceed to Kashi, the ancient seat of learning in India. The narrative of the novel becomes very arresting with the lively depiction of the passionate relationship of Mandan Mishra and Bharati. Besides, the challenge thrown to the Acharyas of Buddhism for academic debate by Kumarill Bhatt who got baptized in Buddhism also makes the reading of this novel fulfilling and exciting.