002 BE ALERT! BE ALERT! भज गोविंदं भज गोविंदम मूढमते భజ గోవిందం, భజగోవిందం మూఢమతే

Sankaracharya used the set of following verses to keep people awake from delusion and ignorance.

Maata naasti, pitaa naasti
naasti bandhu sahoodaraha
artham gruham naasti
tasmaat jaagruta jaagruta!

There is no mother. There is no father. There are no relatives and siblings There is no wealth. There is no home. Be alert! Be alert!

Janmaa duhkham, jaraa duhkham
jaaya duhkha punah punaha
samsaara saagaram duhkham
tasmaat jaagruta jaagruta!

Birth is misery. Old age is misery. Spouse is misery again and again. The ocean of domestic life is misery Hence Be alert! Be alert!

Kaama kroodhascha loobhascha
deehee tisht`hamti
taskaraaha gnaana ratna apahaara arthaaya
tasmaat jaagruta jaagruta!

Desire and Lust, Anger, and Covetousness are like thieves. They sit in the body like thieves awaiting for an opportunity to steal the gems of knowledge and awareness. Hence Be alert! Be alert!

Aas`aaya badhyatee lookaha
karman`aa bahu chimtayaha
Ayuh kshan`am jaanati
Tasmaat jaagruta jaagruta!

Greed binds people to action and concerns. Remaining years of life pass away every moment. Hence Be alert! Be alert!

Sampadaha Svapna samkaasaha
Yauvanam kusumoopamam
Vidyut camcalam Aayushyam
Tasmaat Jaagruta Jaagruta!

Riches are like dreams. Youth is like a flower (withers in a day). Longevity is like a lightning (vanishes in a moment). Hence: Be alert! Be alert!

Kshan`am vittam Kshan`am cittam
Kshanam Jiivitameeva ca
Yamasya karun`aa naasti
Tasmaat Jaagruta Jaagruta!

Money is momentary. Mind is fickle. Life is ehemeral. The God of Death has no compassion. Hence Be alert! Be alert!

Anityaani S`ariiraani
Vibhavaanaiva S`aasvataha
Nityam Sannihiti mrutyuhu
Tasmaat Jaagruta Jaagruta!

Bodies are transient. Riches are not permanent. Death follows closely always. Hence Be alert! Be alert!

These verses are really secular. Have nothing to do with any religion. Not prayers. Just awaken the mind to the realities of this mundane world.

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#001, Life, literature, philosophy and criticism of SANKARACHARYA (ADI SHANKARACHARYA) pronuncaition: Aadi S`ankaraacaarya

WHAT I PROMISE
Objectivity and absence of bias. I do not intend this to be a propaganda for any monastery or religion. I do not intend to collect any donations or establish my cult. I have no cult. I am not a preacher. I am just a householder. I am an atheist. I am born as a Hindu. Hinduism in its present form of theory or practice needs thorough reformation and restructuring. A part of that quest is this study.

INTRODUCTION
His followers call him "JAGADGURU (The preceptor for the World) ADI (First) SANKARACHARYA. S`ankara is regarded as the reincarnation of the God S`iva S`ankara in Sanskrit means one who bestows benevolence. Acharya means preceptor, teacher of higher learning. (Nowadays the term is being used in Indian Universities to mean "Professor".

Shri Sankaracharya lived in the 8th Century. He was said to have lived barely 32 years. In the limited life span of just 32 years, he was said to have toured the entire India on foot, defeated many scholars in arguments and started four monasteries on the four peripheries of India:

North: Badari (now in Uttaranchal State).
East: Puri (now in Orissa State.
South: Sringeri (now in Karnataka State).
West: Dwaraka (now in Gujarat State).

Shri Shankaracharya was also said to have visited the Kanchi monastery and shrine in Tamil Nadu which were existing at the time of his visit.

The Heads of all the five monasteries now call themselves Sankaracharyas and Jagadgurus.

Sankaracharya's works can be classified into four categories:
1. Commentaries
Eg. Prasthanatraya (Commentaries for Bhagavad Gita, Brahma Sutras, and Upanishads).
2. Philosophical Literature
Eg. Viveeka Cud`aman`i.
3. Stootra Literature (Devotional Prayer Literature).
Eg. Kanakadhaara Stavam, Saundarya Lahari, Sivananda Lahari, Lakshmi Narasimha Karavalamba Stotram.

Sankarachaya was one of the perfect models of renunciation. Hence I am trying to cover these verses first.

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