Adi Shankara's Shivanandalahari

Bhagavan Adi Shankara, the greatest philosopher, who went to the length and breadth of India to establish the Advaita philosophy was also a great devotee and an equally great poet. His poetry in Sanskrit is unmatched, which you can know when you read his works, especially in the verses of Shivanandalahari. You see the extent of his inspired imagination line after line. The stutis and stotras he has written are examples of his unflinching devotion to the Supreme reality.

He has passed on his own experiences of oneness with the infinite Lord in this beautiful poetry. The experience this compassionate master had, at the hillock of Srisailam, at the altar of Lord Mallikarjuna, comes down cascading through the beautiful verses of Shivanandalahari. Just as mother Ganges comes down from the great heights of the Himalayas, changing her course several times, changing colour and contents according to the different landscapes that she passes. This jnana-ganga (river of knowledge) or the Ganges of knowledge that flows from Bhagavan Shankara, starts from the union of Lord Shiva and mother Umadevi. On its way, it teaches man about his foolish mind which goes about the corridors of the sensual world and is attracted by dazzling fruits of desire, like a monkey or an elephant in a rut.

It repeatedly implores the reader to control his mind and surrender at the lotus feet of Lord Shiva. Finally, it stresses the importance of getting the Lord's grace for everything, even in controlling one's own mind. It emphasises that total identification with the Lord and complete surrender unto Him from one's heart is through devotion.

The book discusses the accounts of devoted individuals who have achieved divine visions, including the author's own experiences, while also providing explanations of certain terms through stories and illustrations, ultimately demonstrating the pathway to attaining the non-dual truth through prayer.