The two-day Ekatma Parv at Bharat Bhavan in Bhopal was a memorable occasion that marked the 70th presentation of the Shankar Vyakhyanmala (Shankar Lecture Series) ongoing in Madhya Pradesh. The Adi Shankaracharya Sanskritik Ekta Nyas’s intellectual initiative has become a captivating pulse in the culturally rich life of Madhya Pradesh, centered around Omkareshwar, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of the country. Omkareshwar is also renowned as the land of Adi Shankaracharya’s wisdom and knowledge.
Tracing Adi Shankara’s Tradition
A year ago, the installation of the 108-foot-tall multi-metallic statue drew widespread attention to Omkareshwar. This will be the only such statue of a 12-year-old child on earth. Padma Bhushan Shri M., born as Mumtaz Ali in a Muslim family in Kerala, was the main speaker at the Ekatma Parv. On the first day, he delivered a lecture, and on the second day, there was a dialogue. Shri M. is a renowned spiritual teacher who travels the world as a respected exponent of India’s eternal knowledge tradition. Initiated into the Nath lineage, Sri M.’s guru is Mahendranath Baba, whom he reverently remembers in every discourse. He has also been an active social reformer, having walked 7,500 km from Kanyakumari to Kashmir in the ‘Walk of Hope’ in 2015-16, reaching out to 10 million citizens, and establishing the Satsang Foundation two decades ago.
In the beginning of the discourse, he remarked, “I too was born in Kerala. I often wonder, when Adi Shankaracharya traveled the entire country, what language would he have spoken in? Certainly not Malayalam. His language of communication must have been Sanskrit. Today, our mother tongue is Hindi, but it should be Sanskrit.” Like the sages of the Upanishadic era, he conveyed his message through short stories. For example, he narrated how once the ego of deities like Indra, Agni, and Vayu had grown boastful. Param Brahma took the form of as a Yaksha, approached Agni and asked, “Who are you?” Agni claimed he wields the power to burn down the world. But when Agni could not burn even a blade of grass given by the Yaksha, he returned disappointed. He then narrated this incident to Vayu and Indra. Vayu came and claimed “I can blow everything away; I’m the very breath that animates life.” But he could not so much as move that blade of grass away. When Indra could not even see the Yaksha, the divine power revealed that the “Yaksha was none other than the Param Brahma himself. You are so full of vanity that you couldn’t even see him.” To sum it up, Param Brahma cannot be known through limited intellect, but only through purification of the mind and removal of mental modifications, through spiritual practice.
Shri M. remarked, “Adi Shankaracharya is the greatest exponent of Advaita. Soundarya Lahari is his unparalleled contributions to spirituality and pursuit of Shri Vidya. This is how it begins—when everything becomes still, the power descends in the form of a bindu (dot). That is the Kundalini Shakti. It cannot be forcefully activated, but only through prayer. The Shri Sukta of the Rigveda speaks of this power, but for common people, prayer is the first step to reach the Supreme Brahman.”
Nitish Bhardwaj’s Spiritual Sagacity
The second evening of the Ekatma Parv featured the renowned actor, producer, and director Nitish Bharadwaj, a familiar name in Indian cinema and television. However, his identity is not limited to the small or big screen. His portrayal of Krishna in the highly popular Doordarshan serial “Mahabharata” gave him a larger-than-life image, but few know that in his personal life, he is a deep spiritual seeker with a rich family background. He often shares his experiences and spiritual journey on social media platforms.
In this dialogue with Shri M., Nitish Bharadwaj’s questions revealed this unexplored aspect of his sadhana and exploration. When asked about the apparent diversity in the world and the concept of Advaita, Shri M. explained that as human beings are highly under the influence of the senses, we live in a dualistic mindset. To experience the non-dual Brahman, one has to go beyond the senses. The common person starts from duality, seeing himself as the individual self (jiva) and wanting to attain Brahman. Whereas in pure Advaita vision, the jiva does not exist at all; there is only the one true reality of Brahman. To discover this truth, one needs viveka (discrimination) and vairagya (dispassion).
The ancient texts have spoken of the direct connection between Advaita and the environment, with the traditional practice of sadhana happening in the forests
On the differences between Shiva and Shakti, Shri M. said that when the entire universe is calm and motionless, it is on account of Shiva, and when any kind of activity or dynamism happens, it is due to Shakti. Regarding the importance of a clean environment in spirituality, he emphasized that purity is essential not only of the mind but also of the body and especially the surroundings and environment. The ancient texts have spoken of the direct connection between Advaita and the environment, with the traditional practice of sadhana happening in the forests, establishing a living relationship with nature.
Today, we have created concrete jungles, severing our connection with nature. Shri M. also spoke about the misconception that those on the paths of sannyasa, jnana, or bhakti become detached from the world. He said that those who truly take these paths develop an even higher and nobler feeling of compassion, love, and care for the world, though they are not attached to it. On incorporating meditation into one’s daily routine, he suggested using music as a medium, as it helps in attaining focus, which is the first step towards meditation. Regarding the caste system, Shri M. clarified that in ancient India, there was the concept of varna, not jati (caste). The Gita does not use the term jati at all, only varna, which denoted the spiritual progression of a person, not any social division.
Shri M. further spoke about the significance of Adi Shankaracharya’s work in reviving and establishing the true essence of the Sanatana Dharma during a time of crisis and distortions. He mentioned the Ekatma Dham initiative at Omkareshwar, which is empowering the highly educated youth to become ambassadors of Bharat’s great knowledge tradition through youth retreats called Advaita Jagran Shivirs, which have already reached 700 young participants from 26 states, creating a vibrant inter-state network of prestigious gurukuls, spiritual institutions, and ashrams.
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