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RELIGIOUS SECTS
the Ilimalaya, where he died at the early age of thirtytwo. The events of his last days are confirmed by local traditions, and the Pitha, or throne of Sarasvati, on which SANKARA sat, is still shown in Kashmir ; whilst at the temple of Siva, at Badari, a Malabar Brahman, of the Nambúri tribe, has always been the officiating priest'.
The influence exercised by SANKARA in person, bas been perpetuated by his writings, the most eminent of which are his Bháshyas, or Commentaries, on the Sútras, or Aphorisins, of VYÁSA. A Commentary on the Bhagavad Gitá is also ascribed to him, as is one on the Nóisinha Tapaniya Upanishad; a cento of verses in praise of DURGá, the Saundaryá Lahari, is likewise said to be his composition, as sometimes is the Amaru Sataka, a collection of amatory Stanzas written in the name of AMARU, a Prince, whose dead body SANKARA is fabled to have animated, that by becoming familiarised with sensual enjoyments he might argue upon such topics with the wife of Madana Miśra, who was more than equal to him in discussions of this nature, and was the only disputant he was unable to subdue, until the period of his transmigration had expired, and he had thence become practiced in the gratification of the passions.
Although no doubt of SANKARA's existence or of the important part performed by him in the partial re-modelling of the Hindu system can be entertained,
Asiat. Researches, Vol. XII, p. 536.
