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Shri Mahavir Jain Aradhana Kendra
www.kobatirth.org
192
Pakshapato na me vire
na dveshah Kapiladishu Yuktimadvachanam Yasya
Acharya Shri Kailassagarsuri Gyanmandir
Tasya Karyah Parigrahah.
"I am not partial to Mahavira, nor am I prejudiced against Kapila Maharshi (the exponent of the Sankhya philosophy) and other scholars. I accept the theories of those whose arguments and expositions are logical, sensible and enlightened."
Once,
Adishankarachārya was returning to his ashram after having taken a bath. By chance, on the way, he happened to touch a Bhangi (Harijan). Shankaracharya angrily said "I say, are you blind? Can't you see that I am returning from the river after taking a bath? By touching me you have made me impure and unholy. I have to go again to the river and take a bath."
The bhangi said, "I think you are the exponent of the Advaita Philosophy?" Shankarāchārya said, "Of course. I am the exponent of the Advaita Philosophy." The bhangi said, "Brahman is true, the perceptible world is unreal. The jiva himself is the brahman, and the brahman is not different from the jiva. I think this is what you have been preaching?"
Shankaracharya said, "Yes, that is my philosophy."
The bhangi said, "If the same supreme reality, namely, brahman is present in me and in you how can my touch make you impure and unholy? If you really believe in your philosophy you would not have shown such discrimination. Another point is this. The brahman is pure but the body is impure because it is made up of such things as muscles, bones and many disgusting and impure things. If one impure body touches another impure body it does not matter. Please think about it."
Shankaracharya had defeated many great scholars by his arguments but he could not answer the questions of the bhangi. He saluted the bhangi and said, "Today, you have opened my eyes. You have taught me that our
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