Author Description

Shankar-Shastrarth, the most important novel among all the novels written by Manishi Pdt. Janardan Rai Nagar, is based on the life of Jagadguru Shankaracharya. Only after his victory over Mandan Mishra in the Shastrarth, he became famous as Jagadguru. The declamation of Shankaracharya was "Brahm Satyam Jagat Mithya," i.e. the world is an illusion, and only God is real. Mandan Mishra, on the contrary, proclaimed, "Jagat Satyam, Brahma Mithya," i.e. only the world is real, and God is an illusion. It was ordained that if Mandan Mishra lost the debate, he will have to adopt the life of an ascetic, and if Shankaracharya lost, he shall have to adopt a worldly life. In the Shastrarth, Mandan Mishra claims that the world and the living beings are real. Shankar argues that the world is not constant, as it keeps changing. Whatever is grand shall be lost in oblivion soon. Therefore, the world is temporal. Having heard numerous logic, Mandan Mishra started asking himself: "The world is a dream of Kaal-Ratri, the night of destruction?" Shankar says, "Vats, dear Mandan, the time and the movement of Karma (Action) is very intense and delightful... but time is a serpent... Karmas are deadly desires. The soul wants nectar-Amrit! Come, let us look towards Truth from Untruth, let us get pulled towards the light from the darkness. Now, surely, dear friend." In the end, Mandan accepts that this world is unnecessary bondage and decides to become a monk.