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What is Manisha Panchakam? Exploring Shankara’s Verses on Equality
Manisha Panchakam means the Five Verses of Conviction. It is a short but profound composition by Jagadguru Sri Adi Shankaracharya that encapsulates the essence of Advaita Vedanta philosophy. The Sanskrit word ‘Manisha’ means conviction, and ‘Panchakam’ refers to a collection of five verses.
These verses emerged from an encounter between Sri Adi Shankaracharya and a sweeper (Lord Shiva Himself in disguise) in Varanasi.
The Context
While walking towards the temple of Lord Vishwanatha with his disciples, Sri Adi Shankaracharya asked a sweeper to move from his path. The sweeper posed philosophical questions to Sri Adi Shankaracharya, asking:
1. “What do you want to move away—one food made body from another, or consciousness from consciousness?”
2. “Is there any difference between the Sun’s reflection in the Ganges and in a puddle in the sect’s quarter? Or between the space in a gold pot versus a clay pot? What is this illusion of difference between a Brahmin and a sect in the same dwelling Self?”
Recognising the profound nature of these questions, Sri Adi Shankaracharya responded with five verses that now constitute the Manisha Panchakam.
The Five Verses of Conviction
The True Guru
One who has firmly realised that they are not an object of perception but the pure consciousness that shines through waking, dream, and deep sleep states—the witness dwelling in all beings from Lord Brahma to the ant—is the true ‘Guru,’ whether they are from some sect or a Brahmin.
The Nature of Reality
I am Brahman. The entire universe is merely the manifestation of Pure Consciousness. All this is conjured by me due to ‘avidya’ (ignorance) composed of the three ‘gunas.’ One with this firm understanding of Brahman, which is the Eternal, the Supreme, the Pure, and the Blissful, is the Guru, irrespective of social status.
Transcending Karma
The enlightened person, having concluded that the universe is perishable, constantly meditates on the Eternal Brahman with a calm mind. Having burnt past and future ‘karma’ in the fire of knowledge, they simply allow their ‘prarabdha karma’ (that which has given rise to the present body) to play out.
The Concealed Self
The Self is experienced by all beings as “I.” It is the consciousness that makes the insentient body, mind, and senses appear sentient. Though this Self is often concealed by the very faculties it illuminates (like the Sun hidden by the clouds), the yogi who meditates on this Self with a calm mind is the true Guru.
The Ocean of Bliss
The Self is the Eternal Ocean of the Supreme Bliss. Even a tiny fraction of this bliss satisfies the gods. One whose mind has become identified with this Self is not merely a knower of Brahman but is Brahman itself—worthy of worship even by Lord Indra, the king of the gods.
The Key Principles of Advaita Vedanta in Manisha Panchakam
The Oneness of Self
The same consciousness dwells in all beings regardless of external differences.
Beyond Social Distinctions
True spiritual stature transcends social categories. An enlightened person is a Guru regardless of sect.
The Nature of Liberation
Liberation is not achieving something new but recognising one’s true nature as Brahman by removing the wrong identification with the body-mind complex.
Three States of Consciousness
The Self is that which witnesses the waking, dream, and deep sleep states while remaining unchanged.
Karma and Liberation
Self-knowledge destroys accumulated (Sanchita) and future (Agami) karma, while present (Prarabdha) ‘karma’ must be exhausted through experience.
Final word
Manisha Panchakam expounds the essence of Advaita Vedanta through the profound dialogue between Sri Adi Shankaracharya and the disguised Lord Shiva. Its central message is that anyone who has realised their true nature as the Eternal, Infinite Consciousness is worthy of reverence, transcending all social distinctions. Self-knowledge is the ultimate equaliser, revealing that all beings share the same divine essence.
