**Brahma Jnani**

Dear Reader,

Here's something i would like you to read and think about.
Are the present day teachers / gurus / trainers anywhere near what i have given at the end of this short note?

Think and reason for your self as in to know so that you can then decide.
Regards,
A.S.Prasad.

**Brahma Jnani**

Mandana Misra, a scholar of great repute. His wife, Ubhayabharathi, too was a great scholar. When Adi Sankara was proceeding on his victory march, he met Mandana Misra and entered into a scholarly debate with him. It was decided that Mandana Misra would take to Sannyasa if he was defeated in the debate.

Ubhayabharathi was chosen to be the adjudicator of the contest. Will anyone accept such a proposal wherein the rival’s wife acts as the adjudicator? But, Adi Sankara had no hesitation to accept her as the adjudicator, for he knew that Ubhayabharati strictly adhered to the principle of truth in letter and spirit.

She was impartial in her judgement and declared Sankara to be the winner. Mandana Misra took to Sannyasa in accordance with the terms and conditions of the debate. Ubhayabharati, being his Ardhangi (better half), followed suit.

Ubhayabharathi lived in a hermitage near the bank of river Ganga. Many women became her disciples. Every day in the morning, they used to go to the bank of the Ganga to have a bath.

On the way, there lived a Sannyasi, whom people considered as Brahma Jnani (the knower of Brahma). He had renounced the world to attain true wisdom.

However, he was very much attached to a dried bottle-gourd in which he used to preserve water. One day he was lying down, using it as a pillow, lest someone should steal it.

Ubhayabharathi observed this and asked her disciples as to who he was. One of the disciples said that he was known as Brahma Jnani.

Then Ubhayabharathi remarked, “Though he is one of wisdom, he is attached to his bottle-gourd which he is using as his pillow.”

The so-called Brahma Jnani heard their conversation and became angry.

When Ubhayabharathi and her disciples were returning from the Ganga, he threw away the bottle- gourd on the road, just to show that he was not attached to it.

Seeing this, Ubhayabharathi at once remarked, “I thought there was only one defect in him - Abhimana (attachment).

Now I realise that he has another defect also - Ahamkara (ego). How can one with Ahamkara and Abhimana be a Jnani (one of wisdom)? Her comment was an eye opener for the Sannyasi.

Immediately he fell at the feet of Ubhayabharathi and prayed to her to teach him true knowledge.

A true guru is one who dispels the darkness of ignorance and lights the lamp of wisdom.

That which remains changeless in all the three periods of time is true wisdom.

People accepted Ubhayabharathi as their guru because her thought, word and deed were in complete harmony.

Manasyekam vachasyekam karmanyekam mahatma naam (Those whose thoughts, words and deeds are in perfect harmony are noble ones).