The Four Stages in Life’s Pilgrimage

This profound and elevating text is one of Adi Sankara’s last compositions and gifts to posterity.

Adi Sankara Bhagavadpada, an incarnation of Lord Siva, received initiation from Sri Govinda Bhagavadpada and wrote commentaries on the Brahma Sutras and the Upanishads, thus spreading the message of Advaita Vedanta.

The span of Sankara’s life on earth was at an end, and it was time for him to depart for the divine abode of Kailasa. Sankara’s disciples importuned him to compose an easily understandable text that would show the path of sreyas (welfare) even to those uninitiated in the mysteries of the Brahma Sutras.

It was then that the Upadesa Panchaka was composed. It is also known as Pancharatna, and is one of the few exalted teachings of Sankara. This text gradually leads an aspirant from the study of Vedic texts to the stage of absorption in Brahman. Every verse of this poem has eight mystic teachings. Thus, this small work has a total of 40 mystic teachings, eight in each of the constituents of the pentad. These 40 instructions constitute 40 steps in the ladder to divinity.

Ascent to Bliss

A student can study the Vedas only after the sacred thread ceremony is performed. Starting from upanayana, as aspirant is gradually led to the abode of unalloyed bliss and this mystic journey is traced in this text through stages of Vedic study, Karma Yoga, dispassion, devotion, meditation, jivanmukti and videhamukti.

The first constituent of the pentad describes the duties of a student, a householder, a person who practices meditation and a monk. These are the successive stages of life through which every individual has to pass.

© "Tattvaloka" (September, 2003) published by Sri Abhinava Vidyatheertha Mahaswamigal Education Trust, Abhinav Centre, # 4 (Old # 19), Co-operative Colony, Chennai 600 018. Website: www.tattvaloka.com. Reprinted with permission.

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