VivekaVani

Manisha Panchakam is a set of five verses in which Adi Shankaracharya succinctly presents the essence of Advaita Vendanta, philosophy of non-duality.

The occasion for this composition was an encounter between Shankaracharya and a sweeper. When Shankaracharya was walking, along with his disciples, towards the temple of Lord Viswanath in Varanasi, it so happened that a sweeper was walking towards him on the same street. Shankaracharya asked the sweeper to move away from his path. The sweeper then asked him some questions that form the substatnce of two verses which are a prelude to the main composition.

On hearing the sweeper's questions, Shankaracharya realized that the person before him was no ordinary sweeper. Shankaracharya's response to these questions, given in five verses, are called Manisha Panchakam; the word 'manisha' meaning 'firm conviction' appears in the last line in all five ("pancha" means five) verses.

Manisha Panchakam - Discussion | Swami Sarvapriyananda

Manisha Panchakam is a set of five verses in which Adi Shankaracharya succinctly presents the essence of Advaita Vendanta, philosophy of non-duality.

The occasion for this composition was an encounter between Shankaracharya and a sweeper. When Shankaracharya was walking, along with his disciples, towards the temple of Lord Viswanath in Varanasi, it so happened that a sweeper was walking towards him on the same street. Shankaracharya asked the sweeper to move away from his path. The sweeper then asked him some questions that form the substatnce of two verses which are a prelude to the main composition.

On hearing the sweeper's questions, Shankaracharya realized that the person before him was no ordinary sweeper. Shankaracharya's response to these questions, given in five verses, are called Manisha Panchakam; the word 'manisha' meaning 'firm conviction' appears in the last line in all five ("pancha" means five) verses.

02 Q & A Swami Sarvapriyananda Manisha Panchakam Second Q & A Session

Manisha Panchakam is a set of five verses in which Adi Shankaracharya succinctly presents the essence of Advaita Vendanta, philosophy of non-duality.

The occasion for this composition was an encounter between Shankaracharya and a sweeper. When Shankaracharya was walking, along with his disciples, towards the temple of Lord Viswanath in Varanasi, it so happened that a sweeper was walking towards him on the same street. Shankaracharya asked the sweeper to move away from his path. The sweeper then asked him some questions that form the substatnce of two verses which are a prelude to the main composition.

On hearing the sweeper's questions, Shankaracharya realized that the person before him was no ordinary sweeper. Shankaracharya's response to these questions, given in five verses, are called Manisha Panchakam; the word 'manisha' meaning 'firm conviction' appears in the last line in all five ("pancha" means five) verses.

01 Q&A Swami Sarvapriyananda Manisha Panchakam First Q & A Session

Manisha Panchakam is a set of five verses in which Adi Shankaracharya succinctly presents the essence of Advaita Vendanta, philosophy of non-duality.  

The occasion for this composition was an encounter between Shankaracharya and a sweeper. When Shankaracharya was walking, along with his disciples, towards the temple of Lord Viswanath in Varanasi, it so happened that a sweeper was walking towards him on the same street. Shankaracharya asked the sweeper to move away from his path. The sweeper then asked him some questions that form the substatnce of two verses which are a prelude to the main composition.  

On hearing the sweeper's questions, Shankaracharya realized that the person before him was no ordinary sweeper. Shankaracharya's response to these questions, given in five verses, are called Manisha Panchakam; the word 'manisha' meaning 'firm conviction' appears in the last line in all five ("pancha" means five) verses.

04 Swami Sarvapriyananda Manisha Panchakam Session 4 Verse 4-5

Manisha Panchakam is a set of five verses in which Adi Shankaracharya succinctly presents the essence of Advaita Vendanta, philosophy of non-duality. 

 The occasion for this composition was an encounter between Shankaracharya and a sweeper. When Shankaracharya was walking, along with his disciples, towards the temple of Lord Viswanath in Varanasi, it so happened that a sweeper was walking towards him on the same street. Shankaracharya asked the sweeper to move away from his path. The sweeper then asked him some questions that form the substatnce of two verses which are a prelude to the main composition.  

On hearing the sweeper's questions, Shankaracharya realized that the person before him was no ordinary sweeper. Shankaracharya's response to these questions, given in five verses, are called Manisha Panchakam; the word 'manisha' meaning 'firm conviction' appears in the last line in all five ("pancha" means five) verses.

03 Swami Sarvapriyananda Manisha Panchakam Session 3 Verse 2-3

Manisha Panchakam is a set of five verses in which Adi Shankaracharya succinctly presents the essence of Advaita Vendanta, philosophy of non-duality.  

The occasion for this composition was an encounter between Shankaracharya and a sweeper. When Shankaracharya was walking, along with his disciples, towards the temple of Lord Viswanath in Varanasi, it so happened that a sweeper was walking towards him on the same street. Shankaracharya asked the sweeper to move away from his path. The sweeper then asked him some questions that form the substatnce of two verses which are a prelude to the main composition.  

On hearing the sweeper's questions, Shankaracharya realized that the person before him was no ordinary sweeper. Shankaracharya's response to these questions, given in five verses, are called Manisha Panchakam; the word 'manisha' meaning 'firm conviction' appears in the last line in all five ("pancha" means five) verses.

02 Swami Sarvapriyananda Manisha Panchakam Session 2 Verse 1

Manisha Panchakam is a set of five verses in which Adi Shankaracharya succinctly presents the essence of Advaita Vendanta, philosophy of non-duality. 

 The occasion for this composition was an encounter between Shankaracharya and a sweeper. When Shankaracharya was walking, along with his disciples, towards the temple of Lord Viswanath in Varanasi, it so happened that a sweeper was walking towards him on the same street. Shankaracharya asked the sweeper to move away from his path. The sweeper then asked him some questions that form the substatnce of two verses which are a prelude to the main composition.  

On hearing the sweeper's questions, Shankaracharya realized that the person before him was no ordinary sweeper. Shankaracharya's response to these questions, given in five verses, are called Manisha Panchakam; the word 'manisha' meaning 'firm conviction' appears in the last line in all five ("pancha" means five) verses.

01 Swami Sarvapriyananda Manisha Panchakam Session 1 Introduction

Swami Nikhilananda, a direct disciple of Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi, was born in a small Indian village in 1895 and was ordained a monk of the Ramakrishna Order in 1924. After spending several years in the Himalayan monastery of his Order, during which time he made a study of Hinduism and other systems of philosophy and religion, he was sent to America in 1931. He founded the Ramakrishna-Vivekananda Center of New York in 1933 and was its spiritual leader until his passing away in 1973.