Shastrarth between Adi Shankaracharya and Maṇḍana Miśra

India has rich traditions of shastrarth and intellectual debates on philosophy among the people of different schools or with the antagonistic sects.
One of them is famous shastrarth between adi Shankaracharya and Maṇḍana Miśra.

Adi Shankaracharya

Adi Shankaracharya was born in kalady, Kerala.
lord Shiva who offered his parents the option of a son who would be great and depart this world at 32 or a son who would lead a normal life for a long time. 

Maṇḍana Miśra

He was follower of the karma Mimansa school of philosophy.Ubhaya Bharati was wife of Maṇḍana Miśra. He became a sannyasin and an advaitin after he was defeated by Shankara in a debate.

                                      (image credit jagran)

Shankara initially sought out Kumarila Bhatta, who was leading exponent of Purva Mimansa to debate the relative merits and demerits of their philosophies.
But at that time Bhatta was slowly immolating himself and directed Sankara to Maṇḍana Miśra.

While visiting Maṇḍana Miśra, Shankara was told that the home whose parrots also discussed philosophical problems will be that of Maṇḍana Miśra.
Shankara and Maṇḍana first met on death anniversary of Maṇḍana's father which angered Maṇḍana and he initially hurled insults at Shankaracharya.
Later, Maṇḍana agreed to debate with Shankara and Maṇḍana's wife ubhaya Bharti was accepted as arbiter of shastrarth.
Shankaracharya with his compelling arguments emerged victorious but Maṇḍana's wife said that Shankara has no knowledge of kama shastra

Ubhaya Bharti's questions:

Discuss with me the science and the art of love between the sexes (Kusumastra sastram).

Enumerate its forms and expressions. 

What is its nature and what are its centres?

How does it vary in the sexes during the bright and dark fortnights? 

What are its manifestations in man and woman?

For further reading excerpt from the Madhaviya Shankara Digvijaya.

Later debate resumed and at last, Maṇḍana accepted his defeat and became disciple of Shankaracharya.
According to legends Maṇḍana Miśra  debated with Shankarachaarya at the Gupteshwar Mahadev Temple in Mandaleshwar.

Refrences and further reading:

Kuppuswami Sastri, S. (1984), Brahmasiddhi, by Maṇḍanamiśra, with commentary by Śankhapāṇī. 2nd ed., Delhi, India: Sri Satguru Publications.

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