40 Sri Caitanya-caritamrta [Madhya-lila, Ch. 9

The list of the disciplic succession from Sankaracarya is available, and the names
of the acaryas and their dates according to the Saka Era (or Sakadbda) are as
follows: Sankaracarya, 622 Saka; Suresvaracarya, 630; Bodhandcarya, 680;
Jfanadhanacarya, 768; Jfanottama-Sivacarya, 827; Jfanagiri Acarya, 871;
Simhagiri Acarya, 958; TSvara Tirtha, 1019; Narasirnha Tirtha, 1067; Vidyatirtha
Vidyasankara, 1150; Bhdarati-Krsna Tirtha, 1250; Vidyaranya Bharati, 1253;
Candrasekhara Bharati, 1290; Narasirnha Bharati, 1309; Purusottama Bharati,
1328; Sankarananda, 1350; Candragekhara Bharati, 1371; Narasirnha Bharati,
1386; Purusottama Bharati, 1394; Ramacandra Bharati, 1430; Narasirhha Bharati,
1479; Narasirnha Bharati, 1485; Dhanamadi-narasimnha Bharati, 1498; Abhinava-
narasimha Bharati, 1521; Saccidananda Bharati, 1544; Narasimha Bharati, 1585;
Saccidananda Bharati, 1627; Abhinava-saccidananda Bharati, 1663; Nrsirnha
Bharati, 1689; Saccidananda Bharati, 1692; Abhinava-saccidananda Bharati, 1730;
Narasirnha Bharati, 1739; Saccidananda Sivabhinava Vidya-narasirnha Bharati,
1788.

Regarding Sankaracarya, it is understood that he was bom in the year 608 of
the Sakabda Era in the month of Vaisakha, on the third day of the waxing moon, in
a place in South India known as Kaladi. His father’s name was Sivaguru, and he lost
his father at an early age. When Sankaracarya was only eight years old, he com-
pleted his study of all scriptures and took sannyasa from Govinda, who was resid-
ing on the banks of the Narmada. After accepting sannydsa, Sankaracarya stayed
with his spiritual master for some days. He then took his permission to go to
Varanasi and from there went to Badarikasrama, where he stayed until his twelfth
year. While there, he wrote a commentary or Brahma-sitra, as well a3 ten
Upanisads and Bhagavad-gita. He also wrote Sanat-sujatiya and Nrsimha-tapini.
Among his many disciples, his four chief disciples are Padmapada, Suresvara,
Hastarnalaka and Trotaka. After departing from Varanasi, Sankaracarya went to
Prayaga, where he met a great learned scholar called Kuméarila Bhatta.
Sankardcarya wanted to discuss the authority of the scriptures, but Kumérila Bhat-
ta, being on his deathbed, sent him to his disciple Mandana, in the city of
Mahismati. It was there that Sankaracdrya defeated Mandana Mira in a discussion
of the sastras. Mandana had a wife named Sarasvati, or Ubhaya-bharati, who
served as mediator between Sankaracarya and her husband. It is said that she
wanted to discuss erotic principles and amorous love with Sankardcdrya, but
Sankaracarya had been a brahmacari since birth and therefore had no experience
in amorous love. He took a month's leave from Ubhaya-bharati and, by his mystic
power, entered the body of a king who had recently died. In this way
Sankaracarya experienced the erotic principles. After attaining this experience, he
wanted to discuss erotic principles with Ubhaya-bharati, but without hearing his
discussion, she blessed him and assured the continuous existence of the SrAgeri-
matha. She then took leave of material life. Afterwards, Mandana Misra took the
order of sannydsa from Sankaracdrya and became known as Sureévara.
