11. A Noble Cause
The Vedas shine forth as the Parama Pramana (the ultimate authority) in all matters of Dharma. However, before the advent of Sri Shankara Bhagavatpada, the supremacy of the Vedas was being increasingly ignored, leading to a proliferation of misleading schools of thought that clouded society’s understanding of Dharma.
The Shankara Digvijaya, the authoritative biography of Sri Shankara, vividly describes the perilous state of affairs prevailing in the country at that time. Anti-Vedic movements had deeply influenced the people, causing them to lose faith in the sacred scriptures. In this dire situation, it was Kumarila Bhatta, an unparalleled scholar of the Mimamsa school, who took upon himself the monumental task of restoring faith in the Vedas.
Kumarila Bhatta, having mastered the study of the Vedas, began challenging the anti-Vedic factions to debates, systematically defeating them with his profound knowledge and irrefutable logic.
On one such occasion, a debate was held in a royal court before the king, who devised a dramatic test to determine the victor.
The king declared, “Only the one who jumps off the mountain in my kingdom and remains unharmed will be accepted as the undisputed winner.”
The opponents of Kumarila Bhatta were terrified. How could anyone survive such a fall? It was nothing short of suicide. Unable to accept the challenge, they remained silent.
Kumarila Bhatta, however, displayed unwavering courage. Without hesitation or doubt, he accepted the challenge, his heart filled with unshakable faith in the Vedas. Climbing to the cliff’s edge, he uttered a prayer and leapt from the towering heights. To the astonishment of all, he landed safely, without a single bruise on his body.
Describing this miraculous moment, Sri Vidyaranya, the author of Shankara Digvijaya, beautifully compares it to a mother protecting her child: Just as a biological mother safeguards her offspring, Veda-Mata (Mother Veda) shielded Bhatta, her devoted son, because of his steadfast faith in her.
Had it not been for great souls like Kumarila Bhatta, who tirelessly fought to uphold the sanctity of the Vedas, the wisdom of the Vedas may have been lost to time. Without such unwavering dedication, the tradition of Vedic learning and the presence of scholars to teach them might have vanished.
It is our duty to honour and remember these selfless guardians of Dharma. Their sacrifices remind us of the eternal truth that the Vedas stand as the highest authority, guiding us in discerning what is and is not Dharma. ❀❀❀❀