Shankara's Bhaja Govindam. Chronicle of an abduction in Varanasi.

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Shankara's Bhaja Govindam. Chronicle of an abduction in Varanasi.

Note for the reader.

When I first read about the life and teachings of Adi Shankara, I was struck by how much spiritual wisdom and insight this 8th-century philosopher possessed. Shankara revived and reinterpreted the ancient philosophy of Advaita Vedanta, teaching radical ideas of non-duality and the illusion of separateness. His verses known as the Bhaja Govindam inspire seekers to turn inward to find the eternal divine essence within.

I wanted to honor Shankara's profound teachings through fiction, to make his timeless message more accessible. But conveying spiritual themes requires a delicate, artful touch. My story had to simplify complex Vedantic ideas without sacrificing their depth and nuance. It needed vivid characters, evocative settings in ancient India, and a compelling plot to give life to Shankara's verses.

To rise to this challenge, I immersed myself in Shankara's teachings, Indian philosophy, and accounts of Shankara's life. Over a couple of months of outlining and revising, the characters of Shankara and Raghav slowly emerged and a plot unfolded with elements of intrigue, conflict, and danger highlighting Shankara's message.

Translating spiritual insights into fiction is like capturing moonlight in a jar. In a process both frustrating and fulfilling, I grasped for words and images to convey Shankara's vision. There were days I felt unequal to the task, unsure of how to weave such profound wisdom into story form. But Shankara's verses themselves were my guide, reminding me to surrender limited views and rest in eternal truth.

To share Shankara's teachings in an authentic yet creative way, I focused on the transformative effect of his message rather than explaining Vedantic doctrines outright. The story follows Raghav's journey from superficiality to Self-realization, catalyzed by encountering Shankara. Raghav struggles between clinging to his ego-self and accepting Shankara's call to "become That which you have always been."

Balancing fiction and philosophy was challenging, but also deeply rewarding. With each revision, new connections emerged and insights arose. I realized my initial concept of dramatizing Shankara's teachings was too simplistic. Stories have a life of their own, and this one carried me to unexpected places.

But through all the twists of plot and character, Shankara's message endured as the heart of the tale. In the end, my role was merely to get out of the way and let those eternal teachings shine through. This project has been a profound privilege and learning experience. Immersing myself in Shankara's vision expanded my own spiritual understanding in ways I never anticipated when I began. Fiction can be a powerful means for sharing truth, and through this story Shankara's wisdom has come alive for me.