Avatār of God Śiva

The followers of Śaṅkarācārya believe that he was an avatar of God Siva who wanted to elevate the ignorant people to the light of immortal knowledge and liberation in this age of Kaliyuga. He took human form as the only son of his staunch devotees Siva Guru and Āryāmba according to the Hindu mythology.

God Śiva is regarded as the self-created and merciful Being. The story of the birth of Śaṅkara as Śivās incarnation runs like this. Śivaguru and Āryāmba had no children. She was an ardent worshipper of God Śiva. She says to Śivaguru God Śiva is the ‘Kalpataru’ for man. By supplication to him we shall get what we want. Accepting the suggestion of his wife Śivaguru went to perform austerities and offer prayers at the shrine of Śiva at Vṛṣācala. His wife, too stayed at Vṛṣācala, observing the rules of austerity. One day God Śiva appeared to Śivaguru in a dream, and promised to give whatever he wanted. On their request for the birth of a son, the God Śiva informs that they have to select either of these two alternatives: either an all-knowing and virtuous but short lived son, or one who would live very long but without any special virtue or greatness. Śivaguru opts the first alternative. After getting that boon he returned home with his wife. Soon Āryāmba became pregnant. As pregnancy advanced, her whole body became lustrous like a blazing sun difficult to look at. In dreams Āryāmba sometimes found herself riding on a big bull of milk-white hue; then at an auspicious moment, the baby was born. Such stories prevalent among the devotees enriches the imagination of a poet who decides to write a poem on his life.