In this Youtube Video - Advaitins cannot even realize Advaita with Sri Shankara - a Dvaita scholar is trying to claim Sri Shankara is indeed a demon by name Maniman.
Here is a highlevel summary of the above Video:
In the Madhva siddhanta, Acharya Sri Shankara is considered to be a reincarnation of a demon called Maniman. Obviously, Advaitins are considering this as an insult to their Acharya and they are asking to review and re-edit all such texts where this claim is made and remove all such derogatory remarks made against Acharya Sri Shankara.
Many fanatic dvaita scholars are trying to support that claim and as an impartial.
Dvaitin's first argument:
As per the transitive law in Mathemeatics, if a = b and c = b, then it follows that a = c. Accordingly, if Shankara = Brahman and Maniman = Brahman then what it is the problem for Advaitins in accepting Shankara = Maniman?
Advaitin's reply: The above is a very childish argument, because based on the same logic, even Madhva = Maniman and every Maadhva = Maniman!
The Advaitic Brahman is the Universal Self in which every particular self is rooted. There is no separate identification for the inividual self. All names and forms like Shankara and Maniman only point to the Universal non-dual Self which is beyond any names or forms. The difference in names and forms is accepted as transactional reality and there is no "equality" in transaction.
The second argument:
In the Soundarya lahari Acharya Shankara has written that a true Advaitic devotee of the Devi, will get to become equal to Brahma and Vishnu and will enjoy the company of their consort godesses like Saraswathi, Lakshmi and Rathi and will even attract them so much that they would even shirk from their Paativratyam or chastity. So this is obviously demonic and proves that Shankara is the demon, Maniman.
Explanation: This may apparantly appear to be demonic when seen through the lens of Rajas and Tamas. But from the sattvic view point, the Advaitic Bhakta is only a child and a witness for the passtimes of the Divine couple of Ishwara and His mAyA shakti, manifesting in the form of all the many Gods and Godesses like Brahma-Saraswathi, Vishnu-Lakshmi and Manmatha-Rathi and so on. Advatic devotee is a JnAni who is a non-doer and non-enjoyer (with no karthrutva or bhoktrutva ) and his devotion is nothing but pure love to the divinity, similar to Gopika bhakti towards Sri Krishna. He will become "equal" to Brahma, Vishnu and Manmatha only in similarity of their auspicious gunas or attributes and also as a sAkshi or witness of their divine beauty or soundarya.
The Vedic mantra that is used in marriages states - "AtmA vai putra nAmAsi" which means that the husband himself is born as the son from his consort. The devotee is a child and Ishwara and his consort Shakti are his divine parents. The so called "shirking from pAtivratyam" of the divine mother is her pure love and appreciation of the devotee who will "look" like her husband Ishawara aquiring the similar gunas and attributes.
Namaste
Suresh
