Dialog Without Anger

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PM Modi talks about the importance of dialogue, without anger and conflict, for the resolution of today’s problems. 

He refers to one of the greatest philosophical debate of ancient India between Mandana Misra and Adi Shankara (Shankaracharya)!

Mandana Misra (8th century CE) was a Hindu philosopher, who wrote on the Mīmāmsā (enquiry) and Advaita (non-dualism) systems of thought. He was a follower of the Karma Mīmāmsā school of philosophy that emphasizes on the importance of rituals and hence performed all of the ritualistic duties prescribed by the Vedas. His wife was Ubhaya Bharati and they were an ideal couple, each equal to the other in all branches of learning, ethical character, and strict observation of Vedic injunctions.

Adi Shankara, a contemporary of Mandana Misra, was a philosopher and theologian who consolidated the doctrine of Advaita Vedanta. Shankara criticized the ritually-oriented Mīmāṃsā school of Hinduism. He was born in the southern Indian state of Kerala and died at the young age of 32 at Kedarnath.

The debate took place at a time when the Vedic rituals and sacrifices were revived and gained a position of honor. In course of time, the sacrifices and rituals (Karma kanda) reigned supreme and were upheld as the ultimate goal. The true Vedic dictums (Jnana kanda) were forgotten. Spiritual insight was conspicuous by its absence.

In those ancient times it was customary for learned people to debate the relative merits and demerits of the different systems of Hindu philosophy. The debate between Adi Shankara and Mandana Misra was impressive and noteworthy, and the arguments of both competitors were compelling and forceful. The place of the debate was the town Mandleshwar near Maheshwar, a city in Khargone district of Madhya Pradesh.

Adi Shankara finally emerged victorious in the debate that spanned many days and ranged across many different topics within the Vedas. Now listen to PM Modi to find out who was the judge of the debate and what were the criteria to determine the winner!


PM Shri Narendra Modi on the importance of healthy dialogue


Location: Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

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