178 SKETCH OF THE 



although the work is sometimes said to have been composed by Sankara 

 himself. 



With regard to the place of S Ankara's birth, and the tribe of which he 

 was a member, most accounts agree to make him a native of Kerala, or 

 3Ialabar, of the tribe of Namburi Brahmans, and in the mythological lan- 

 guage of the sect, an incarnation of Siva. According to other traditions, 

 he was born at Chidambaram, although he transferred his residence to 

 Malabar, whilst the Kerala Utpatti recognises Malabar as his native 

 place, and calls him the offspring of adultery, for which his mother Sri 

 Mahadevi was expelled her caste. 



In Malabar, he is said to have divided the four original castes into se- 

 venty-two, or eighteen sub-divisions each, and to have assigned them (heir 

 respective rites and duties. Notwithstanding this, he seems to have met 

 with particular disrespect, either on account of his opinions, origin, or his 

 wandering life. On his return home, on one occasion, his mother died, and 

 he had to perform the funeral rites, for which his relations refused to supply 

 him with fire, and at which all the Brahmans declined to assist. Sankara 

 then produced fire from his arm, and burnt the corpse in the court yard of 

 the house, denouncing imprecations on the country to the effect, that the 

 Brahmans there should not study the Vedas, that religious mendicants 

 should never obtain alms, and that the dead should always be burned 

 close to the houses in which they had resided — a custom which is said 

 to have survived him. 



All accounts concur in representing Sankara as leading an erratic 

 life, and engaging in successful controversy with various sects, whether of 

 the Saiva, Vaishnava, or less orthodox persuasions. In the course of his 

 peregrinations, he established several Maths, or convents, under the presi- 



