Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c9.1172

c9.1172

Śaṅkara prepared himself for the study of the science of sexual love. Just at that time a King called Amaruka died. After asking his disciples to take especial care of his body Śaṅkara entered by yogic power the dead body of Amaruka. The dead King came back to life and his people felt very happy about the mysterious happening. Śaṅkara, who had thus entered the body of King Amaruka, lived in the palace enjoying all royal pleasures. He gained practical experience in the matter of sexual love from the queens in the palace. People found the resurrected King Amaruka to be better and more intelligent. The ministers suspected that the soul which dwelt in the body of the king was of some one else. Under the impression that it might be that of some yogin the ministers deputed agents to various parts of the country to find out if there was anywhere the dead body of a yogi, and they found out Śaṅkara’s body. It was about to be burnt on the pyre when the disciples of Śaṅkara met King Amaruka at the palace and informed him about these developments. Immediately Śaṅkara quitted his royal body and entered his own body now lying on the funeral pyre. He prayed to Śrīlakṣmīnarasimha and came out from the burning pyre.