Vada in Theory and Practice: Studies in Debates, Dialogues and Discussions in Indian Intellectual Discourses c5.s11.4

c5.s11.4

One more instance of a debate having started unexpectedly was the dialogue between Śaṅkarācārya and a *cāṇḍāla* (scavenger, sweeper). It has been described by Mādhava in his *Śaṅkaradigvijaya*, and in several other works like *Bhagavatpādābhyudaya* and *Bṛhacchaṅkaravijaya*.⁶² Going on the way of Varanasi, Śaṅkarācārya with his entourage is confronted by the scavenger. When asked to move away, he points out that ascetic does not practise what he preaches and there is a contradiction between the Vedāntic idea of spiritual unity and the caste notion of untouchability. The sweeper asked him: