WHAT IS AMARAKOSHA

AMARAKOSHA

Amarakosha is the name of the book which is written by the scholar named Amara Simha. Amara Simha, who is a Buddhist, and believed to be one of the 9 gems in the court of King Vikramadithya.

The book Amarakosha gives the right meaning of each and every word mentioned in Vedas, Puranas, Ithihasa's etc., so it can be understood as the dictionary of Punaras. But strictly it should not be considered as just the book with meaning's, because it includes everything eternal and material. The actual name of the book is Naamalinganushasana [Naama, Linga, Anushasana] which means instructions on concern nouns and gender, later by his name it became popular as Amarakosha.
One should definitely go through this book, to clear his doubts and to know the exact meaning of Anything and Everything.

When Jagathguru Sankaracharya, was travelling throughout India for propagating the knowledge of Advaitha philosophy, and it is that time where people blindly following Avaidhika dharmas means the things which restricted by Vedas and other cruel activities on the name of religion and beliefs, Sankaracharya on rectifying those activities used to conduct philosophical debates [Vakvadam] where ever he go and with the particular persons who propagate such Avaidhika Dharma's. One day Sankaracharya engaged in philosophical dispute with Amara Simha, even though being such a great scholar and wrote many Shastras, he loses in debate. He after that consider it to be an insult of his study and think there is  no use of such Shastras and he burned them all. Amarakosha is the only book saved from burning by Sankaracharya, it is mentioned in the book itself that there are 18 prior books to Amarakosha. Shankara Vijayam clearly explains this situation.

[Also Read : Shakiya Nayanar, who attained Liberation by offering stones to Lord Shiva]

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