While Shankara was on the opposite bank of a rushing river, he called out to his disciple Sanandana. Intoxicated by devotion and thinking only of his Guru's voice, Sanandana walked straight onto the deep water. Wherever his foot touched the current, a massive lotus flower instantly bloomed to support him. Witnessing this absolute faith, Shankara named him Padmapada (the lotus-footed).

Back