Sankarapura
“Rudradvipa has been cut in two pieces by the Ganges. See how this western island has now moved to the east bank. By the Lord’s desire, no one lives on this side now. From here see Śrī Sankarapura. Even from a distance, see how it beautifies the bank of the Ganges. When Sankarācārya went out to defeat all opponents, on his way to Navadvīpa, he first arrived there. Within his heart, he was the topmost Vaiṣṇava, but externally he played the role of a māyāvadi, a servant of Māyā. Actually, he was an incarnation of Siva, and by the Lord’s order he expertly preached a covered form of Buddhism. While engaged in this way, he came to Nadia.
“When Sankarācārya came to this place, Gauracandra appeared to him in a dream and mercifully spoke to him in sweet words, ‘You are My servant. Following My orders, you are preaching effectively the Māyāvāda doctrine. But as Navadvipa-dhāma is very dear to Me, the Māyāvāda philosophy has no place here. On My behalf, Vṛddha Siva and Prauḍhā Māyā spread the imaginary impersonal interpretations of scriptures, but only to those people who envy the devotees of the Lord. In this way I cheat them. Since this Navadvipa-dhama is generally a place for My devotees, not for the envious, you should go somewhere else. Do not contaminate the inhabitants of Navadvipa.’
“Realizing the truth about Navadvipa in his dream and with devotion instilled in his heart, he went elsewhere.
(Sri Navadvipa-Dhama-Mahatmya, Chapter 15)
The Lord further added that the Māyāvāda philosophy taught by Śrīpāda Śaṅkarācārya is an imaginary explanation of the Vedas, but it had to be taught by him (Śaṅkarācārya) because he was ordered to teach it by the Personality of Godhead. In the Padma Purāṇa it is stated that the Personality of Godhead ordered His Lordship Śiva to deviate the human race from Him (the Personality of Godhead). The Personality of Godhead was to be so covered so that people would be encouraged to generate more and more population. His Lordship Śiva said to Devī: “In the Kali-yuga, I shall preach the Māyāvāda philosophy, which is nothing but clouded Buddhism, in the garb of a brāhmaṇa.”
(SB introduction)
They know Śaṅkarācārya, what he is. Śaṅkarācārya is the incarnation of Lord Śaṅkara, Lord Śiva. Lord Śiva. Vaiṣṇavānāṁ yathā śambhuḥ. He is the topmost Vaiṣṇava. So the devotees know that Śaṅkarācārya was at heart a Vaiṣṇava, but he had to preach like a vaiṣṇava because he had to drive away Buddhism from India. That was the mission. So therefore he made something compromise with the Buddhist philosophies. Therefore Caitanya Mahāprabhu said he wanted to accept Vedas against Buddhism, who did not accept the Vedas, but he preached this atheism under the shadow of Vedas. He said therefore that veda nā māniyā buddha haila nāstika, vedāśraye vāda nāstika ke adhika. So these are the discussion. One has to learn very cautiously how, what is the purpose of why Lord Buddha came, why Lord Śiva and Śaṅkarācārya came, why other ācāryas came, why Caitanya Mahāprabhu came. It requires thorough study under able guidance. Then one can understand.
(750919 - Lecture SB 06.02.16 - Vrndavana)