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)