Shankara came to know about the temple of Mother Sarada in Kashmir which had within it the Throne of Omniscience (Sarvajnapeetha). The temple had four gates in the four directions, East, West, North and South. Only the best scholars who can prove their omniscience can occupy the throne. Till then no learned man from South was qualified enough to open the Southern gate of the temple. Shankara went to Kashmir and approached the Southern entrance. He was challenged by many scholars from different schools each posing various questions on varied subjects. Shankara gave satisfactory replies to all of them, after which they respectfully opened the Southern entrance of the temple for the Acarya to enter. When Shankara was about to ascend the throne of the temple, Mother Saraswati in a disembodied voice tested Shankara with questions. Giving satisfactory replies to Her questions, Shankara ascended the Throne of Omniscience with full honour and glory.
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