http://paulmason.info/gurudev/gurudev.htm

'The Teachings of Guru Dev - The Roots of TM'
Quotations of Shankaracharya Swami Brahmananda Saraswati
Compiled by Paul Mason

# Reference 19

Shankaracharya: The Lord, Shankaracharya Brahmananda Saraswati Ji 
Maharaj strictly adhered to the varna (caste) and ashram (four stages 
of life) systems. He believed in one's varna by birth. Whosoever came 
to him to become a disciple, he used to ask him which form of God he 
was in love with. Whichever form the new disciple had an interest in, 
that form he would explain to the new disciple. [Guru Dev] used to 
explain, either you should depend on your own inclination or else, he, 
after understanding your previous life and which form of God you 
worshipped then, would instruct the initiate accordingly.
Without having an ishtadevata (a personal form of God), no one could 
have a mantra from him.' 19

Excerpt of interview of Shankaracharya of Dwarka, Swami Swaroopanand 
Saraswati, by Robert Kropinski in Vrindaban, India, 1985

More information on Swami Swaroopanand & more extracts of the interview:
http://www.paulmason.info/gurudev/sources/text/SwamiSwaroopanand.htm