Adi Shankara 186184 225567265 2008-07-14T10:11:34Z Bharatveer 994244 restored the sane version + incl latest edit {{Infobox Hindu leader| |name=Adi Shankara |image=Adi Shankara recoloured.jpg |birth-date= circa 788 CE/AD |birth-place=[[Kalady]], [[Kerala]], [[India]] |birth-name=Shankara |death-date= circa 820 CE <ref> Sharma, Chandradhar ''Indian Philosophy: A Critical Survey'' New York:1962 Barnes & Noble Page vi Chronological Summary of History of [[Indian Philosophy|Indian philosophy]] </ref> |death-place=[[Kedarnath]], [[Uttarakhand]], [[India]] |guru=[[Govinda Bhagavatpada]] |philosophy=[[Advaita Vedanta]] |honors=Introduced [[Advaita Vedanta]], Hindu Revivalism, Founded [[Dashanami Sampradaya]], [[Shanmata]] |quote= |footnotes= }} {{IndicText}} '''Adi Shankara''' ([[Malayalam language|Malayalam]]: ആദി ശങ്കരന്‍, [[Devanagari|Devanāgarī]]: {{Unicode|आदि शङ्कर}}, ''{{IAST|Ādi Śaṅkara}}'', {{pronounced|aːd̪i ɕaŋkərə}}); (possibly 788 – 820 [[Common Era|CE]], but see [[Adi Shankara#Dates|below]]),<ref name="Dates"> There is some debate regarding this issue. {{cite book | last = Tapasyananda | first = Swami | year = 2002 | title = Sankara-Dig-Vijaya | pages= xv-xxiv }} gives this date. However, there have been other dates also proposed. See [[Adi Shankara#Dates|above]] </ref> also known as '''{{IAST|Śaṅkara Bhagavatpādācārya}}''' ("the teacher at the feet of [[Ishvara|God]]"), and '''{{IAST|Ādi Śaṅkarācārya}}''' ("the first Shankaracharya in his lineage")<ref>''Adi'' means "the first"; the heads of a few [[Hindu]] [[matha]]s are also given the title ''[[Shankaracharya]]''; ''Acharya'' means "teacher"</ref> was the first philosopher to consolidate the doctrine of [[Advaita Vedanta]], a sub-school of [[Vedanta]]. His teachings are based on the unity of the [[jiva|soul]] and [[Brahman]] (not to be confused with [[Brahmin]], which is a social class designation of the caste system), in which Brahman is viewed as [[Nirguna Brahman|without attributes]]. In the [[Smartism|Smārta]] tradition, Adi Shankara is regarded as an incarnation of [[Shiva]]. Adi Shankara toured [[India]] with the purpose of propagating his teachings through discourses and debates with other philosophers. He founded four [[#Mathas|mathas]] ("monasteries") which played a key role in the historical development, revival and spread of post-Buddhist [[Hinduism]] and Advaita Vedanta. Adi Shankara was the founder of the [[Dashanami Sampradaya|Dashanami]] monastic order and the [[Shanmata]] tradition of worship. His works in [[Sanskrit]], all of which are extant today, concern themselves with establishing the doctrine of [[Advaita]] (Sanskrit: "[[Non-dual]]ism"). Adi Shankara quotes extensively from the [[Upanishads]] and other [[Hindu scriptures]] in forming his teachings. He also includes arguments against opposing schools of thought like [[Samkhya]] and [[Buddhist philosophy|Buddhism]] in his works. ==Life== The traditional accounts of Adi Shankara's life are called the [[Shankara Vijayams]], ("Victory of Shankara"). These are poetic works containing a mix of biographical and legendary material, written in the epic style. The most important among these [[biography|biographies]] are the ''{{IAST|Mādhavīya Śaṅkara Vijayaṃ}}'' (of Mādhava, c. 14th century), the ''{{IAST|Cidvilāsīya Śaṅkara Vijayaṃ}}'' (of Cidvilāsa, c. between 15th century and 17th century), and the ''{{IAST|Keraļīya Śaṅkara Vijayaṃ}}'' (of the [[Kerala]] region, extant from c. 17th century).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.advaita-vedanta.org/avhp/sankara-vijayam.html |title=The ''Sankaravijaya'' literature |accessdate=2006-08-23 |author=Vidyasankar, S.}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | last = Tapasyananda | first = Swami | year = 2002 | title = Sankara-Dig-Vijaya | pages= viii }} </ref> According to these texts, Adi Shankara was born in [[Kalady]], a village in Kerala, [[India]], to a [[Namboothiri]] [[brahmin]] couple, Shivaguru and Aryamba and lived for thirty-two years. ===Birth and childhood=== [[Image:Kaladi shankarabirthplace.jpg|thumb|250px|The birth place of Adi Shankara at [[Kalady]]]] Adi Shankara's parents, Kaippilly Sivaguru [[Namboothiri]] and Arya Antharjanam (Melpazhur Mana), were childless for many years. They prayed at the [[Vadakkunnathan temple]] (also known as ''Vrishabhachala'') in [[Thrissur]], Kerala, for the birth of a child.<ref>{{cite book | last =Tapasyananda | first =Swami | year = 2002 | title = Sankara-Dig-Vijaya | pages=14 }} </ref> Legend has it that [[Shiva]] appeared to both husband and wife in their dreams, and offered them a choice: a mediocre son who would live a long life, or an extraordinary son who would not live long. Both the parents chose the latter; thus a son was born to them. He was named Shankara (Sanskrit, "bestower of goodness"), in honour of [[Shiva]] (one of whose epithets is ''[[Shankara]]'').<ref>{{cite book | last =Tapasyananda | first =Swami | year = 2002 | title = Sankara-Dig-Vijaya | pages=17 }} </ref> His father died while Shankara was very young. Shankara's {{IAST|[[upanayanam|upanayanaṃ]]}}, the initiation into student-life, was performed at the age of five. As a child, Shankara showed remarkable scholarship, mastering the four [[Vedas]] by the age of eight. Following the customs of those days, Shankara studied and lived at the home of his teacher. It was customary for students and men of learning to receive {{IAST|Bhikṣā}} ("alms") from the [[laity]]; on one occasion, while accepting {{IAST|Bhikṣā}}, Shankara came upon a woman who had only a single dried [[Indian gooseberry|amalaka fruit]] to eat. Rather than consuming this last bit of food herself, the lady gave away the fruit to Shankara as {{IAST|Bhikṣā}}. Moved by her piety, Shankara composed the Kanakadhārā Stotram on the spot. Legend has it that on completion of this [[stotra]], golden amalaka fruits were showered upon the woman by {{IAST|[[Lakshmi|Lakṣmi]]}}, the Goddess of wealth.<ref>{{cite book | last = Tapasyananda | first = Swami | year = 2002 | title = Sankara-Dig-Vijaya | pages=28–29 }} </ref> ===Sannyasa=== From a young age, Shankara was inclined towards [[sannyasa]] ("monastic life"). His mother was against his becoming a monk, and refused him formal permission. However, once when Shankara was bathing in the [[Periyar River]] near his house, a [[crocodile]] gripped his leg and began to drag him into the water. Only his mother was nearby, and it proved impossible for her to rescue him. Shankara asked his mother to give him permission to renounce the world then and there, so that he could be a sannyāsin at the moment of death. This mode of entering the renunciatory stage is called ''Āpat Sannyāsa''. At the end of her wits, his mother agreed. Shankara immediately recited the [[mantra]]s to make a renunciate of himself. Miraculously, the crocodile released him and swam away. Shankara emerged unscathed from the water.<ref>{{cite book | last = Tapasyananda | first = Swami | year = 2002 | title = Sankara-Dig-Vijaya | pages=40–50 }} </ref> With the permission of his mother, Shankara left Kerala and travelled towards [[North India]] in search of a [[Guru]]. On the banks of the [[Narmada River]], he met [[Govinda Bhagavatpada]], the disciple of [[Gaudapada]]. When Govinda Bhagavatpada asked Shankara's identity, he replied with an extempore verse that brought out the [[Advaita Vedanta]] philosophy. Govinda Bhagavatapada was impressed and took Shankara as his disciple.<ref>{{cite book | last = Tapasyananda | first = Swami | year = 2002 | title = Sankara-Dig-Vijaya | pages=51–56 }} </ref> Adi Shankara was commissioned by his Guru to write a commentary on the [[Brahma Sutra]]s and propagate Advaita Vedanta. The ''Mādhavīya Shankaravijaya'' states that Adi Shankara calmed a flood from the [[Narmada River|Reva River]] by placing his ''{{IAST|kamaṇḍalu}}'' ("water pot") in the path of the raging water, thus saving his Guru, Govinda Bhagavatpada, who was absorbed in {{IAST|[[Samadhi|Samādhi]]}} ("meditation") in a cave nearby. On his mission to spread the Advaita Vedanta philosophy, Adi Shankara travelled to [[Varanasi|Kashi]], where a young man named [[Padmapada|Sanandana]] from [[Chola dynasty|Choladesha]] in [[South India]], became his first disciple. In Kashi, Adi Shankara was on his way to the [[Vishwanath Temple]], when he came upon an [[Dalit|untouchable]] with four dogs. When asked to move aside by Shankara's disciples, the untouchable replied: "Do you wish that I move my ever lasting [[Atman (Hinduism)|Ātman]] ("the Self"), or this body made of food?" Understanding that the untouchable was none other than [[Deva (Hinduism)|god]] [[Shiva]], and his dogs the four [[Vedas]], Shankara prostrated himself before him, composing five [[shloka]]s known as [[Manisha Panchakam]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.celextel.org/adisankara/manishapanchakam.html |title=Manisha Panchakam |accessdate=2006-08-04 |author=Adi Shankara}} </ref><ref>{{cite book | last = Tapasyananda | first = Swami | year = 2002 | title = Sankara-Dig-Vijaya | pages=57–62 }} </ref> On reaching [[Badrinath|Badari]] in the [[Himalayas]], he wrote the famous ''[[Bhashya]]s'' ("commentaries") and ''Prakarana granthas'' ("philosophical treatises"). Afterwards he taught these commentaries to his disciples. Some, like Sanandana, were quick to grasp the essence; the other disciples thus became jealous of Sanandana. In order to convince the others of Sanandana's inherent superiority, Adi Shankara summoned Sanandana from one bank of the [[Ganga River]], while he was on the opposite bank. Sanandana crossed the river by walking on the lotuses that were brought out wherever he placed his foot. Adi Shankara was greatly impressed by his disciple and gave him the name {{IAST|[[Padmapāda]]}} ("lotus-footed one").<ref>{{cite book | last = Tapasyananda | first = Swami | year = 2002 | title = Sankara-Dig-Vijaya | pages=62–63 }} </ref><ref>{{cite book | last = Tapasyananda | first = Swami | year = 2002 | title = Sankara-Dig-Vijaya | pages=70–73 }} </ref> ===Meeting with Mandana Mishra=== One of the most famous debates of Adi Shankara was with the [[Mimamsa|ritualist]] [[Mandana Mishra]]. Mandana Mishra's [[Guru]] was the famous [[Mimamsa]] philosopher, {{IAST|[[Kumarīla Bhaṭṭa]]}}. Shankara sought a debate with {{IAST|Kumarīla Bhaṭṭa}} and met him in [[Prayag]] where he had buried himself in a slow burning pyre to repent for sins committed against his Guru: {{IAST|Kumarīla Bhaṭṭa}} had learnt [[Buddhist philosophy]] incognito from his Guru in order to be able to refute it. Learning anything without the knowledge of one's Guru while still under his authority constitutes a sin according to the [[Vedas]].<ref>{{cite book | last = Tapasyananda | first = Swami | year = 2002 | title = Sankara-Dig-Vijaya | pages=77–80 }} </ref> {{IAST|Kumarīla Bhaṭṭa}} thus asked Adi Shankara to proceed to {{IAST|Mahiṣmati}} (known today as Mahishi Bangaon, [[Saharsa]] in [[Bihar]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.1upindia.com/pilgrimages/maheshwar.html | title=Pilgrimages- Maheshwar |accessdate=2006-06-26}}</ref> to meet Mandana Mishra and debate with him instead. Adi Shankara had a famous debate with Mandana Mishra in which the wife of Mandana Mishra, Ubhaya Bhāratī, was the referee. After debating for over fifteen days, Mandana Mishra accepted defeat.<ref>{{cite book | last = Tapasyananda | first = Swami | year = 2002 | title = Sankara-Dig-Vijaya | pages=81–104 }} </ref> {{IAST|Ubhaya Bhāratī}} then challenged Adi Shankara to have a debate with her in order to 'complete' the victory. Later, {{IAST|Ubhaya Bhāratī}} concedes defeat in the debate and allows Mandana Mishra to accept sannyasa with the [[yoga patta|monastic name]], {{IAST|[[Sureśvara|Sureśvarācārya]]}} as per the agreed rules of the debate.<ref>{{cite book | last = Tapasyananda | first = Swami | year = 2002 | title = Sankara-Dig-Vijaya | pages=117–129 }} </ref> ===Missionary tour=== [[Image:Sringeri Sharadha temple.jpg|200px|right|thumb|Sharada temple at [[Sringeri Sharada Peetham]], [[Sringeri]]]] Adi Shankara then travelled with his disciples to [[Maharashtra]] and [[Srisailam]]. In Srisailam, he composed [[Shivanandalahari]], a devotional hymn to [[Shiva]]. The ''Madhaviya Shankaravijayam'' says that when Shankara was about to be sacrificed by a [[Kapalika]], the God [[Narasimha]] appeared to save Shankara on [[Padmapada]]'s prayer to him. So Adi Shankara composed the Laksmi-Narasimha stotra.<ref>{{cite book | last = Tapasyananda | first = Swami | year = 2002 | title = Sankara-Dig-Vijaya | pages=130–135 }} </ref> He then travelled to {{IAST|[[Gokarna|Gokarṇa]]}}, the temple of Hari-Shankara and the {{IAST|[[Mookambika|Mūkambika]]}} temple at [[Kollur]]. At Kollur, he accepted as his disciple a boy believed to be dumb by his parents. He [[yoga patta|gave him the name]], {{IAST|[[Hastamalakacharya|Hastāmalakācārya]]}} ("one with the [[Indian gooseberry|amalaka]] fruit on his palm", i.e., one who has clearly realised the Self). Next, he visited {{IAST|[[Sringeri|Śṛngeri]]}} to establish the {{IAST|[[Sringeri Sharada Peetham|Śārada Pīṭham]]}} and made {{IAST|[[Totakacharya|Toṭakācārya]]}} his disciple.<ref>{{cite book | last = Tapasyananda | first = Swami | year = 2002 | title = Sankara-Dig-Vijaya | pages=136–150 }} </ref> After this, Adi Shankara began a ''Dig-vijaya'' (missionary tour) for the propagation of the Advaita philosophy by controverting all philosophies opposed to it. He travelled throughout India, from [[South India|the South]] to [[Kashmir]] and [[Nepal]], preaching to the local populace and debating philosophy with Hindu, Buddhist and other scholars and monks along the way. With the [[Malayali]] King Sudhanva as companion, Shankara passed through [[Tamil Nadu]], [[Andhra Pradesh]] and [[Vidarbha]]. He then started towards [[Karnataka]] where he encountered a band of armed [[Kapalika]]s. King Sudhanva, with his army, resisted and defeated the Kapalikas. They safely reached [[Gokarna]] where Shankara defeated in debate the [[Shaiva]] scholar, Neelakanta. Proceeding to [[Saurashtra (region)|Saurashtra]] (the ancient [[Kambhoja]])<ref>'''See Link''': [http://www.geocities.com/advaitavedant/shankarabio.htm].</ref> and having visited the shrines of Girnar, Somnath and Prabhasa and explaining the superiority of Vedanta in all these places, he arrived at [[Dwarka]]. {{IAST|Bhaṭṭa Bhāskara}} of [[Ujjain|Ujjayini]], the proponent of Bhedābeda philosophy, was humbled. All the scholars of Ujjayini (also known as [[Avanti]]) accepted Adi Shankara's philosophy. He then defeated the [[Jainas]] in philosophical debates at a place called [[Bahlika]]. Thereafter, the Acharya established his victory over several philosophers and ascetics in [[Kamboja]] (region of North [[Kashmir]]), [[Darada]] (Dabistan) and many regions situated in the desert and crossing mighty peaks, entered Kashmir. Later, he had an encounter with a [[tantra|tantrik]], Navagupta at [[Kamarupa (History)|Kamarupa]].<ref>{{cite book | last = Tapasyananda | first = Swami | year = 2002 | title = Sankara-Dig-Vijaya | pages=160–185 }} </ref> ===Accession to Sarvajnapitha=== [[Image:Adi shankara.jpg|150px|right|thumb|Statue of Adi Shankara at his Samadhi Mandir in Kedarnath, India]]Adi Shankara visited ''{{IAST|Sarvajñapīṭha}}'' ([[Sharada Peeth]]) in [[Kashmir]] (now in [[Pakistan-occupied Kashmir]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://closing.photos.yahoo.com/uk/photos_closed.php | title=Photos of Sharada Temple (Sarvajna Pitha), Sharda, PoK |accessdate=2006-06-26 }}</ref> The ''Madhaviya Shankaravijayam'' states this [[mandir|temple]] had four doors for scholars from the four cardinal directions. The southern door (representing [[South India]]) had never been opened, indicating that no scholar from South India had entered the Sarvajna Pitha. Adi Shankara opened the southern door by defeating in debate all the scholars there in all the various scholastic disciplines such as [[Mimamsa]], [[Vedanta]] and other branches of [[Hindu philosophy]]; he ascended the throne of Transcendent wisdom of that temple.<ref>{{cite book | last = Tapasyananda | first = Swami | year = 2002 | title = Sankara-Dig-Vijaya | pages=186–195 }} </ref> Towards the end of his life, Adi Shankara travelled to the Himalayan area of [[Kedarnath]]-[[Badrinath]] and attained ''[[videha mukti]]'' ("freedom from embodiment"). There is a samadhi mandir dedicated to Adi Shankara behind the Kedarnath temple. However, there are variant traditions on the location of his last days. One tradition, expounded by ''Keraliya Shankaravijaya'', places his place of death as [[Vadakkunnathan temple]] in [[Thrissur]], Kerala.<ref>{{cite book | last = Tapasyananda | first = Swami | year = 2002 | title = Sankara-Dig-Vijaya | pages= xxv-xxxv }} </ref> The followers of the Kanchi kamakoti pitha claim that he ascended the ''{{IAST|Sarvajñapīṭha}}'' and attained ''[[videha-mukti]]'' in Kanchipuram ([[Tamil Nadu]]). ===Dates ===<!-- This section is linked from [[Adi Shankara]] --> At least two different dates have been proposed for Shankara: * '''788&ndash;820 CE''': This is the mainstream scholarly opinion, placing Shankara in mid to late 8th century CE. These dates are based on records at the {{IAST|[[Sringeri Sharada Peetham|Śṛṅgeri Śāradā Pīṭham]]}}, which is the only matha to have maintained a relatively unbroken record of its Acharyas; starting with the third Acharya, one can with reasonable confidence date the others from the 8th century down.<ref name=dating/> The Sringeri records state that Sankara was born in the 14th year of the reign of "VikramAditya", but it is unclear as to which king this name may refer. Though some researchers identify the name with [[Chandragupta II]] (4th. c. AD), modern scholarship accepts the VikramAditya as being from the [[Chalukya dynasty|Chalukya dynasty of Badami]], most likely [[Vikramaditya II]] (733–746 CE),<ref>K. A. Nilakantha Sastry, ''A History of South India'', 4th ed., Oxford University Press, Madras, 1976.</ref> which would place him in the middle of the 8th c.<ref name=dating/> The date 788–820 is also among those considered acceptable by Swami Tapasyananda, though he raises a number of questions.<ref> {{cite book | last = Tapasyananda | first = Swami | year = 2002 | title = Sankara-Dig-Vijaya | pages= xv-xxiv }} </ref> It is also acceptable to Keay.<ref>The dating of 788–820 is accepted in Keay, p. 194.</ref> * '''509 &ndash; 477 [[BCE]]''': This dating, more than a millennium ahead of all others, is based on records of the heads of the Shankara {{IAST|Maṭha}}s at [[Dwaraka matha]] and [[Puri matha]] and the fifth Peetham at Kanchi.<ref> {{cite web |url = http://encyclopediaofauthentichinduism.org/articles/53.3.htm |title = (53) Chronological chart of the history of Bharatvarsh since its origination |publisher = encyclopedia of authentic hinduism}} This site claims to integrate characters from the epics into a continuous chronology. They present the list of Dwarka and Kanchi Acharya's, along with their putative dates. However, the succession of Acharya's at these two mathas were often disrupted by geopolitical realities, and these records are not considered as reliable as the Sringeri chronology. Also, such an early date would be in conflict with much else in Indian chronology. According to these revisionist models, these are the actual dates, and it is other collateral dates, such as the date of [[Gautama Buddha|Buddha]] (which serves as an anchor for modern academic history of India), that need to be moved back. </ref> However, such an early date is not consistent with the fact that Sankara quotes the Buddhist logician [[Dharmakirti]], who finds mention in [[Xuanzang|Huen Tsang]] (7th c.).<ref name=dating> {{cite web | url = http://www.advaita-vedanta.org/avhp/dating-Sankara.html | title = Determining Sankara's Date - An overview of ancient sources and modern literature |accessdate=2006-06-26 | author =Vidyasankar, S. }}</ref> Also, his near-contemporary [[Kumarila Bhatta]] is usually dated ca. 8th c. AD. Most scholars feel that due to invasions and other discontinuities, the records of the Dwarka and Puri mathas are not as reliable as those for Sringeri.<ref name=dating/> Thus, while considerable debate exists, the pre-Christian Era dates are usually discounted, and the most likely period for Shankara is during the 8th c. CE. ==Mathas == [[Image:Vidyasankara.JPG|250px|thumb|right| विद्याशंकर मंदिर (Vidyashankara temple) at [[Sringeri Sharada Peetham]], [[Sringeri]]]] Adi Shankara founded four {{IAST|[[Matha|Maṭhas]]}} (Sanskrit: {{lang|sa|मठ}}) to guide the Hindu religion. These are at [[Sringeri Sharada Peetham|Sringeri]] in [[Karnataka]] in the south, [[Dwaraka Pītha|Dwaraka]] in [[Gujarat]] in the west, [[Govardhana matha|Puri]] in [[Orissa]] in the east, and [[Jyotirmath]] (Joshimath) in [[Uttarakhand]] in the north. Hindu tradition states that he put in charge of these mathas his four main disciples: [[Sureśvara|Sureshwaracharya]], [[Hastamalakacharya]], [[Padmapāda|Padmapadacharya]], and [[Totakacharya]] respectively. The heads of the mathas trace their authority back to these figures. Each of the heads of these four mathas takes the title of [[Shankaracharya]] ("the learned Shankara") after the first Shankaracharya. The table below gives an overview of the four ''Amnaya Mathas'' founded by Adi Shankara and their details.<ref> {{cite web|url=http://www.sringerisharadapeetham.org/html/History/amnaya.html|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20060626233820/http://www.sringerisharadapeetham.org/html/History/amnaya.html|archivedate=2006-06-26 |title=Adi Shankara's four Amnaya Peethams |accessdate= 2006-08-20|}}</ref> {| class="wikitable" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" border="1" ![[Śishya]] ![[Matha|{{IAST|Maṭha}}]] !{{IAST|[[Mahāvākya]]}} ![[Veda]] !{{IAST|[[Sampradaya]]}} |- |{{IAST|[[Hastamalakacharya|Hastāmalakācārya]] }} |{{IAST|[[Govardhana matha|Govardhana Pīṭhaṃ]]}} |{{IAST|Prajñānam brahma (''Brahman is Knowledge'')}} |[[Rig Veda]] |Bhogavala |- |{{IAST|[[Sureśvara|Sureśvarācārya]]}} |{{IAST|[[Sringeri Sharada Peetham|Śārada Pīṭhaṃ]]}} |{{IAST|Aham brahmāsmi (''I am Brahman'')}} |[[Yajur Veda]] |{{IAST|Bhūrivala}} |- |{{IAST|[[Padmapāda|Padmapādācārya]]}} |{{IAST|[[Dwaraka Pītha|Dvāraka Pīṭhaṃ]]}} |{{IAST|Tattvamasi (''That thou art'')}} |[[Sama Veda]] |Kitavala |- |{{IAST|[[Totakacharya|Toṭakācārya]]}} |{{IAST|[[Jyotirmath|Jyotirmaṭha Pīṭhaṃ]]}} |{{IAST|Ayamātmā brahma (''This Atman is Brahman'')}} |[[Atharva Veda]] |Nandavala |- |} == Philosophy and religious thought == {{main|Advaita Vedanta}} [[Image:SwansCygnus olor.jpg|right|thumb|The [[Hamsa (Hindu mythology)|swan]] is an important motif in [[Advaita Vedanta]]. Its symbolic meanings are: firstly; upon verbally repeating ''hamsa'' (the Sanskrit word for ''Swan''), it becomes ''soham'' (Sanskrit, "I am That"). Secondly, even as a swan lives in water its feathers are not soiled by water, a liberated Advaitin lives in this world full of maya but is untouched by its illusion. Thirdly, a [[Sannyasi|monk]] of the [[Dashanami]] order is called a ''[[Paramahamsa]]'' ("the supreme swan")]] ''Advaita'' ("non-dualism") is often called a [[monism|monistic]] system of thought. The word "Advaita" essentially refers to the identity of the Self ([[Atman (Hinduism)|Atman]]) and the Whole ([[Brahman]]<ref>''Brahman'' is not to be confused with [[Brahma]], the Creator and one-third of the [[Trimurti]] along with [[Shiva]], the Destroyer and [[Vishnu]], the Preserver.</ref>). The key source texts for all schools of {{IAST|Vedānta}} are the [[Prasthanatrayi]]&ndash; the canonical texts consisting of the [[Upanishad]]s, the [[Bhagavad Gita]] and the [[Brahma Sutras]]. Adi Shankara was the first in its tradition to consolidate the {{IAST|siddhānta}} ("doctrine") of Advaita Vedanta. He wrote commentaries on the [[Prasthana Trayi]]. A famous quote from {{IAST|[[Viveka Chudamani|Vivekacūḍāmaṇi]]}}, one of his ''prakarana granthas'' that succinctly summarises his philosophy is: <Blockquote>''{{IAST|Brahma satyaṃ jagat mithyā, jīvo brahmaiva nāparah}}'' </Blockquote> <Blockquote>[[Brahman]] is the only truth, the world is unreal, and there is ultimately no difference between Brahman and individual self.</Blockquote> Advaita Vedanta is based on ''{{IAST|śāstra}}'' ("scriptures"), ''yukti'' ("reason") and ''anubhava'' ("experience"), and aided by ''[[karma (Hinduism)|karmas]]'' ("spiritual practices").<ref>See ''"Study the Vedas daily. Perform diligently the duties ("karmas") ordained by them"'' from [http://www.sankaracharya.org/sadhana_panchakam.php Sadhana Panchakam] of Adi Shankara</ref> This philosophy provides a clear-cut way of life to be followed. Starting from childhood, when learning has to start, the philosophy has to be realised in practice throughout one's life even up to death. This is the reason why this philosophy is called an experiential philosophy, the underlying tenet being "That thou art", meaning that ultimately there is no difference between the experiencer and the experienced (the world) as well as the universal spirit ([[Brahman]]). Among the followers of Advaita, as well those of other doctrines, there are believed to have appeared ''[[Jivanmukta]]s'', ones liberated while alive. These individuals (commonly called ''[[Mahatma]]s'', great souls, among [[Hindu]]s) are those who realised the oneness of their self and the universal spirit called Brahman. Some of the Translated philosophies of Adi Shankara are - [[Adi Sanakara Philosophy]]. Adi Shankara's Bhashyas (commentaries) on the [[Upanishads]], the [[Bhagavad Gita]] and the [[Brahma Sutra]]s are his principal and almost undeniably his own works. Although he mostly adhered to traditional means of commenting on the Brahma Sutra, there are a number of original ideas and arguments to establish that the essence of Upanishads is Advaita. He taught that it was only through direct knowledge of [[Brahman]] that one could be enlightened. Adi Shankara's opponents accused him of teaching Buddhism in the [[garb]] of Hinduism, because his non-dualistic ideals were a bit radical to contemporary Hindu philosophy. However, it may be noted that while the Later Buddhists arrived at a changeless, deathless, absolute truth after their insightful understanding of the unreality of [[samsara]], historically Vedantins never liked this idea. Although Advaita proposes the theory of [[Maya (Hinduism)|Maya]], explaining the universe as a "trick of a magician", Adi Shankara and his followers see this as a consequence of their basic premise that [[Brahman]] alone is real. Their idea of Maya emerges from their belief in the reality of Brahman, rather than the other way around. ==Historical and cultural impact== {{Hindu philosophy}} At the time of Adi Shankara's life, [[Hinduism]] had begun to decline because of the influence of [[Buddhism]] and [[Jainism]]. Hinduism had become divided into innumerable sects, each quarrelling with the others. The followers of [[Mimamsa]] and [[Sankhya]] philosophy were atheists, insomuch that they did not believe in [[Ishvara|God]] as a unified being. Besides these atheists, there were numerous theistic sects. There were also those who rejected the Vedas, like the [[Charvaka]]s. Adi Shankara held discourses and debates with the leading scholars of all these sects and schools of philosophy to controvert their doctrines. He unified the theistic sects into a common framework of [[Shanmata]] system. In his [[#works|works]], Adi Shankara stressed the importance of the Vedas, and his efforts helped Hinduism regain strength and popularity. Many trace the present worldwide domination of Vedanta to his works. He travelled on foot to various parts of India to restore the study of the Vedas. Even though he lived for only thirty-two years, his impact on India and on Hinduism was striking. He reintroduced a purer form of [[Vedic civilization|Vedic]] thought. His teachings and [[sampradaya|tradition]] form the basis of [[Smartism]] and have influenced [[Sant Mat]] lineages.<ref> {{cite paper |author=Ron Geaves |date=March 2002 |title=From Totapuri to Maharaji: Reflections on a Lineage (Parampara) |publisher=27th Spalding Symposium on Indian Religions, Oxford }} </ref> He is the main figure in the tradition of [[Advaita Vedanta]]. He was the founder of the ''{{IAST|[[Dashanami Sampradaya|Daśanāmi Sampradāya]]}}'' of [[Hindu]] [[monasticism]] and ''[[Shanmata|{{IAST|Ṣaṇmata}}]]'' of Smarta [[sampradaya|tradition]]. He introduced the ''{{IAST|[[panchayatana puja|Pañcāyatana]]}}'' form of [[puja|worship]]. Adi Shankara, along with [[Madhvacharya|Madhva]] and [[Ramanuja]], was instrumental in the revival of Hinduism. These three [[acharya|teachers]] formed the doctrines that are followed by their respective sects even today. They have been the most important figures in the recent history of [[Hindu philosophy]]. In their writings and debates, they provided [[polemic]]s against the non-Vedantic schools of [[Sankhya]], [[Vaisheshika]] etc. Thus they paved the way for [[Vedanta]] to be the dominant and most widely followed tradition among the schools of Hindu philosophy. The Vedanta school stresses most on the [[Upanishads]] (which are themselves called Vedanta, ''End or culmination of the [[Vedas]]''), unlike the other schools that gave importance to texts authored by their founders. The Vedanta schools have the belief that the Vedas, which include the Upanishads, are unauthored, forming a continuous tradition of wisdom transmitted orally. Thus the concept of ''apaurusheyatva'' ("being unauthored") came to be the guiding force behind the Vedanta schools. However, along with stressing the importance of [[Hinduism|Vedic]] [[sampradaya|tradition]], Adi Shankara gave equal importance to the personal experience of the student. [[Indian logic|Logic]], [[vyakarana|grammar]], [[Mimamsa]] and allied subjects form main areas of study in all the Vedanta schools. A well known verse, recited in the Smarta tradition, in praise of Adi Shankara is: <Blockquote>{{Unicode|श्रुति स्मृति पुराणानामालयं करुणालयं}}|<br /> {{Unicode|नमामि भगवत्पादशंकरं लॊकशंकरं}} ||<br /> ''{{IAST|Śruti smṛti purāṇānāṃālayaṃ karuṇālayaṃ}}''|<br /> ''{{IAST|Namāmi Bhagavatpādaśaṅkaraṃ lokaśaṅkaraṃ}}''|| <br /> I salute the compassionate abode of the Vedas, Smritis and Puranas known as Shankara Bhagavatpada, who makes the world auspicious.</Blockquote> {{See also|History of Hinduism}} == Works == {{Details|Works of Adi Shankara}} Adi Shankara's works deal with logically establishing the doctrine of [[Advaita Vedanta]] as he saw it in the [[Upanishads]]. He formulates the doctrine of Advaita Vedanta by validating his arguments on the basis of quotations from the [[Vedas]] and other [[Hindu scriptures]]. He gives a high priority to ''svānubhava'' ("personal experience") of the student. His works are largely [[polemic]]al in nature. He directs his polemics mostly against the [[Sankhya]], [[Buddhist philosophy|Buddha]], [[Jaina]], [[Vaisheshika]] and other non-vedantic [[Hindu philosophy|Hindu philosophies]]. Traditionally, his works are classified under {{IAST|Bhāṣya}} ("commentary"), {{IAST|Prakaraṇa gratha}} ("philosophical treatise") and Stotra ("devotional hymn"). The commentaries serve to provide a consistent interpretation of the scriptural texts from the perspective of Advaita Vedanta. The philosophical treatises provide various [[methodology|methodologies]] to the student to understand the doctrine. The devotional hymns are rich in poetry and piety, serving to highlight the relationship between the [[bhakti|devotee]] and the [[deva (Hinduism)|deity]]. Adi Shankara wrote ''Bhashyas'' on the ten [[mukhya|major]] [[Upanishads]], the [[Brahma Sutra]]s and the [[Bhagavad Gita]]. In his works, he quotes from Shveshvatara, Kaushitakai, Mahanarayana and Jabala Upanishads, among others. ''Bhashyas'' on Kaushitaki, Nrisimhatapani and Shveshvatara Upanishads are extant but the authenticity is doubtful.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.advaita-vedanta.org/avhp/sankara.html | title = Sankaracarya | author = Vidyasankar, S |accessdate=2006-07-24 }} </ref> Adi Shankara's is the earliest extant commentary on the [[Brahma Sutra]]s. However, he mentions older commentaries like those of Dravida, Bhartrprapancha and others.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.ochs.org.uk/downloads/classes/gmishra02mmas04.pdf | title = A Journey through Vedantic History -Advaita in the Pre-Sankara, Sankara and Post- Sankara Periods | author = Mishra, Godavarisha |accessdate=2006-07-24 | format =pdf }} </ref> In his [[Brahma Sutra]] Bhashya, Adi Shankara cites the examples of [[Dharmavyadha]], [[Vidura]] and others, who were born with the knowledge of [[Brahman]] acquired in previous births. He mentions that the effects cannot be prevented from working on account of their present birth. He states that the knowledge that arises out of the study of the [[Vedas]] could be had through the [[Puranas]] and the [[Itihasa]]s. In the [[Taittiriya Upanishad]] Bhashya 2.2, he says:<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.svbf.org/sringeri/journal/vol1no3/sankara.html | title = Sankara, the Jagadguru | author = Subbarayan, K |accessdate=2006-07-24 }} </ref><Blockquote>''{{IAST|Sarveśāṃ cādhikāro vidyāyāṃ ca śreyah: kevalayā vidyāyā veti siddhaṃ}}''</Blockquote> <Blockquote>It has been established that everyone has the right to the knowledge (of Brahman) and that the supreme goal is attained by that knowledge alone.</Blockquote> Among the independent philosophical treatises, only Upadeśasāhasrī is accepted as authentic by modern academic scholars. Many other such texts exist, among which there is a difference of opinion among scholars on the authorship of [[Viveka Chudamani]]. The former pontiff of Sringeri Math, Shri Shri [[Chandrashekhara Bharati III]] has written a voluminous commentary on the Viveka Chudamani. Adi Shankara begins his Gurustotram or Verses to the Guru with the following Sanskrit Sloka, that has become a widely sung Bhajan: {{quotation|Guru Brahma, Guru Vishnu, Gurur Devo Maheshwara. Guru Sakshath Parambrahma, Tasmai Shri Gurave Namaha. (tr: ''Guru is Brahma, Guru is Vishnu, Guru is Siva. Guru is directly the supreme spirit — I offer my salutations to this Guru.'')}} ==Film== In 1983 a film named ''Adi Shankaracharya'' was premiered , the first film ever made entirely in [[Sanskrit]], directed by [[G. V. Iyer]].<ref>[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0085138/ ''Adi Shankaracharya''], (1983), IMDb </ref>, <ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jx2x1sTrco Short clip from the film], YouTube</ref> <!-- ==See also== ''An index of articles related to Advaita Vedanta can be found at [[List of Advaita Vedanta-related topics]]'' --> ==Notes== {{Reflist|2}} ==References== *{{cite book |last=Keay |first=John |title=India: A History |year=2000 |publisher=Grove Press |location=New York |isbn=0-8021-3797-0 }} *{{cite book | last = Swami | first = Tapasyananda | authorlink = Tapasyananda | year = 2002 | title = Sankara-Dig-Vijaya: The Traditional Life of Sri Sankaracharya by Madhava-Vidyaranya | publisher = Sri Ramakrishna Math | location = India | isbn = 81-7120-434-1 }} *{{cite paper |author=[[Ron Geaves|Greaves, Ron]] |date=March 2002 |title=From Totapuri to Maharaji: Reflections on a Lineage (Parampara) |publisher=27th Spalding Symposium on Indian Religions, Oxford }} == External links == {{Wikisource author}} ;Works * [http://www.sankara.iitk.ac.in/ Complete Works of Adi Shankara] * [http://www.advaita-vedanta.org/ Advaita Vedanta Anusandhana Kendra] * [http://www.shankaracharya.org/ Complete works of Adi Shankara] *[http://www.geocities.com/advaitavedant/index.htm Advaita Vedanta Library] *[http://sanskritdocuments.org/doc_z_misc_shankara/doc_z_misc_shankara.html Some major works of Adi Shankaracharya] *[http://www.celextel.org/adisankara/ Adi Sankara's Books] ;Historical *{{cite web |url=http://www.sringerisharadapeetham.org/html/History/guruparampara.html |title= Guru Parampara of Sringeri Sharada Peetham |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20060619031752/http://www.sringerisharadapeetham.org/html/History/guruparampara.html |archivedate=2006-06-19}} * [http://www.kamakoti.org/peeth/origin.html Guru Parampara of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham] *[http://www.advaita-vedanta.org/avhp/dating-Sankara.html Sankara's date supporting the 788–820 CE date] * [http://www.easterntradition.org/original%20sankaracarya.pdf Material supporting the 509–477 BCE dates] (PDF) ;Life and teachings * [http://www.advaita-vedanta.org/avhp/sankara-life.html Brief life history of Adi Shankara with informative additional links] * [http://users.ox.ac.uk/~worc0337/authors/shankara.html Adi Śańkara] — short introduction to his life & philosophy (by [[Peter J. King]]) * [http://www.dlshq.org/saints/sankara.htm Biography of Shankara] by [[Swami Sivananda]] * [http://www.kamakoti.org/miscl/adi.html Another biography of Sankara] from [http://www.kamakoti.org/ kamakoti.org] ;Mathas * [http://www.sringerisharadapeetham.org/ Shringeri Sharada Peetham] * [http://www.kamakoti.org/ Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham] {{start box}} {{succession box | before = '''(none)''''| title = [[Jagadguru of Sringeri Sharada Peetham]] |years = ? &ndash; 820([[videha-mukti]]) | after = [[Sureśvara|Sureshwaracharya]] }}}} {{end box}} {{featured article}} <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]] --> {{Indian Philosophy}} {{Persondata |NAME = Shankara, Adi |ALTERNATIVE NAMES = ശങ്കരന, ആദി (Malayalam); शङ्कर, आदि (Devanāgarī); Śaṅkara Bhagavatpādācārya; Ādi Śaṅkarācārya |SHORT DESCRIPTION = Philosopher |DATE OF BIRTH = 788 |PLACE OF BIRTH = [[Kalady]], [[Kerala]], [[India]] |DATE OF DEATH = 820 |PLACE OF DEATH = }} {{DEFAULTSORT:Shankara, Adi}} [[Category:Advaitin philosophers]] [[Category:Hindu gurus]] [[Category:Hindu philosophers]] [[Category:9th century philosophers]] {{Link FA|pl}} [[bg:Шанкара]] [[cs:Ádi Šankara]] [[de:Shankara]] [[eo:Adi Ŝankara]] [[es:Adi Shankara]] [[fi:Adi Shankara]] [[fr:Adi Shankara]] [[gl:Adi Shankara]] [[he:שנקרה]] [[hi:आदि शंकराचार्य]] [[it:Adi Shankara]] [[ja:シャンカラ]] [[kn:ಆದಿ ಶಂಕರ]] [[la:Sankara]] [[ml:ശങ്കരാചാര്യര്‍]] [[nl:Shankara]] [[pl:Adi Śankara]] [[pt:Shânkara]] [[ro:Adi Shankara]] [[ru:Шанкара]] [[sa:आदि शंकर]] [[simple:Adi Shankara]] [[sk:Áčarja Šankara]] [[sv:Adi Shankara]] [[ta:ஆதி சங்கரர்]] [[te:ఆది శంకరాచార్యుడు]] [[vi:Adi Shankara]] [[zh:商羯罗]]