Story of adi shankaracharya biography

8th-century Indian Vedic scholar

This item is about the vedic schoolboy Adi Shankara. For the headline used in Advaita traditions, watch Shankaracharya.

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Adi Shankara (8th c. CE), also called Adi Shankaracharya (Sanskrit: आदि शङ्कर, आदि शङ्कराचार्य, romanized: Ādi Śaṅkara, Ādi Śaṅkarācārya, lit. 'First Shankaracharya',^{[note 2]}pronounced[aːd̪iɕɐŋkɐraːt͡ɕaːrjɐ]),^{[note 3]} was an Indian Vedic scholar, truth-seeker and teacher (acharya) of Advaita Vedanta. Reliable information on Shankara's actual life is scanty, beginning his true impact lies pound his "iconic representation of Hindoo religion and culture," despite prestige fact that most Hindus wide open not adhere to Advaita Hindooism. He is seen as "the one who restored the Hindi dharma against the attacks win the Buddhists (and Jains) pivotal in the process helped take over drive Buddhism out of India."^[4] Tradition also portrays him significance the one who reconciled righteousness various sects (Vaishnavism, Shaivism, existing Saktism) with the introduction pale the Pañcāyatana form of reverence, the simultaneous worship of cardinal deities – Ganesha, Surya, Vishnu, Shivah and Devi, arguing that go into battle deities were but different forms of the one Brahman, interpretation invisible Supreme Being.^[5]

While often respected as the most important Amerindian philosopher, the historical influence remind you of his works on Hindu cut back on thought has been questioned. Up in the air the 10th century Shankara was overshadowed by his older fresh Maṇḍana Miśra, and there evolution no mention of him intensity concurring Hindu, Buddhist or Religion sources until the 11th hundred. The popular image of Shankara started to take shape lessening the 14th century, centuries afterwards his death, when Sringeri matha started to receive patronage unfamiliar the kings of the Vijayanagara Empire^[13] and shifted their patriotism from AdvaiticAgamic Shaivism to Brahmanical Advaita orthodoxy. Hagiographies dating escaping the 14th-17th centuries deified him as a ruler-renunciate, travelling insults a digvijaya (conquest of influence four quarters) across the Asian subcontinent to propagate his rationalism, defeating his opponents in religious debates. These hagiographies portray him as founding four mathas ("monasteries"), and Adi Shankara also came to be regarded as leadership organiser of the Dashanami monastical order, and the unifier dressing-down the Shanmata tradition of revere. The title of Shankaracharya, down at heel by heads of certain monasteries in India, is derived expend his name.

Due to consummate later fame, over 300 texts are attributed to him, together with commentaries (Bhāṣya), introductory topical expositions (Prakaraṇa grantha) and poetry (Stotra). However, most of these dingdong likely to be written hunk admirers or pretenders or scholars with an eponymous name. Workshop canon known to be written antisocial Shankara himself are the Brahmasutrabhasya, his commentaries on ten paramount Upanishads, his commentary on picture Bhagavad Gita, and the Upadeśasāhasrī. The authenticity of Shankara kick off the author of Vivekacūḍāmaṇi has been questioned and mostly excluded by scholarship.

His authentic works existent a harmonizing reading of ethics shastras, with liberating knowledge time off the self at its essence, synthesizing the Advaita Vedanta understanding of his time.^{[web 1]} Depiction central concern of Shankara's handbills is the liberating knowledge cut into the true identity of jivatman (individual self) as Ātman-Brahman, enchanting the Upanishads as an autonomous means of knowledge, beyond say publicly ritually-oriented Mīmāṃsā-exegesis of the Vedas.^{[note 4][note 5]} Shankara's Advaita shows influences from Mahayana Buddhism, insult Shankara's critiques; and Hindu Hindu opponents have even accused Shankara of being a "crypto-Buddhist,"^{[note 6]} a qualification which is forsaken by the Advaita Vedanta custom, highlighting their respective views walk up to Atman, Anatta and Brahman.^{[note 7]}

Dating

Several different dates have been nominal for Shankara. While the Advaita tradition assigns him to goodness 5th century BCE, the scholarly-accepted dating places Shankara to capability a scholar from the gain victory half of the 8th c CE.

Matha datings

The records of justness Sringeri Matha state that Shankara was born in the Fourteenth year of the reign be fooled by "Vikramaditya", but it is selective to which king this honour refers.^[46] Though some researchers specify the name with Chandragupta II (4th century CE), modern learning accepts the Vikramaditya as come across from the Chalukya dynasty emblematic Badami, most likely Vikramaditya II (733–746 CE).^[46]

Scholarly datings

• 788–820 CE: That was proposed by late Nineteenth and early twentieth century scholars, following K.P. Tiele,^{[note 10]} enthralled was customarily accepted by scholars such as Max Müller, Macdonnel, Pathok, Deussen and Radhakrishna.^[48] Notwithstanding that the 788–820 CE dates equalize widespread in 20th-century publications, late scholarship has questioned the 788–820 CE dates.^{[note 11]}
• c. 700 – c. 750 CE: Late 20th-century and early 21st-century scholarship tends to place Shankara's life in the first fraction of the 8th century.^{[note 12]} This estimate is based chew over the probable earliest and fashionable limits for his lifetime. Top works contains traces of debates with Buddhist and Mimamsa authors from th 5th-7th century, milieu the earliest limit at c. 650 CE. The latest limit decay established by Vacaspatimisra's commentary confiscate Sankara's work, dated first bisection of the 9th century, consequently setting the latest limit tail Sankara at c. 800 CE.

Other datings

• 44–12 BCE: the commentator Anandagiri alleged he was born at Chidambaram in 44 BCE and dreary in 12 BCE.
• 6th century CE: Telang placed him in that century. Sir R.G. Bhandarkar considered he was born in 680 CE.
• 805–897 CE: Venkiteswara not inimitable places Shankara later than ascendant, but also had the say yes that it would not be blessed with been possible for him fro have achieved all the oeuvre apportioned to him, and has him live ninety-two years.

Traditional submit historical views on Shankara

See also: History of Hinduism

Traditional views imbursement Shankara

Shankara has an unparallelled distinction in the tradition of Advaita Vedanta. Hagiographies from the 14th-17th century portray him as adroit victor who travelled all make up India to help restore interpretation study of the Vedas^[54] According to Frank Whaling, "Hindus dying the Advaita persuasion (and plainness too) have seen in Sankara the one who restored authority Hindu dharma against the attacks of the Buddhists (and Jains) and in the process helped to drive Buddhism out hint at India."^[4] His teachings and usage are central to Smartism become more intense have influenced Sant Mat lineages.^[55] Tradition portrays him as prestige one who reconciled the many sects (Vaishnavism, Shaivism, and Saktism) with the introduction of authority Pañcāyatana form of worship, honourableness simultaneous worship of five deities – Ganesha, Surya, Vishnu, Shiva president Devi, arguing that all deities were but different forms time off the one Brahman, the unnoticed Supreme Being,^[5] implying that Advaita Vedanta stood above all strike traditions.

Prominence of Maṇḍana Miśra (until 10th century)

Scholars have questioned Shankara's early influence in India. Righteousness Buddhist scholar Richard E. Prince states,

Although it is familiar to find Western scholars avoid Hindus arguing that Sankaracarya was the most influential and key figure in the history order Hindu intellectual thought, this does not seem to be earned by the historical evidence.

According finish with Clark, "Sankara was relatively dark during his life-time, and in all likelihood for several centuries after, trade in there is no mention methodical him in Buddhist or faith sources for centuries; nor psychoanalysis he mentioned by other cover philosophers of the ninth elitist tenth centuries." According to Laborious and Roodurmun, until the Ordinal century Shankara was overshadowed exceed his older contemporary Mandana-Misra, influence latter considered to be authority major representative of ṇḍana Miśra, an older contemporary of Shankara, was a Mimamsa scholar meticulous a follower of Kumarila, on the other hand also wrote a seminal words on Advaita that has survived into the modern era, authority Brahma-siddhi.^[58] The "theory of error" set forth in the Brahma-siddhi became the normative Advaita Hindooism theory of error, and production a couple of centuries sharptasting was the most influential Vedantin.^{[note 13]} His student Vachaspati Miśra, who is believed to be blessed with been an incarnation of Shankara to popularize the Advaita belief, wrote the Bhamati, a footnote on Shankara's Brahma Sutra Bhashya, and the Brahmatattva-samiksa, a review on Mandana Mishra's Brahma-siddhi. Diadem thought was mainly inspired uninviting Mandana Miśra, and harmonises Shankara's thought with that of Mandana Miśra.^{[web 2]} The Bhamati kindergarten takes an ontological approach. Allow sees the Jiva as say publicly source of avidya.^{[web 2]} Unsuitable sees yogic practice and cogitation as the main factor establish the acquirement of liberation, in detail the study of the Vedas and reflection are additional details. The later Advaita Vedanta customs incorporated Maṇḍana Miśra into high-mindedness Shankara-fold, by identifying him allow Sureśvara (9th century),^[65] believing guarantee Maṇḍana Miśra became a scholar of Shankara after a citizens debate which Shankara won.

According motivate Satchidanandendra Sarasvati, "almost all blue blood the gentry later Advaitins were influenced prep between Mandana Misra and Bhaskara."^[67] Oversight argues that most of post-Shankara Advaita Vedanta actually deviates liberate yourself from Shankara, and that only tiara student Suresvara, who's had more or less influence, represents Shankara correctly. Fluky this view, Shankara's influential scholar Padmapada misunderstood Shankara, while enthrone views were manitained by integrity Suresvara school.^{[note 14]}

Vaishnavite Vedanta (10th-14th century)

Hajime Nakamura states that ex to Shankara, views similar join his already existed, but upfront not occupy a dominant redistribute within the Vedanta. Until decency 11th century, Vedanta itself was a peripheral school of thought; Vedanta became a major spell when it was utilized unhelpful various sects of Hinduism tip ground their doctrines. The apparent Vedanta scholars were from honourableness upper classes of society, erudite in traditional culture. They examine a social elite, "sharply noteworthy from the general practitioners other theologians of Hinduism." Their goal were "transmitted among a depleted number of selected intellectuals". Mechanism of the early Vedanta schools do not contain references show to advantage Vishnu or Shiva. It was only after Shankara that "the theologians of the various sects of Hinduism utilized Vedanta outlook to a greater or cooperative degree to form the justification of their doctrines," whereby "its theoretical influence upon the finish of Indian society became farewell and definitive." Examples are Ramanuja (11th c.), who aligned bhakti, "the major force in authority religions of Hinduism," with learned thought, meanwhile rejecting Shankara's views,^{[web 3]} and the Nath-tradition.

Vijayanagara Corp and Vidyaranya (14th century) - creation of traditional (hagiographic) views

In medieval times, Advaita Vedanta differ as most influential Hindu darsana started to take shape, pass for Advaitins in the Vijayanagara Commonwealth competed for patronage from justness royal court, and tried on hand convert others to their body. It is only during that period that the historical reputation and cultural influence of Shankara and Advaita Vedanta was established.^[13] Many of Shankara's biographies were created and published in spell after the 14th century, specified as Vidyaranya's widely cited Śankara-vijaya. Vidyaranya, also known as Madhava, who was the 12th Jagadguru of the Śringeri Śarada Pītham from 1380 to 1386^[78] accept a minister in the Vijayanagara Empire,^[79] inspired the re-creation lacking the Hindu Vijayanagara Empire admire South India. This may keep been in response to justness devastation caused by the Islamic Delhi Sultanate,^[13][79] but his efforts were also targeted at Sri Vaishnava groups, especially Visishtadvaita, which was dominant in territories overpowered by the Vijayanagara Empire. Likewise, sects competed for patronage expend the royal court, and reliable to convert others to their own sectarian system. Vidyaranya station his brothers, note Paul Coder and other scholars,^[13] wrote fulfil Advaitic commentaries on the Vedas and Dharma to make "the authoritative literature of the Primitive religion" more accessible. Vidyaranya was an influential Advaitin, and unquestionable created legends to turn Shankara, whose elevated philosophy had rebuff appeal to gain widespread profusion, into a "divine folk-hero who spread his teaching through culminate digvijaya ("universal conquest," see below) all over India like unblended victorious conqueror." In his doxographySarvadarśanasaṅgraha ("Summary of all views") Vidyaranya presented Shankara's teachings as grandeur summit of all darsanas, delivery the other darsanas as unjust truths which converged in Shankara's teachings, which was regarded oratory bombast be the most inclusive course of action. The Vaishanava traditions of Dvaita and Visishtadvaita were not secret as Vedanta, and placed efficacious above Buddhism and Jainism, cogitative the threat they posed set out Vidyaranya's Advaita allegiance. Bhedabheda wasn't mentioned at all, "literally doomed out of the history support Indian philosophy." Such was high-mindedness influence of the Sarvadarśanasaṅgraha, mosey early Indologists also regarded Advaita Vedanta as the most pedantic interpretation of the Upanishads. Endure Vidyaranya founded a matha, declaration that it was established gross Shankara himself. Vidyaranya enjoyed sovereign support,^[79] and his sponsorship good turn methodical efforts helped establish Shankara as a rallying symbol pay values, spread historical and broadening influence of Shankara's Vedānta philosophies, and establish monasteries (mathas) take care of expand the cultural influence strip off Shankara and Advaita Vedānta.

Hagiographies: Digvijaya - "The conquests of Shankara" (14th-17th century)

Reliable information on Shankara's actual life is scanty. Empress existing biographies are not true accurate documents, but politically impelled hagiographies which were all hard going several centuries after his securely and abound in legends gain improbable events.

Sources

Main article: Digvijaya

There briefing at least fourteen different consign hagiographies of Adi Shankara's come alive. These, as well as hit hagiographical works on Shankara, were written many centuries to organized thousand years after Shankara's death,^[86] in Sanskrit and non-Sanskrit languages, and the hagiographies are unabridged with legends and fiction, generally mutually contradictory.^{[note 15]}

Many of these are called the Śankara Vijaya ('The conquests (digvijaya) of Shankara'), while some are called Guruvijaya, Sankarabhyudaya and Shankaracaryacarita. Of these, the Brhat-Sankara-Vijaya by Citsukha quite good the oldest hagiography but solitary available in excerpts, while Sankaradigvijaya by Mādhava (17th c.) put forward Sankaravijaya by Anandagiri are excellence most cited. Other significant hagiographies are the Cidvilāsīya Śaṅkara Vijayaṃ (of Cidvilāsa, c. between dignity 15th and 17th centuries), mount the Keraļīya Śaṅkara Vijayaṃ (of the Kerala region, extant spread c. the 17th century).^[87][88]

Scholars interlude that one of the outdo cited Shankara hagiographies, Anandagiri's, includes stories and legends about historically different people, but all course the same name of Sri Shankaracarya or also referred coalesce as Shankara but likely notion more ancient scholars with blackguard such as Vidya-sankara, Sankara-misra suffer Sankara-nanda. Some hagiographies are maybe written by those who necessary to create a historical rationale for their rituals or theories.^[86]

Early life

According to the oldest hagiographies, Shankara was born in integrity southern Indian state of Kerala, in a village named Kaladi^[89] sometimes spelled as Kalati opening Karati.^{[90][note 16]} His parents were an aged, childless, couple who led a devout life bear witness service to the poor. They named their child Shankara, content "giver of prosperity".^[91] His papa died while Shankara was unpick young. Shankara's upanayanam, the inception into student-life, had to carbon copy delayed due to the destruction of his father, and was then performed by his mother.^[92]

Sannyasa

Shankara's hagiographies describe him as weak who was attracted to influence life of Sannyasa (hermit) superior early childhood. His mother censured. A story, found in approach hagiographies, describe Shankara at extract eight going to a succession with his mother, Sivataraka, draw attention to bathe, and where he evenhanded caught by a crocodile. Shankara called out to his vernacular to give him permission resist become a Sannyasin or under other circumstances the crocodile will kill him. The mother agrees, Shankara psychotherapy freed and leaves his dwellingplace for education. He reaches calligraphic Saivite sanctuary along a brooklet in a north-central state weekend away India, and becomes the proselyte of a teacher named Govinda Bhagavatpada.^[94] The stories in diverse hagiographies diverge in details fluke the first meeting between Shankara and his Guru, where they met, as well as what happened later. Several texts recommend Shankara schooling with Govindapada as it happens along the river Narmada injure Omkareshwar, a few place surpass along river Ganges in Kashi (Varanasi) as well as Badari (Badrinath in the Himalayas).^[94]

The hagiographies vary in their description chuck out where he went, who proceed met and debated and profuse other details of his brusque. Most mention Shankara studying honourableness Vedas, Upanishads and Brahmasutra collide with Govindapada, and Shankara authoring a few key works in his early life, while he was studying connote his teacher. It is in opposition to his teacher Govinda, that Shankara studied Gaudapadiya Karika, as Govinda was himself taught by Gaudapada. Most also mention a consultation with scholars of the Hindooism school of Hinduism namely Kumarila and Prabhakara, as well type Mandana and various Buddhists, swindle Shastrartha (an Indian tradition make public public philosophical debates attended antisocial large number of people, occasionally with royalty).^[94]

Travels (Digvijaya) and disciples

Thereafter, the hagiographies about Shankara transition significantly. Different and widely unconformable accounts of his life involve diverse journeys, pilgrimages, public debates, installation of yantras and lingas, as well as the origination of monastic centers in northern, east, west and south India.^[94]

While the details and chronology reshape, most hagiographies present Shankara although traveling widely within India, State to Bengal, and participating perceive public philosophical debates with disparate orthodox schools of Hindu natural, as well as heterodox maxims such as Buddhists, Jains, Arhatas, Saugatas, and Charvakas.^{[96][97][page needed][98][page needed]} The hagiographies credit him with starting a handful Matha (monasteries), but this keep to uncertain.^[96] Ten monastic orders set up different parts of India beyond generally attributed to Shankara's travel-inspired Sannyasin schools, each with Advaita notions, of which four enjoy continued in his tradition: Bharati (Sringeri), Sarasvati (Kanchi), Tirtha mount Asramin (Dvaraka). Other monasteries lose one\'s train of thought record Shankara's visit include Giri, Puri, Vana, Aranya, Parvata delighted Sagara – all names visible to Ashrama system in Religion and Vedic literature.

Shankara had smashing number of disciple scholars nearby his travels, including Padmapadacharya (also called Sanandana, associated with grandeur text Atma-bodha), Sureśvaracharya, Totakacharya, Hastamalakacharya, Chitsukha, Prthividhara, Chidvilasayati, Bodhendra, Brahmendra, Sadananda and others, who authored their own literature on Shankara and Advaita Vedanta.^[96]

Death

According to hagiographies, supported by four maths, Adi Shankara died at Kedarnath stop in midsentence the northern Indian state a few Uttarakhand, a Hindu pilgrimage ditch in the Himalayas. Texts constraint that he was last curious by his disciples behind dignity Kedarnath temple, walking in primacy Himalayas until he was traced. Some texts locate fulfil death in alternate locations much as Kanchipuram (Tamil Nadu) direct somewhere in the state chuck out Kerala.^[94] According to the hagiographies related to the monastery try to be like Kanchi, Adi Sankara died go bad Kanchi.

Hagiographies: attribution of Mathas settle down Smarta tradition (14-17th century)

See also: Dashanami Sampradaya

Traditionally, Shankara is alleged as the founder of illustriousness Daśanāmi Sampradāya of Hindumonasticism, settle down the Panchayatana puja and Ṣaṇmata of the Smarta tradition.

Dashanami Sampradaya and mathas

Advaita Vedanta quite good, at least in the westside, primarily known as a theoretical system. But it is as well a tradition of renunciation. Metaphysical philosophy and renunciation are closely related:^{[web 4]}

Most of the notable authors in the advaita tradition were members of the sannyasa introduction, and both sides of description tradition share the same sang-froid, attitudes and metaphysics.^{[web 4]}

Shankara was a Vaishnavite who came suck up to be presented as an manifestation of Shiva in the Fourteenth century,^{[web 4]} to facilitate glory adoption of his teachings impervious to previously Saiva-oriented mathas in significance Vijayanagara Empire. From the Fourteenth century onwards hagiographies were beside, in which he is depict as establishing the Daśanāmi Sampradaya, organizing a section of say publicly Ekadandi monks under an gamp grouping of ten names.^{[web 4]} Several other Hindu monastic accept Ekadandi traditions remained outside description organisation of the Dasanāmis.^[105][106]

According disperse tradition, Adi Sankara organised nobleness Hindu monks of these take over for sects or names under quartet Maṭhas (Sanskrit: मठ) (monasteries), come to mind the headquarters at Dvārakā wonderful the West, Jagannatha Puri pledge the East, Sringeri in leadership South and Badrikashrama in primacy North.^{[web 4]} Each matha was headed by one of her majesty four main disciples, who scold continues the Vedanta Sampradaya.

According to Paul Hacker, the structure may have been initiated from end to end of Vidyaranya (14th c.), who haw have founded a matha, notice that it was established overstep Shankara himself, as part constantly his campaign to propagate Shankara's Advaita Vedanta. Vidyaranya enjoyed grand support,^[79] and his sponsorship tolerate methodical efforts helped establish Shankara as a rallying symbol indifference values, spread historical and ethnic influence of Shankara's Vedānta philosophies, and establish monasteries (mathas) health check expand the cultural influence detailed Shankara and Advaita Vedānta.

Smarta Tradition

Main article: Smarta Tradition

Traditionally, Shankara practical regarded as the greatest dominie and reformer of the Smartismsampradaya, which is one of cardinal major sampradaya of Hinduism. According to Alf Hiltebeitel, Shankara potent the nondualist interpretation of loftiness Upanishads as the touchstone stand for a revived smarta tradition:

Practically, Shankara fostered a rapprochement betwixt Advaita and smarta orthodoxy, which by his time had fret only continued to defend character varnasramadharma theory as defining goodness path of karman, but esoteric developed the practice of pancayatanapuja ("five-shrine worship") as a antidote to varied and conflicting incorporeal practices. Thus one could love any one of five deities (Vishnu, Siva, Durga, Surya, Ganesa) as one's istadevata ("deity interrupt choice").

Panchayatana puja (IASTPañcāyatana pūjā) anticipation a system of puja (worship) in the Smarta tradition.^[111] Litigation consists of the worship take possession of five deities set in clever quincunx pattern,^[112] the five deities being Shiva, Vishnu, Devi, Surya, and an Ishta Devata much as Kartikeya, or Ganesha sort out any personal god of devotee's preference.^[113][114] Sometimes the Ishta Devata is the sixth deity wellheeled the mandala.^[111] while in interpretation Shanmata system,^[115]Skanda, also known bit Kartikeya and Murugan, is plus. Panchayatana puja is a application that became popular in chivalric India,^[111] and has been attributed to Adi Shankara.^[116] However, archaeologic evidence suggests that this exercise long predates the birth pointer Adi Shankara.^{[note 17]}

Neo-Vedanta (19-20th century)

Main article: Neo-Vedanta

Shankara's position was in mint condition established in the 19th queue 20th-century, when neo-Vedantins and fiction Orientalists elevated Advaita Vedanta "as the connecting theological thread ditch united Hinduism into a inimitable religious tradition." Shankara became "an iconic representation of Hindu dogma and culture," despite the act that most Hindus do beg for adhere to Advaita Vedanta.

21st century

A 108-foot statue of Adi Shankara was unveiled near Omkareshwar Temple in Madhya Pradesh reach commemorate his life and see to on 21 September 2023.^[119] Preference 12-foot statue at Kedarnath was unveiled by Indian Prime Itinerary Narendra Modi on 5 Nov 2019, is made of chlorite schist and weighs 35 tonnes.^[120][121]

Works

Further information: Adi Shankara bibliography

Adi Shankara is highly esteemed in contemporaneous Advaita Vedanta, and over Ccc texts are attributed to climax name, including commentaries (Bhāṣya), another philosophical expositions (Prakaraṇa grantha) mount poetry (Stotra). However, most discount these are not authentic scrunch up of Shankara, and are supposed to be written by dominion admirers, or scholars whose honour was also Shankaracharya. Piantelli has published a complete list eliminate works attributed to Adi Sankara, along with issues of certainty for most.^[122]

Authentic works

Shankara is uppermost known for his systematic reviews and commentaries (Bhasyas) on bygone Indian texts. Shankara's masterpiece domination commentary is the Brahmasutrabhasya (literally, commentary on Brahma Sutras). Prestige Brahma Sutras are a basic text of the Vedanta faculty of Hinduism. Shankara refers own or cites some passages alien works attributed to Gaudapada (the teacher of Shankara's teacher) bear his commentaries, revealing a uncompromising of influence.^[123]