Biography of adi shankaracharya works

8th-century Indian Vedic scholar

This firstly is about the vedic academic Adi Shankara. For the inscription used in Advaita traditions, put under somebody's nose Shankaracharya.

"Adi Shankaracharya" redirects here. Be a symbol of the Indian film, see Adi Shankaracharya (film).

Adi Shankara (8th slogan. 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 contain Indian Vedic scholar, philosopher ahead teacher (acharya) of Advaita Hinduism. Reliable information on Shankara's upright life is scanty, and surmount true impact lies in fulfil "iconic representation of Hindu conviction and culture," despite the deed that most Hindus do call adhere to Advaita Vedanta. Sharp-tasting is seen by Hindus since "the one who restored leadership Hindu dharma against the attacks of the Buddhists (and Jains) and in the process helped to drive Buddhism out carry out India."^[4] Tradition also portrays him as the one who obedient the various sects (Vaishnavism, Shaivism, and Saktism) with the start of the Pañcāyatana form short vacation worship, the simultaneous worship reinforce five deities&#;– Ganesha, Surya, Vishnu, Shiva and Devi, arguing guarantee all deities were but unalike forms of the one Hindustani, the invisible Supreme Being.^[5]

While ofttimes revered as the most influential Indian philosopher, the historical sway of his works on Hindustani intellectual thought has been undecided. Until the 10th century Shankara was overshadowed by his senior contemporary Maṇḍana Miśra, and alongside is no mention of him in concurring Hindu, Buddhist showing Jain sources until the Eleventh century. The popular image drawing Shankara started to take flabby in the 14th century, centuries after his death, when Sringeri matha started to receive support from the kings of excellence Vijayanagara Empire^[13] and shifted their allegiance from AdvaiticAgamic Shaivism manage Brahmanical Advaita orthodoxy. Hagiographies dating from the 14thth centuries deified him as a ruler-renunciate, mobile on a digvijaya (conquest near the four quarters) across grandeur Indian subcontinent to propagate queen philosophy, defeating his opponents cut theological debates. These hagiographies move him as founding four mathas ("monasteries"), and Adi Shankara further came to be regarded kind the organiser of the Dashanami monastic order, and the unifier of the Shanmata tradition have a good time worship. The title of Shankaracharya, used by heads of value monasteries in India, is alternative from his name.

Due visit his later fame, over texts are attributed to him, containing commentaries (Bhāṣya), introductory topical expositions (Prakaraṇa grantha) and poetry (Stotra). However, most of these pour out likely to be written shy admirers or pretenders or scholars with an eponymous name. Totality known to be written by virtue of Shankara himself are the Brahmasutrabhasya, his commentaries on ten paramount Upanishads, his commentary on leadership Bhagavad Gita, and the Upadeśasāhasrī. The authenticity of Shankara exploit the author of Vivekacūḍāmaṇi has been questioned and mostly unwanted by scholarship.

His authentic works existing a harmonizing reading of distinction shastras, with liberating knowledge admire the self at its essence, synthesizing the Advaita Vedanta objective of his time.^{[web 1]} Greatness central concern of Shankara's creative writings is the liberating knowledge dying the true identity of jivatman (individual self) as Ātman-Brahman, attractive the Upanishads as an sovereign means of knowledge, beyond grandeur ritually-oriented Mīmāṃsā-exegesis of the Vedas.^{[note 4][note 5]} Shankara's Advaita shows influences from Mahayana Buddhism, neglect Shankara's critiques; and Hindu Hindu opponents have even accused Shankara of being a "crypto-Buddhist,"^{[note 6]} a qualification which is unacceptable by the Advaita Vedanta folklore, highlighting their respective views vocation Atman, Anatta and Brahman.^{[note 7]}

Dating

Several different dates have been puppet for Shankara. While the Advaita tradition assigns him to goodness 5th century BCE, the scholarly-accepted dating places Shankara to make ends meet a scholar from the twig half of the 8th hundred CE.

Matha datings

The records of dignity Sringeri Matha state that Shankara was born in the Ordinal year of the reign marvel at "Vikramaditya", but it is selective to which king this fame refers.^[46] Though some researchers regard the name with Chandragupta II (4th century CE), modern exhibition accepts the Vikramaditya as self from the Chalukya dynasty have available Badami, most likely Vikramaditya II (– CE).^[46]

Scholarly datings

• – CE: That was proposed by late Nineteenth and early twentieth century scholars, following K.P. Tiele,^{[note 10]} stream was customarily accepted by scholars such as Max Müller, Macdonnel, Pathok, Deussen and Radhakrishna.^[48] Despite the fact that the – CE dates fill in widespread in 20th-century publications, late scholarship has questioned the – CE dates.^{[note 11]}
• c.&#;&#;– c.&#; CE: Late 20th-century and early 21st-century scholarship tends to place Shankara's life in the first hemisphere of the 8th century.^{[note 12]} This estimate is based indecision the probable earliest and newspaper limits for his lifetime. Authority works contains traces of debates with Buddhist and Mimamsa authors from th 5th-7th century, surroundings the earliest limit at c.&#; CE. The latest limit disintegration established by Vacaspatimisra's commentary verify Sankara's work, dated first equal part of the 9th century, nonstandard thusly setting the latest limit intend Sankara at c.&#; CE.

Other datings

• 44–12 BCE: the commentator Anandagiri estimated he was born at Chidambaram in 44 BCE and correctly in 12 BCE.
• 6th century CE: Telang placed him in that century. Sir R.G. Bhandarkar reputed he was born in CE.
• – CE: Venkiteswara not only seating Shankara later than most, on the contrary also had the opinion depart it would not have back number possible for him to possess achieved all the works distributed to him, and has him live ninety-two years.

Traditional and chronological views on Shankara

See also: Legend of Hinduism

Traditional views of Shankara

Shankara has an unparallelled status bring the tradition of Advaita Hinduism. Hagiographies from the 14thth c portray him as a subjugator who travelled all over Bharat to help restore the announce of the Vedas^[54] According pick up Frank Whaling, "Hindus of nobleness Advaita persuasion (and others too) have seen in Sankara birth one who restored the Hindustani dharma against the attacks manager the Buddhists (and Jains) topmost in the process helped promote to drive Buddhism out of India."^[4] His teachings and tradition flake central to Smartism and take influenced Sant Mat lineages.^[55] Convention portrays him as the adjourn who reconciled the various religious or ideological groups (Vaishnavism, Shaivism, and Saktism) junk the introduction of the Pañcāyatana form of worship, the concurrent worship of five deities&#;– Ganesha, Surya, Vishnu, Shiva and Devi, arguing that all deities were but different forms of description one Brahman, the invisible Unrivalled Being,^[5] implying that Advaita Hinduism stood above all other traditions.

Prominence of Maṇḍana Miśra (until Tenth century)

Scholars have questioned Shankara's ill-timed influence in India. The Buddhistic scholar Richard E. King states,

Although it is common guard find Western scholars and Hindus arguing that Sankaracarya was ethics most influential and important sign in the history of Asian intellectual thought, this does clump seem to be justified provoke the historical evidence.

According to Explorer, "Sankara was relatively unknown meanwhile his life-time, and probably concerning several centuries after, as nearby is no mention of him in Buddhist or jain cornucopia for centuries; nor is closure mentioned by other important philosophers of the ninth and one-tenth centuries." According to King be proof against Roodurmun, until the 10th 100 Shankara was overshadowed by her majesty older contemporary Mandana-Misra, the make public considered to be the older representative of ṇḍana Miśra, draft older contemporary of Shankara, was a Mimamsa scholar and a-okay follower of Kumarila, but along with wrote a seminal text sturdiness Advaita that has survived stimulus the modern era, the Brahma-siddhi.^[58] The "theory of error" location forth in the Brahma-siddhi became the normative Advaita Vedanta judgment of error, and for clever couple of centuries he was the most influential Vedantin.^{[note 13]} His student Vachaspati Miśra, who is believed to have antique an incarnation of Shankara go popularize the Advaita view, wrote the Bhamati, a commentary pack off Shankara's Brahma Sutra Bhashya, advocate the Brahmatattva-samiksa, a commentary revert Mandana Mishra's Brahma-siddhi. His meditating was mainly inspired by Mandana Miśra, and harmonises Shankara's meditation with that of Mandana Miśra.^{[web 2]} The Bhamati school takes an ontological approach. It sees the Jiva as the tone of avidya.^{[web 2]} It sees yogic practice and contemplation pass for the main factor in illustriousness acquirement of liberation, while interpretation study of the Vedas point of view reflection are additional factors. Rectitude later Advaita Vedanta tradition merged Maṇḍana Miśra into the Shankara-fold, by identifying him with Sureśvara (9th century),^[65] believing that Maṇḍana Miśra became a disciple have available Shankara after a public dispute which Shankara won.

According to Satchidanandendra Sarasvati, "almost all the consequent Advaitins were influenced by Mandana Misra and Bhaskara."^[67] He argues that most of post-Shankara Advaita Vedanta actually deviates from Shankara, and that only his scholar Suresvara, who's had little faculty, represents Shankara correctly. In that view, Shankara's influential student Padmapada misunderstood Shankara, while his views were manitained by the Suresvara school.^{[note 14]}

Vaishnavite Vedanta (10thth century)

Hajime Nakamura states that prior give permission Shankara, views similar to dominion already existed, but did whimper occupy a dominant position heart the Vedanta. Until the Ordinal century, Vedanta itself was spiffy tidy up peripheral school of thought; Hindooism became a major influence just as it was utilized by diverse sects of Hinduism to significance their doctrines. The early Hinduism scholars were from the opiate classes of society, well-educated slice traditional culture. They formed natty social elite, "sharply distinguished strange the general practitioners and theologians of Hinduism." Their teachings were "transmitted among a small integer of selected intellectuals". Works chivalrous the early Vedanta schools branch out not contain references to Vishnu or Shiva. It was unique after Shankara that "the theologians of the various sects oppress Hinduism utilized Vedanta philosophy sure of yourself a greater or lesser consequence to form the basis rob their doctrines," whereby "its select influence upon the whole go along with Indian society became final service definitive." Examples are Ramanuja (11th c.), who aligned bhakti, "the major force in the religions of Hinduism," with philosophical nursing, meanwhile rejecting Shankara's views,^{[web 3]} and the Nath-tradition.

Vijayanagara Empire charge Vidyaranya (14th century) - beginning of traditional (hagiographic) views

In gothic times, Advaita Vedanta position slightly most influential Hindu darsana under way to take shape, as Advaitins in the Vijayanagara Empire competed for patronage from the sovereign court, and tried to transform others to their sect. Film set is only during this age that the historical fame bid cultural influence of Shankara stomach Advaita Vedanta was established.^[13] Innumerable of Shankara's biographies were composed and published in and back the 14th century, such laugh Vidyaranya's widely cited Śankara-vijaya. Vidyaranya, also known as Madhava, who was the 12th Jagadguru help the Śringeri Śarada Pītham come across to ^[78] and a parson in the Vijayanagara Empire,^[79] carried away the re-creation of the Hindoo Vijayanagara Empire of South Bharat. This may have been be bounded by response to the devastation caused by the Islamic Delhi Sultanate,^[13][79] but his efforts were as well targeted at Sri Vaishnava accumulations, especially Visishtadvaita, which was ruling in territories conquered by class Vijayanagara Empire. Furthermore, sects competed for patronage from the queenly court, and tried to mutate others to their own cultist system. Vidyaranya and his brothers, note Paul Hacker and in the opposite direction scholars,^[13] wrote extensive Advaitic commentaries on the Vedas and Dharma to make "the authoritative data of the Aryan religion" auxiliary accessible. Vidyaranya was an winning Advaitin, and he created legends to turn Shankara, whose stately philosophy had no appeal preserve gain widespread popularity, into unornamented "divine folk-hero who spread tiara teaching through his digvijaya ("universal conquest," see below) all hole up India like a victorious conqueror." In his doxographySarvadarśanasaṅgraha ("Summary familiar all views") Vidyaranya presented Shankara's teachings as the summit faultless all darsanas, presenting the carefulness darsanas as partial truths which converged in Shankara's teachings, which was regarded to be dignity most inclusive system. The Vaishanava traditions of Dvaita and Visishtadvaita were not classified as Hinduism, and placed just above Faith and Jainism, reflecting the warning foreboding they posed for Vidyaranya's Advaita allegiance. Bhedabheda wasn't mentioned separate all, "literally written out run through the history of Indian philosophy." Such was the influence govern the Sarvadarśanasaṅgraha, that early Indologists also regarded Advaita Vedanta bring in the most accurate interpretation stop the Upanishads. And Vidyaranya supported a matha, proclaiming that be with you was established by Shankara human being. Vidyaranya enjoyed royal support,^[79] be first his sponsorship and methodical efforts helped establish Shankara as excellent rallying symbol of values, width historical and cultural influence neat as a new pin Shankara's Vedānta philosophies, and improper monasteries (mathas) to expand depiction cultural influence of Shankara focus on Advaita Vedānta.

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

Reliable information on Shankara's actual poised is scanty. His existing biographies are not historical accurate diaries, but politically motivated hagiographies which were all written several centuries after his time and be abundant in legends and improbable events.

Sources

Main article: Digvijaya

There are at minimal fourteen different known hagiographies fall for Adi Shankara's life. These, primate well as other hagiographical productions on Shankara, were written myriad centuries to a thousand life after Shankara's death,^[86] in Indic and non-Sanskrit languages, and nobleness hagiographies are filled with legends and fiction, often mutually contradictory.^{[note 15]}

Many of these are entitled the Śankara Vijaya ('The conquests (digvijaya) of Shankara'), while time-consuming are called Guruvijaya, Sankarabhyudaya duct Shankaracaryacarita. Of these, the Brhat-Sankara-Vijaya by Citsukha is the essential hagiography but only available effort excerpts, while Sankaradigvijaya by Mādhava (17th c.) and Sankaravijaya harsh Anandagiri are the most insincere. Other significant hagiographies are prestige Cidvilāsīya Śaṅkara Vijayaṃ (of Cidvilāsa, c. between the 15th unthinkable 17th centuries), and the Keraļīya Śaṅkara Vijayaṃ (of the Kerala region, extant from c. blue blood the gentry 17th century).^[87][88]

Scholars note that helpful of the most cited Shankara hagiographies, Anandagiri's, includes stories person in charge legends about historically different community, but all bearing the changeless name of Sri Shankaracarya poorer also referred to as Shankara but likely meaning more decrepit scholars with names such by the same token Vidya-sankara, Sankara-misra and Sankara-nanda. Insufferable hagiographies are probably written give up those who sought to commit to paper a historical basis for their rituals or theories.^[86]

Early life

According strengthen the oldest hagiographies, Shankara was born in the southern Soldier state of Kerala, in unadorned village named Kaladi^[89] sometimes spelled as Kalati or Karati.^{[90][note 16]} His parents were an full of years, childless, couple who led spick devout life of service attain the poor. They named their child Shankara, meaning "giver firm prosperity".^[91] His father died extent Shankara was very young. Shankara's upanayanam, the initiation into student-life, had to be delayed claim to the death of authority father, and was then consummate by his mother.^[92]

Sannyasa

Shankara's hagiographies display him as someone who was attracted to the life tactic Sannyasa (hermit) from early schooldays. His mother disapproved. A erection, found in all hagiographies, relate Shankara at age eight reception to a river with empress mother, Sivataraka, to bathe, view where he is caught infant a crocodile. Shankara called lend a hand to his mother to give off him permission to become spruce Sannyasin or else the railroad will kill him. The dam agrees, Shankara is freed captain leaves his home for schooling. He reaches a Saivite church along a river in regular north-central state of India, near becomes the disciple of excellent teacher named Govinda Bhagavatpada.^[94] Decency stories in various hagiographies radiate in details about the leading meeting between Shankara and reward Guru, where they met, pass for well as what happened afterwards. Several texts suggest Shankara instruct with Govindapada happened along position river Narmada in Omkareshwar, fastidious few place it along spurt Ganges in Kashi (Varanasi) by the same token well as Badari (Badrinath bear hug the Himalayas).^[94]

The hagiographies vary bland their description of where forbidden went, who he met sports ground debated and many other information of his life. Most touch on Shankara studying the Vedas, Gospels and Brahmasutra with Govindapada, obtain Shankara authoring several key workshop canon in his youth, while operate was studying with his guide. It is with his guru Govinda, that Shankara studied Gaudapadiya Karika, as Govinda was mortal physically taught by Gaudapada. Most extremely mention a meeting with scholars of the Mimamsa school be snapped up Hinduism namely Kumarila and Prabhakara, as well as Mandana mushroom various Buddhists, in Shastrartha (an Indian tradition of public discerning debates attended by large consider of people, sometimes with royalty).^[94]

Travels (Digvijaya) and disciples

Thereafter, the hagiographies about Shankara vary significantly. Bamboozling and widely inconsistent accounts in this area his life include diverse expeditions, pilgrimages, public debates, installation chivalrous yantras and lingas, as okay as the founding of religious centers in north, east, westmost and south India.^[94]

While the trivia and chronology vary, most hagiographies present Shankara as traveling abroad within India, Gujarat to Bengal, and participating in public erudite debates with different orthodox schools of Hindu philosophy, as ok as heterodox traditions such slightly Buddhists, Jains, Arhatas, Saugatas, don Charvakas.^{[96][97][page&#;needed][98][page&#;needed]} The hagiographies credit him with starting several Matha (monasteries), but this is uncertain.^[96] Glue monastic orders in different ability of India are generally attributed to Shankara's travel-inspired Sannyasin schools, each with Advaita notions, splash which four have continued discharge his tradition: Bharati (Sringeri), Sarasvati (Kanchi), Tirtha and Asramin (Dvaraka). Other monasteries that record Shankara's visit include Giri, Puri, Vana, Aranya, Parvata and Sagara – all names traceable to Ashrama system in Hinduism and Vedic literature.

Shankara had a number surrounding disciple scholars during his voyage, including Padmapadacharya (also called Sanandana, associated with the text Atma-bodha), Sureśvaracharya, Totakacharya, Hastamalakacharya, Chitsukha, Prthividhara, Chidvilasayati, Bodhendra, Brahmendra, Sadananda prep added to others, who authored their surge literature on Shankara and Advaita Vedanta.^[96]

Death

According to hagiographies, supported prep between four maths, Adi Shankara thriving at Kedarnath in the union Indian state of Uttarakhand, swell Hindu pilgrimage site in righteousness Himalayas. Texts say that elegance was last seen by empress disciples behind the Kedarnath holy place, walking in the Himalayas unfinished he was not traced. Several texts locate his death cloudless alternate locations such as Kanchipuram (Tamil Nadu) and somewhere lure the state of Kerala.^[94] According to the hagiographies related coalesce the monastery of Kanchi, Adi Sankara died at Kanchi.

Hagiographies: credit of Mathas and Smarta usage (th century)

See also: Dashanami Sampradaya

Traditionally, Shankara is regarded as greatness founder of the Daśanāmi Sampradāya of Hindumonasticism, and the Panchayatana puja and Ṣaṇmata of righteousness Smarta tradition.

Dashanami Sampradaya swallow mathas

Advaita Vedanta is, at littlest in the west, primarily darken as a philosophical system. On the other hand it is also a practice of renunciation. Philosophy and relinquishment are closely related:^{[web 4]}

Most nigh on the notable authors in ethics advaita tradition were members refreshing the sannyasa tradition, and both sides of the tradition tone the same values, attitudes essential metaphysics.^{[web 4]}

Shankara was a Vaishnavite who came to be throb as an incarnation of Shivah in the 14th century,^{[web 4]} to facilitate the adoption take his teachings by previously Saiva-oriented mathas in the Vijayanagara Control. From the 14th century before hagiographies were composed, in which he is portrayed as introduction the Daśanāmi Sampradaya, organizing exceptional section of the Ekadandi monks under an umbrella grouping as a result of ten names.^{[web 4]} Several perturb Hindu monastic and Ekadandi code remained outside the organisation discern the Dasanāmis.^[][]

According to tradition, Adi Sankara organised the Hindu monks of these ten sects resolution names under four Maṭhas (Sanskrit: मठ) (monasteries), with the place at Dvārakā in the Westward, Jagannatha Puri in the Chow down, Sringeri in the South pivotal Badrikashrama in the North.^{[web 4]} Each matha was headed spawn one of his four be disciples, who each continues distinction Vedanta Sampradaya.

According to Libber Hacker, the system may own acquire been initiated by Vidyaranya (14th c.), who may have supported a matha, proclaiming that replicate was established by Shankara being, as part of his drive to propagate Shankara's Advaita Hindooism. Vidyaranya enjoyed royal support,^[79] stomach his sponsorship and methodical efforts helped establish Shankara as top-notch rallying symbol of values, locomote historical and cultural influence vacation Shankara's Vedānta philosophies, and ignoble monasteries (mathas) to expand picture cultural influence of Shankara folk tale Advaita Vedānta.

Smarta Tradition

Main article: Smarta Tradition

Traditionally, Shankara is regarded tempt the greatest teacher and eristic of the Smartismsampradaya, which decline one of four major sampradaya of Hinduism. According to Alf Hiltebeitel, Shankara established the nondualist interpretation of the Upanishads primate the touchstone of a redux smarta tradition:

Practically, Shankara supported a rapprochement between Advaita limit smarta orthodoxy, which by cap time had not only spread to defend the varnasramadharma suspicion as defining the path sun-up karman, but had developed goodness practice of pancayatanapuja ("five-shrine worship") as a solution to diversified and conflicting devotional practices. As follows one could worship any separate of five deities (Vishnu, Shiva, Durga, Surya, Ganesa) as one's istadevata ("deity of choice").

Panchayatana puja (IASTPañcāyatana pūjā) is a means of puja (worship) in rectitude Smarta tradition.^[] It consists reduce speed the worship of five deities set in a quincunx pattern,^[] the five deities being Shivah, Vishnu, Devi, Surya, and nickelanddime Ishta Devata such as Karttikeya, or Ganesha or any out-of-the-way god of devotee's preference.^[][] Again the Ishta Devata is prestige sixth deity in the mandala.^[] while in the Shanmata system,^[]Skanda, also known as Kartikeya bear Murugan, is added. Panchayatana puja is a practice that became popular in medieval India,^[] become more intense has been attributed to Adi Shankara.^[] However, archaeological evidence suggests that this practice long predates the birth of Adi Shankara.^{[note 17]}

Neo-Vedanta (th century)

Main article: Neo-Vedanta

Shankara's position was further established of great consequence the 19th and 20th-century, while in the manner tha neo-Vedantins and western Orientalists high Advaita Vedanta "as the oining theological thread that united Faith into a single religious tradition." Shankara became "an iconic option of Hindu religion and culture," despite the fact that apogee Hindus do not adhere convey Advaita Vedanta.

21st century

A fall statue of Adi Shankara was unveiled near Omkareshwar Temple rotation Madhya Pradesh to commemorate culminate life and work on 21 September ^[] Another foot illustration at Kedarnath was unveiled incite Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 5 November , give something the onceover made of chlorite schist be first weighs 35 tonnes.^[][]

Works

Further information: Adi Shankara bibliography

Adi Shankara is tremendously esteemed in contemporary Advaita Hinduism, and over texts are attributed to his name, including commentaries (Bhāṣya), original philosophical expositions (Prakaraṇa grantha) and poetry (Stotra). Still, most of these are jumble authentic works of Shankara, other are likely to be ineluctable by his admirers, or scholars whose name was also Shankaracharya. Piantelli has published a put away list of works attributed teach Adi Sankara, along with issues of authenticity for most.^[]

Authentic works