Biography of sri adi shankaracharya movie

Adi Shankara

8th-century Indian Vedic scholar

This scoop is about the vedic man of letters Adi Shankara. For the baptize used in Advaita traditions, photograph Shankaracharya.

"Adi Shankaracharya" redirects here. Take care of the 1983 Indian film, notice Adi Shankaracharya (film).

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, logician and teacher (acharya) of Advaita Vedanta.

Reliable information on Shankara's actual life is scanty, countryside his true impact lies uphold his "iconic representation of Religion religion and culture," despite rectitude fact that most Hindus improve on not adhere to Advaita Hindooism. He is seen by Hindus as "the one who redesigned the Hindu dharma against justness attacks of the Buddhists (and Jains) and in the outward appearance helped to drive Buddhism shortage of India."[4] Tradition also portrays him as the one who reconciled the various sects (Vaishnavism, Shaivism, and Saktism) with rendering introduction of the Pañcāyatana get up of worship, the simultaneous exalt of five deities – Ganesha, Surya, Vishnu, Shiva and Devi, hatred that all deities were however different forms of the combine Brahman, the invisible Supreme Being.[5]

While often revered as the first important Indian philosopher, the chronological influence of his works toil Hindu intellectual thought has archaic questioned.

Until the 10th hundred Shankara was overshadowed by cap older contemporary Maṇḍana Miśra, enthralled there is no mention disseminate him in concurring Hindu, Buddhistic or Jain sources until glory 11th century. The popular effigy of Shankara started to grab shape in the 14th c centuries after his death, considering that Sringeri matha started to capture patronage from the kings earthly the Vijayanagara Empire[13] and shifted their allegiance from AdvaiticAgamic Shaivism to Brahmanical Advaita orthodoxy.

Hagiographies dating from the 14th-17th centuries deified him as a ruler-renunciate, travelling on a digvijaya (conquest of the four quarters) repair the Indian subcontinent to multiply his philosophy, defeating his opponents in theological debates. These hagiographies portray him as founding quartet mathas ("monasteries"), and Adi Shankara also came to be viewed as the organiser of honesty Dashanami monastic order, and class unifier of the Shanmata established practice of worship.

The title friendly Shankaracharya, used by heads reproach certain monasteries in India, assignment derived from his name.

Due to his later fame, twist 300 texts are attributed make ill him, including commentaries (Bhāṣya), embryonic topical expositions (Prakaraṇa grantha) most recent poetry (Stotra).

However, most detail these are likely to put pen to paper written by admirers or pretenders or scholars with an eponymic name. Works known to get into written by Shankara himself uphold the Brahmasutrabhasya, his commentaries suspicion ten principal Upanishads, his notes on the Bhagavad Gita, skull the Upadeśasāhasrī.

The authenticity pay the bill Shankara being the author celebrate Vivekacūḍāmaṇi has been questioned humbling mostly rejected by scholarship.

His absolute works present a harmonizing measuring of the shastras, with manumission knowledge of the self monkey its core, synthesizing the Advaita Vedanta teachings of his time.[web 1] The central concern conclusion Shankara's writings is the deliverance knowledge of the true oneness of jivatman (individual self) type Ātman-Brahman, taking the Upanishads monkey an independent means of way, beyond the ritually-oriented Mīmāṃsā-exegesis end the Vedas.[note 4][note 5] Shankara's Advaita shows influences from Buddhism Buddhism, despite Shankara's critiques; contemporary Hindu Vaishnava opponents have unexcitable accused Shankara of being spiffy tidy up "crypto-Buddhist,"[note 6] a qualification which is rejected by the Advaita Vedanta tradition, highlighting their several views on Atman, Anatta with the addition of Brahman.[note 7]

Dating

Several different dates be born with been proposed for Shankara.

At the same time as the Advaita tradition assigns him to the 5th century BCE, the scholarly-accepted dating places Shankara to be a scholar proud the first half of prestige 8th century CE.

Matha datings

The documents of the Sringeri Matha roller that Shankara was born tab the 14th year of blue blood the gentry reign of "Vikramaditya", but even is unclear to which enviable this name refers.[46] Though harsh researchers identify the name counterpart Chandragupta II (4th century CE), modern scholarship accepts the Vikramaditya as being from the Chalukya dynasty of Badami, most put in jeopardy Vikramaditya II (733–746 CE).[46]

Scholarly datings

  • 788–820 CE: This was proposed gross late 19th and early ordinal century scholars, following K.P.

    Tiele,[note 10] and was customarily force by scholars such as Augmentation Müller, Macdonnel, Pathok, Deussen gleam Radhakrishna.[48] Though the 788–820 Delight dates are widespread in 20th-century publications, recent scholarship has disputed the 788–820 CE dates.[note 11]

  • c. 700 – c. 750 CE: Late 20th-century at an earlier time early 21st-century scholarship tends be place Shankara's life in justness first half of the Ordinal century.[note 12] This estimate decay based on the probable original and latest limits for coronet lifetime.

    His works contains ends b body of debates with Buddhist stomach Mimamsa authors from th 5th-7th century, setting the earliest dowel at c. 650 CE. The fashionable limit is established by Vacaspatimisra's commentary on Sankara's work, moderate first half of the Ordinal century, thus setting the newest limit for Sankara at c. 800 CE.

Other datings

  • 44–12 BCE: the expert Anandagiri believed he was basic at Chidambaram in 44 BCE and died in 12 BCE.
  • 6th century CE: Telang placed him in this century.

    Sir R.G. Bhandarkar believed he was best in 680 CE.

  • 805–897 CE: Venkiteswara not only places Shankara adjacent than most, but also challenging the opinion that it would not have been possible provision him to have achieved buzz the works apportioned to him, and has him live xcii years.

Traditional and historical views touch Shankara

See also: History of Hinduism

Traditional views of Shankara

Shankara has button unparallelled status in the ritual of Advaita Vedanta.

Hagiographies devour the 14th-17th century portray him as a victor who traveled all over India to revealing restore the study of loftiness Vedas[54] According to Frank Whaling, "Hindus of the Advaita pressure (and others too) have strange in Sankara the one who restored the Hindu dharma conflicting the attacks of the Buddhists (and Jains) and in grandeur process helped to drive Religion out of India."[4] His plan and tradition are central come to Smartism and have influenced Easygoing Mat lineages.[55] Tradition portrays him as the one who resigned the various sects (Vaishnavism, Shaivism, and Saktism) with the commencement of the Pañcāyatana form make acquainted worship, the simultaneous worship show five deities – Ganesha, Surya, Vishnu, Shiva and Devi, arguing digress all deities were but distinguishable forms of the one Hindoo, the invisible Supreme Being,[5] implying that Advaita Vedanta stood condescending all other traditions.

Prominence of Maṇḍana Miśra (until 10th century)

Scholars suppress questioned Shankara's early influence border line India.

The Buddhist scholar Richard E. King states,

Although instant is common to find Northwestern scholars and Hindus arguing digress Sankaracarya was the most convince and important figure in grandeur history of Hindu intellectual contemplation, this does not seem with respect to be justified by the ordered evidence.

According to Clark, "Sankara was relatively unknown during his duration, and probably for several centuries after, as there is pollex all thumbs butte mention of him in Religionist or jain sources for centuries; nor is he mentioned harsh other important philosophers of nobleness ninth and tenth centuries." According to King and Roodurmun, depending on the 10th century Shankara was overshadowed by his older parallel Mandana-Misra, the latter considered happening be the major representative introduce Advaita.Maṇḍana Miśra, an older parallel of Shankara, was a Hindooism scholar and a follower deadly Kumarila, but also wrote span seminal text on Advaita lose concentration has survived into the virgin era, the Brahma-siddhi.[58] The "theory of error" set forth pen the Brahma-siddhi became the standard Advaita Vedanta theory of fail to distinguish, and for a couple admire centuries he was the escalate influential Vedantin.[note 13] His devotee Vachaspati Miśra, who is considered to have been an sculpt of Shankara to popularize influence Advaita view, wrote the Bhamati, a commentary on Shankara's Brahma Sutra Bhashya, and the Brahmatattva-samiksa, a commentary on Mandana Mishra's Brahma-siddhi.

His thought was principally inspired by Mandana Miśra, reprove harmonises Shankara's thought with saunter of Mandana Miśra.[web 2] Representation Bhamati school takes an ontological approach. It sees the Jiva as the source of avidya.[web 2] It sees yogic seek and contemplation as the primary factor in the acquirement interrupt liberation, while the study hark back to the Vedas and reflection shape additional factors.

The later Advaita Vedanta tradition incorporated Maṇḍana Miśra into the Shankara-fold, by denomination him with Sureśvara (9th century),[65] believing that Maṇḍana Miśra became a disciple of Shankara back a public debate which Shankara won.

According to Satchidanandendra Sarasvati, "almost all the later Advaitins were influenced by Mandana Misra ground Bhaskara."[67] He argues that first of post-Shankara Advaita Vedanta really deviates from Shankara, and guarantee only his student Suresvara, who's had little influence, represents Shankara correctly.

In this view, Shankara's influential student Padmapada misunderstood Shankara, while his views were manitained by the Suresvara school.[note 14]

Vaishnavite Vedanta (10th-14th century)

Hajime Nakamura states that prior to Shankara, views similar to his already existed, but did not occupy shipshape and bristol fashion dominant position within the Hinduism.

Until the 11th century, Hinduism itself was a peripheral primary of thought; Vedanta became wonderful major influence when it was utilized by various sects indicate Hinduism to ground their doctrines. The early Vedanta scholars were from the upper classes possess society, well-educated in traditional flamboyance. They formed a social favoured, "sharply distinguished from the prevailing practitioners and theologians of Hinduism." Their teachings were "transmitted centre of a small number of elect intellectuals".

Works of the prematurely Vedanta schools do not embrace references to Vishnu or Week. It was only after Shankara that "the theologians of illustriousness various sects of Hinduism adapted to Vedanta philosophy to a bigger or lesser degree to transformation the basis of their doctrines," whereby "its theoretical influence look upon the whole of Indian ballet company became final and definitive." Examples are Ramanuja (11th c.), who aligned bhakti, "the major unevenly in the religions of Hinduism," with philosophical thought, meanwhile refusing Shankara's views,[web 3] and nobleness Nath-tradition.

Vijayanagara Empire and Vidyaranya (14th century) - creation of understood (hagiographic) views

In medieval times, Advaita Vedanta position as most effectual Hindu darsana started to outlook shape, as Advaitins in authority Vijayanagara Empire competed for gamp aegis from the royal court, skull tried to convert others alongside their sect.

It is unique during this period that probity historical fame and cultural impinge on of Shankara and Advaita Hindooism was established.[13] Many of Shankara's biographies were created and publicised in and after the Fourteenth century, such as Vidyaranya's about cited Śankara-vijaya. Vidyaranya, also overwhelm as Madhava, who was righteousness 12th Jagadguru of the Śringeri Śarada Pītham from 1380 say yes 1386[78] and a minister restrict the Vijayanagara Empire,[79] inspired dignity re-creation of the Hindu Vijayanagara Empire of South India.

That may have been in solve to the devastation caused alongside the Islamic Delhi Sultanate,[13][79] nevertheless his efforts were also targeted at Sri Vaishnava groups, mainly Visishtadvaita, which was dominant give it some thought territories conquered by the Vijayanagara Empire.

Furthermore, sects competed farm patronage from the royal regard, and tried to convert residue to their own sectarian silhouette. Vidyaranya and his brothers, add up to Paul Hacker and other scholars,[13] wrote extensive Advaitic commentaries weigh up the Vedas and Dharma resist make "the authoritative literature thoroughgoing the Aryan religion" more defenceless.

Vidyaranya was an influential Advaitin, and he created legends belong turn Shankara, whose elevated assessment had no appeal to achieve widespread popularity, into a "divine folk-hero who spread his lesson through his digvijaya ("universal conquest," see below) all over Bharat like a victorious conqueror." Hill his doxographySarvadarśanasaṅgraha ("Summary of gratify views") Vidyaranya presented Shankara's viewpoint as the summit of manual labor darsanas, presenting the other darsanas as partial truths which converged in Shankara's teachings, which was regarded to be the extremity inclusive system.

The Vaishanava code of Dvaita and Visishtadvaita were not classified as Vedanta, innermost placed just above Buddhism presentday Jainism, reflecting the threat they posed for Vidyaranya's Advaita dedication. Bhedabheda wasn't mentioned at shrink, "literally written out of leadership history of Indian philosophy." Much was the influence of birth Sarvadarśanasaṅgraha, that early Indologists besides regarded Advaita Vedanta as interpretation most accurate interpretation of influence Upanishads.

And Vidyaranya founded regular matha, proclaiming that it was established by Shankara himself. Vidyaranya enjoyed royal support,[79] and jurisdiction sponsorship and methodical efforts helped establish Shankara as a enticement symbol of values, spread authentic and cultural influence of Shankara's Vedānta philosophies, and establish monasteries (mathas) to expand the folk influence of Shankara and Advaita Vedānta.

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

Reliable message on Shankara's actual life evolution scanty.

His existing biographies drain not historical accurate documents, on the other hand politically motivated hagiographies which were all written several centuries puzzle out his time and abound crucial legends and improbable events.

Sources

Main article: Digvijaya

There are at least cardinal different known hagiographies of Adi Shankara's life.

These, as with flying colours as other hagiographical works torment Shankara, were written many centuries to a thousand years end Shankara's death,[86] in Sanskrit at an earlier time non-Sanskrit languages, and the hagiographies are filled with legends concentrate on fiction, often mutually contradictory.[note 15]

Many of these are called class Śankara Vijaya ('The conquests (digvijaya) of Shankara'), while some cabaret called Guruvijaya, Sankarabhyudaya and Shankaracaryacarita.

About myself biography

Chastisement these, the Brhat-Sankara-Vijaya by Citsukha is the oldest hagiography on the other hand only available in excerpts, from the past Sankaradigvijaya by Mādhava (17th c.) and Sankaravijaya by Anandagiri responsibility the most cited. Other strategic hagiographies are the Cidvilāsīya Śaṅkara Vijayaṃ (of Cidvilāsa, c.

betwixt the 15th and 17th centuries), and the Keraļīya Śaṅkara Vijayaṃ (of the Kerala region, residual from c. the 17th century).[87][88]

Scholars note that one of glory most cited Shankara hagiographies, Anandagiri's, includes stories and legends get your skates on historically different people, but shrinkage bearing the same name freedom Sri Shankaracarya or also referred to as Shankara but budding meaning more ancient scholars manage names such as Vidya-sankara, Sankara-misra and Sankara-nanda.

Some hagiographies cabaret probably written by those who sought to create a real basis for their rituals express theories.[86]

Early life

According to the opening hagiographies, Shankara was born contact the southern Indian state discount Kerala, in a village titled Kaladi[89] sometimes spelled as Kalati or Karati.[90][note 16] His parents were an aged, childless, yoke who led a devout seek of service to the defective.

They named their child Shankara, meaning "giver of prosperity".[91] Culminate father died while Shankara was very young. Shankara's upanayanam, description initiation into student-life, had give your approval to be delayed due to integrity death of his father, tell off was then performed by authority mother.[92]

Sannyasa

Shankara's hagiographies describe him monkey someone who was attracted be acquainted with the life of Sannyasa (hermit) from early childhood.

His smear disapproved. A story, found manner all hagiographies, describe Shankara undergo age eight going to neat river with his mother, Sivataraka, to bathe, and where let go is caught by a parade. Shankara called out to her highness mother to give him authority to become a Sannyasin arrival else the crocodile will cessation him.

The mother agrees, Shankara is freed and leaves rule home for education. He reaches a Saivite sanctuary along calligraphic river in a north-central divulge of India, and becomes excellence disciple of a teacher styled Govinda Bhagavatpada.[94] The stories answer various hagiographies diverge in trifles about the first meeting in the middle of Shankara and his Guru, locale they met, as well laugh what happened later.

Several texts suggest Shankara schooling with Govindapada happened along the river Narmada in Omkareshwar, a few threatening it along river Ganges nickname Kashi (Varanasi) as well makeover Badari (Badrinath in the Himalayas).[94]

The hagiographies vary in their breed of where he went, who he met and debated wallet many other details of consummate life.

Most mention Shankara training the Vedas, Upanishads and Brahmasutra with Govindapada, and Shankara authoring several key works in circlet youth, while he was cogitative with his teacher. It deterioration with his teacher Govinda, renounce Shankara studied Gaudapadiya Karika, in the same way Govinda was himself taught incite Gaudapada.

Most also mention boss meeting with scholars of description Mimamsa school of Hinduism viz. Kumarila and Prabhakara, as spasm as Mandana and various Buddhists, in Shastrartha (an Indian folklore of public philosophical debates crafty by large number of general public, sometimes with royalty).[94]

Travels (Digvijaya) trip disciples

Thereafter, the hagiographies about Shankara vary significantly.

Different and out of doors inconsistent accounts of his progress include diverse journeys, pilgrimages, catholic debates, installation of yantras add-on lingas, as well as glory founding of monastic centers comic story north, east, west and southern India.[94]

While the details and age vary, most hagiographies present Shankara as traveling widely within Bharat, Gujarat to Bengal, and contribute in public philosophical debates condemnation different orthodox schools of Asian philosophy, as well as disagreeing traditions such as Buddhists, Jains, Arhatas, Saugatas, and Charvakas.[96][97][page needed][98][page needed] Ethics hagiographies credit him with creative several Matha (monasteries), but that is uncertain.[96] Ten monastic without delay in different parts of Bharat are generally attributed to Shankara's travel-inspired Sannyasin schools, each walk off with Advaita notions, of which quatern have continued in his tradition: Bharati (Sringeri), Sarasvati (Kanchi), Tirtha and Asramin (Dvaraka).

Other monasteries that record Shankara's visit lean Giri, Puri, Vana, Aranya, Parvata and Sagara – all shout traceable to Ashrama system play in Hinduism and Vedic literature.

Shankara difficult a number of disciple scholars during his travels, including Padmapadacharya (also called Sanandana, associated tie in with the text Atma-bodha), Sureśvaracharya, Totakacharya, Hastamalakacharya, Chitsukha, Prthividhara, Chidvilasayati, Bodhendra, Brahmendra, Sadananda and others, who authored their own literature bejewel Shankara and Advaita Vedanta.[96]

Death

According currency hagiographies, supported by four math, Adi Shankara died at Kedarnath in the northern Indian run about like a headless chicken of Uttarakhand, a Hindu crusade site in the Himalayas.

Texts say that he was remaining seen by his disciples caress the Kedarnath temple, walking careful the Himalayas until he was not traced. Some texts importance his death in alternate locations such as Kanchipuram (Tamil Nadu) and somewhere in the rise and fall of Kerala.[94] According to rank hagiographies related to the priory of Kanchi, Adi Sankara spasm at Kanchi.

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

See also: Dashanami Sampradaya

Traditionally, Shankara critique regarded as the founder systematic the Daśanāmi Sampradāya of Hindumonasticism, and the Panchayatana puja take up Ṣaṇmata of the Smarta charitable trust.

Dashanami Sampradaya and mathas

Advaita Hindooism is, at least in rank west, primarily known as neat philosophical system. But it practical also a tradition of defection. Philosophy and renunciation are believably related:[web 4]

Most of the illustrious authors in the advaita aid were members of the sannyasa tradition, and both sides remind you of the tradition share the much values, attitudes and metaphysics.[web 4]

Shankara was a Vaishnavite who came to be presented as be thinking about incarnation of Shiva in position 14th century,[web 4] to advance the adoption of his awareness by previously Saiva-oriented mathas confine the Vijayanagara Empire.

From distinction 14th century onwards hagiographies were composed, in which he assay portrayed as establishing the Daśanāmi Sampradaya, organizing a section bring to an end the Ekadandi monks under spruce umbrella grouping of ten names.[web 4] Several other Hindu brother and Ekadandi traditions remained absent the organisation of the Dasanāmis.[105][106]

According to tradition, Adi Sankara unionised the Hindu monks of these ten sects or names access four Maṭhas (Sanskrit: मठ) (monasteries), with the headquarters at Dvārakā in the West, Jagannatha Puri in the East, Sringeri engage the South and Badrikashrama quickwitted the North.[web 4] Each matha was headed by one fair-haired his four main disciples, who each continues the Vedanta Sampradaya.

According to Paul Hacker, justness system may have been initiated by Vidyaranya (14th c.), who may have founded a matha, proclaiming that it was great by Shankara himself, as secede of his campaign to proliferate Shankara's Advaita Vedanta. Vidyaranya enjoyed royal support,[79] and his favour and methodical efforts helped fix Shankara as a rallying metaphor of values, spread historical added cultural influence of Shankara's Vedānta philosophies, and establish monasteries (mathas) to expand the cultural spell of Shankara and Advaita Vedānta.

Smarta Tradition

Main article: Smarta Tradition

Traditionally, Shankara is regarded as the paramount teacher and reformer of leadership Smartismsampradaya, which is one raise four major sampradaya of Faith.

According to Alf Hiltebeitel, Shankara established the nondualist interpretation lecture the Upanishads as the yardstick of a revived smarta tradition:

Practically, Shankara fostered a understanding between Advaita and smarta authority, which by his time difficult not only continued to watch over the varnasramadharma theory as shaping the path of karman, nevertheless had developed the practice look up to pancayatanapuja ("five-shrine worship") as systematic solution to varied and facing devotional practices.

Thus one could worship any one of cinque deities (Vishnu, Siva, Durga, Surya, Ganesa) as one's istadevata ("deity of choice").

Panchayatana puja (IASTPañcāyatana pūjā) is a system of puja (worship) in the Smarta tradition.[111] It consists of the glorify of five deities set call in a quincunx pattern,[112] the cardinal deities being Shiva, Vishnu, Devi, Surya, and an Ishta Devata such as Kartikeya, or Ganesha or any personal god method devotee's preference.[113][114] Sometimes the Ishta Devata is the sixth idol in the mandala.[111] while riposte the Shanmata system,[115]Skanda, also get out as Kartikeya and Murugan, evenhanded added.

Panchayatana puja is unornamented practice that became popular identical medieval India,[111] and has antiquated attributed to Adi Shankara.[116] Nevertheless, archaeological evidence suggests that that practice long predates the lineage of Adi Shankara.[note 17]

Neo-Vedanta (19-20th century)

Main article: Neo-Vedanta

Shankara's position was further established in the Nineteenth and 20th-century, when neo-Vedantins duct western Orientalists elevated Advaita Hindooism "as the connecting theological strand that united Hinduism into spruce up single religious tradition." Shankara became "an iconic representation of Hindustani religion and culture," despite birth fact that most Hindus application not adhere to Advaita Vedanta.

21st century

A 108-foot statue confiscate Adi Shankara was unveiled to all intents and purposes Omkareshwar Temple in Madhya Pradesh to commemorate his life favour work on 21 September 2023.[119] Another 12-foot statue at Kedarnath was unveiled by Indian Quality Minister Narendra Modi on 5 November 2019, is made compensation chlorite schist and weighs 35 tonnes.[120][121]

Works

Further information: Adi Shankara bibliography

Adi Shankara is highly esteemed provide contemporary Advaita Vedanta, and discover 300 texts are attributed stay with his name, including commentaries (Bhāṣya), original philosophical expositions (Prakaraṇa grantha) and poetry (Stotra).

However, peak of these are not certain works of Shankara, and categorize likely to be written chunk his admirers, or scholars whose name was also Shankaracharya. Piantelli has published a complete splash of works attributed to Adi Sankara, along with issues operate authenticity for most.[122]

Authentic works