Adi Shankaracharya

Adi Shankaracharya's Life and Work

"Brahman alone is real; the world is illusory; the individual soul (Jiva) is none other than Brahman." - Adi Shankaracharya

Today is the *Baishakh Shukla Panchami Tithi*, the birth anniversary of Adi Shankaracharya.

Adi Shankaracharya was born at his maternal home in the village of Veliyanad, Kerala—a site now known as 'Adi Shankara Nilayam' and currently administered by the Chinmaya International Foundation. Subsequently, Shankaracharya grew up in his paternal home in Kalady. He was born as the son of Shivaguru and Aryamba.

After a long period of childlessness, his parents engaged in intense penance and worship of Lord Shiva. Consequently, they received a boon from Lord Shiva Himself, offering them a choice: they could have a child who was short-lived but wise or one who was long-lived but ignorant. When Shivaguru expressed his desire for a short-lived yet wise child, Lord Shiva Himself incarnated on this earth in the form of Shankara.

He began reciting *shlokas* (verses) at the tender age of two. A specific verse encapsulates the significant achievements of his life at various stages:

Ashtame chatur vedah; dwadashe sarva shastravit;
Shodashe kritavan bhashyam; dwatrimshe munirabhyagat.

This translates to the following: At the age of eight, he completed the study of the four Vedas; by the age of twelve, he had mastered all the *Shastras* (scriptures). Subsequently, at the age of sixteen, he composed his commentaries (*Bhashyas*), and at the age of thirty-two, he attained *Mahasamadhi* (merged into the Absolute).

Amidst a backdrop replete with miraculous events, and having obtained his mother's permission to embrace the ascetic life, he set out in search of his Guru, traveling to a cave on the banks of the Narmada River to meet Guru Govinda Bhagavatpada. When his Guru inquired about his identity,—at the tender age of just eight—he composed the *Nirvanashatkam* (alternatively known as the *Dashashloki*). There are many other such anecdotes associated with his life; these may be discussed in a future blog post.

During this interim period—specifically after composing his commentaries—he undertook a pilgrimage across the entire (undivided) Indian subcontinent three times. He established four *Mathas* (monasteries) at the four cardinal points of India, serving as pivotal centers for the Hindu *Sanatana* tradition. This journey of his is historically referred to as *Digvijaya* (Conquest of the Directions). These four *Mathas* are, respectively, Puri in the East, Dwarka in the West, Badri Math in the North, and Sringeri Math in the South. Additionally, the Kanchi Math in Tamil Nadu and the Sarvajna Peetha in Kashmir are renowned centers associated with him.

During this era, he authored numerous *Prakarana Granthas* (treatises) that present the philosophy of Advaita Vedanta to us in an exceptionally lucid and accessible manner—notable examples include *Tattvabodha*, *Atmabodha*, *Vivekachudamani*, and others. Not only that, but for every place he visited—be it a temple dedicated to a deity or a river he beheld—he composed a specific Stotra to offer his homage and to facilitate practical worship; examples include the *Bhavanyashtakam*, *Annapurnastotram*, *Gangastotram*, *Nirvanashtakam*, and others.

Shankaracharya's most profound contribution lies in his commentaries on the *Prasthanatrayi*. The *Prasthanatrayi* comprises the Upanishads, the Brahma Sutras, and the *Srimad Bhagavad Gita*. Shankaracharya's commentary presents the *Srimad Bhagavad Gita* to us in an entirely new light. He successfully revived and re-established the culture of Hinduism, which had been overshadowed by the influence of Buddhism.

Today, on the auspicious occasion of his birth anniversary, we offer millions of salutations at his feet.

Happy Adi Shankara Jayanti. 🙏🏻

Written by,
Spandita Mukherjee
Darshan Charcha

Source & Photo Courtesey
Chinmaya International Foundation