Source: PIB
Subject: Art and Culture
Context: Prime Minister of India paid tribute to Adi Shankaracharya on his Jayanti, celebrating the 1,200th birth anniversary of the philosopher-saint.
About Adi Shankaracharya:
Who He Was?
- Adi Shankaracharya (approx. 788–820 CE) was a philosopher, theologian, and saint who is credited with reviving Hinduism at a time when it was declining under superstition and ritualism.
- Born in Kalady, Kerala, he lived a short but miraculous life of only 32 years, during which he traveled the length and breadth of India to spread the message of the Vedas.
Early Days and Quest for Knowledge
- Guru Search: At the age of eight, driven by a desire for liberation, he left Kerala and walked 2,000 kilometers to the banks of the Narmada to find his Guru, Govindapada.
- Prodigious Scholar: Under his Guru’s guidance, he mastered the Vedic scriptures by age twelve and completed all his major commentaries by the age of sixteen.
Philosophical Contribution:
- Advaita Vedanta (Non-Dualism): Shankaracharya’s core philosophy is summarized in the statement: Brahma Satyam Jagan Mithya, Jeevo Brahmaiva Na Para (Brahman is the only Truth, the world is unreal, and there is no difference between the individual self and Brahman).
- Concept of Oneness: He taught that the Atman (soul) and Brahman (Universal Consciousness) are one and the same.
- Maya: He explained the world’s perceived reality as Maya (illusion), which disappears once true knowledge (Jnana) is attained.
- Harmony of Worship: He introduced the Shanmata system, organizing the worship of six primary deities (Siva, Vishnu, Shakti, Ganesha, Muruka, and Surya) to unify diverse Hindu sects.
Literary and Organizational Works:
Shankaracharya was a prolific writer and a brilliant organizer who restructured the spiritual landscape of India.
- Commentaries (Bhashyas): He wrote fundamental commentaries on the Prasthanatrayi—the Brahma Sutras, the Bhagavad Gita, and 12 major Upanishads.
- Devotional Poetry: He composed over 72 hymns, including Soundarya Lahari, Sivananda Lahari, and the famous Nirvana Shatakam.
- Treatises: Authored 23 books on Advaita philosophy, such as Viveka Chudamani and Atma Bodha.
- Establishment of the Four Amnaya Maths: To preserve the Vedas, he established four primary monasteries in the four corners of India:
| Direction | Place | Math Name | Veda |
| North | Badrinath | Jyotir Math | Atharva Veda |
| South | Sringeri | Sringeri Math | Yajur Veda |
| East | Puri | Govardhan Math | Rig Veda |
| West | Dwaraka | Sarada Math | Sama Veda |
Significance:
- By establishing Maths in the extreme north, south, east, and west, he created a spiritual security grid that unified India culturally and geographically.
- He successfully debated and defeated various leaders of opposing sects, replacing ritualism with the intellectual path of Jnana (knowledge).
- He organized monks into the Dasanami Sampradaya (ten names), ensuring a structured order of wandering teachers to educate the masses.
