Adi Shankara
Date of birth:	See Dates
Place of birth:	Kalady, Kerala, India
Birth name:	Shankara
Date of death:	See Dates
Guru/Teacher:	Govinda Bhagavatpada
Philosophy:	Advaita Vedanta
Titles/Honors:	Founded Dashanami Sampradaya, Shanmata

Adi Shankara (Malayalam: ആദി ശങ്കരന്‍, Devanāgarī: आदि शङ्कर, Ādi Śaṅkara, IPA: [aːd̪i ɕəŋkərə]); c. [See Dates Section],^[1] also known as Śaṅkara Bhagavatpādācārya ("the teacher at the feet of God"), and Ādi Śaṅkarācārya ("the first Shankara in his lineage")^[2] was the first philosopher to consolidate the doctrine of Advaita Vedanta, a sub-school of Vedanta. His teachings are based on the unity of the soul and Brahman, in which Brahman is viewed as without attributes. In the Smārta tradition, Adi Shankara is regarded as an incarnation of Shiva. Image File history File links Adi_Shankara_recoloured. ... Kalady (Malayalam: കാലടി) is a village located at 10. ... Kerala ( ; Malayalam: േകരളം; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of southwestern India. ... Govinda Bhagavatpada (IAST ) was the Guru of the Advaita philosopher, Adi Shankara. ... Advaita Vedanta (IAST ; Devanagari ; IPA ) is the dominant sub-school of the Vedānta (literally, end or the goal of the Vedas, Sanskrit) school of Hindu philosophy. ... Dasanami Sampradaya (IAST ), literally Tradition of Ten Names, is a Hindu monastic tradition established by Adi Shankara in the 8th century CE in India. ... Shanmata (IAST ) is the system of worship founded by Adi Shankara, the 8th century CE Hindu philosopher. ... Malayalam ( ) is the language spoken predominantly in the state of Kerala, in southern India. ... Rigveda manuscript in Devanagari (early 19th century) DevanāgarÄ« (देवनागरी — in English pronounced ) (ISCII – IS13194:1991) [1] is an abugida alphabet used to write several Indian languages, including Sanskrit, Hindi, Marathi, Kashmiri, Sindhi, Bihari, Bhili, Konkani, Bhojpuri and Nepali from Nepal. ... Not to be confused with the NATO phonetic alphabet, which has also informally been called the “International Phonetic Alphabet”. For information on how to read IPA transcriptions of English words, see IPA chart for English. ... Adi Shankara (Malayalam: ആദി ശങ്കരന്‍, DevanāgarÄ«: , , IPA: ); c. ... Ishvara (ईश्वर in devanagari script, pronunciation Ä«:shvÉ™rÉ™), also variously transliterated (romanized) as Īshvara, Īshwara, Īshwar, Īśvara, etc. ... Advaita Vedanta (IAST ; Devanagari ; IPA ) is the dominant sub-school of the Vedānta (literally, end or the goal of the Vedas, Sanskrit) school of Hindu philosophy. ... This article includes a list of works cited but its sources remain unclear because it lacks in-text citations. ... In Hinduism and Jainism, a jiva is the immortal essence of a living being, subject to maya. ... Brahman (Devanagari: ब्रह्म) is the concept of the Godhead found in Hinduism. ... Nirguna Brahman, is God without any form in Advaita and without material form in Dvaita schools of Hinduism. ... Smartism[1], (or Smarta Sampradaya, Smarta Tradition, as termed in Sanskrit), is a denomination of the Hindu religion. ... “Nilakantha” redirects here. ...

Adi Shankara toured India with the purpose of propagating his teachings through discourses and debates with other philosophers. He founded four mathas ("abbeys") which played a key role in the historical development, revival and spread of post-Buddhist Hinduism and Advaita Vedanta. Adi Shankara was the founder of the Dashanami monastic order and the Shanmata tradition of worship. Hinduism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... Dasanami Sampradaya (IAST ), literally Tradition of Ten Names, is a Hindu monastic tradition established by Adi Shankara in the 8th century CE in India. ... Shanmata (IAST ) is the system of worship founded by Adi Shankara, the 8th century CE Hindu philosopher. ...

His works in Sanskrit, all of which are extant today, concern themselves with establishing the doctrine of Advaita (Sanskrit, "Non-dualism"). Adi Shankara quotes extensively from the Upanishads and other Hindu scriptures in forming his teachings. He also includes arguments against opposing schools of thought like Samkhya and Buddhism in his works. The Sanskrit language ( , for short ) is an old Indo-Aryan language from the Indian Subcontinent, the classical literary language of the Hindus of India[1], a liturgical language of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, and one of the 23 official languages of India. ... The Sanskrit language ( , for short ) is an old Indo-Aryan language from the Indian Subcontinent, the classical literary language of the Hindus of India[1], a liturgical language of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, and one of the 23 official languages of India. ... The Upanishads (उपनिषद्, Upanişad) are part of the Hindu Shruti scriptures which primarily discuss meditation and philosophy and are seen as religious instructions by most schools of Hinduism. ... Hindu scriptures Hindu scripture is overwhelmingly written in Sanskrit. ... Samkhya, also Sankhya, (Sanskrit: सांख्य, IAST: Sāṃkhya - Enumeration) is one of the schools of Indian philosophy. ... Buddhist philosophy is the branch of Eastern philosophy based on the teachings of Gautama Buddha, a. ...

Life

The traditional accounts of Adi Shankara's life are called the Shankara Vijayams, ("Victory of Shankara"). These are poetic works containing a mix of biographical and legendary material, written in the epic style. The most important among these biographies are the Mādhavīya Śaṅkara Vijayaṃ (of Mādhava, c. 14th century), the Cidvilāsīya Śaṅkara Vijayaṃ (of Cidvilāsa, c. between 15th century and 17th century), and the Keraļīya Śaṅkara Vijayaṃ (of the Kerala region, extant from c. 17th century).^[3][4] According to these texts, Adi Shankara was born in Kalady, a village in Kerala, India, to a Namboothiri brahmin couple, Shivaguru and Aryamba and lived for thirty-two years. Shankara Vijayams (IAST ) are traditional biographies of the Advaita philosopher Adi Shankara. ... This is an article on biographies. ... This 14th-century statue from south India depicts the gods Shiva (on the left) and Uma (on the right). ... (14th century - 15th century - 16th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 15th century was that century which lasted from 1401 to 1500. ... (16th century - 17th century - 18th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 17th century was that century which lasted from 1601-1700. ... Kerala ( ; Malayalam: േകരളം; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of southwestern India. ... (16th century - 17th century - 18th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 17th century was that century which lasted from 1601-1700. ... Kalady (Malayalam: കാലടി) is a village located at 10. ... The Namboothiris (Malayalam :നമ്പൂതിരി) are the Brahmins of Kerala, thought to be the most orthodox brahmins in India. ... A Brahmin (anglicised from the Sanskrit word IAST ; Devanagari ), also known as Vipra, Dvija, Dvijottama (best of the Dvijas), (god on Earth) is the highest caste in Indian caste system within Hindu society. ...

Birth and childhood

The birth place of Adi Shankara at Kalady

Adi Shankara's parents were childless for many years. They prayed at the Vadakkunnathan temple (also known as Vrishachala) in Thrissur, Kerala, for the birth of a child.^[5] Legend has it that Shiva appeared to both husband and wife in their dreams, and offered them a choice: a mediocre son who would live a long life, or an extraordinary son who would not live long. Both the parents chose the latter; thus a son was born to them. He was named Shankara (Sanskrit, "bestower of goodness"), in honour of Shiva (one of whose epithets is Shankara).^[6] Image File history File links Kaladi_shankarabirthplace. ... Image File history File links Kaladi_shankarabirthplace. ... Kalady (Malayalam: കാലടി) is a village located at 10. ... The Vadakkunathan Temple The Vadakkunathan Temple Vadakkkunnathan Temple is one of the largest temples in Kerala that is dedicated to Lord Shiva. ... For the district with the same name, see Thrissur district. ... “Nilakantha” redirects here. ... “Nilakantha” redirects here. ... Shankara can refer to: Shiva, the Hindu god Adi Shankara, Hindu philosopher of around 800 CE Also written, Sankara This is a disambiguation page: a list of articles associated with the same title. ...

His father died while Shankara was very young. Shankara's upanayanaṃ, the initiation into student-life, was performed at the age of five. As a child, Shankara showed remarkable scholarship, mastering the four Vedas by the age of eight. Following the customs of those days, Shankara studied and lived at the home of his teacher. It was customary for students and men of learning to receive Bhikṣā ("alms") from the laity; on one occasion, while accepting Bhikṣā, Shankara came upon a woman who had only a single dried amalaka fruit to eat. Rather than consuming this last bit of food herself, the pious lady gave away the fruit to Shankara as Bhikṣā. Moved by her piety, Shankara composed the Kanakadhārā Stotram on the spot. Legend has it that on completion of the stotra, golden amalaka fruits were showered upon the woman by Lakṣmi, the Goddess of wealth.^[7] Upanayanam perhaps better known outside India by the name Sacred thread ceremony, is a Hindu rite-of-passage ritual. ... Veda redirects here. ... In religious organizations, the laity comprises all lay persons collectively. ... Binomial name Phyllanthus emblica Gaertn. ... Stotras are Hindu prayers that praise aspects of God, such as Devi, Siva, or Vishnu. ... For South Indian actress, see Laxmi (actress). ...

Sannyasa

From a young age, Shankara was attracted to sannyasa ("monastic life"). His mother was against his becoming a monk, and refused him formal permission. However, once when Shankara was bathing in the Purna River near his house, a crocodile gripped his leg and began to drag him into the water. Only his mother was nearby, and it proved impossible for her to rescue him. Shankara asked his mother to give him permission to renounce the world then and there, so that he could be a sannyāsin at the moment of death. This mode of entering the renunciatory stage is called Āpat Sannyāsa. At the end of her wits, his mother agreed. Shankara immediately recited the mantras to make a renunciate of himself. Miraculously, the crocodile released him and swam away. Shankara emerged unscathed from the water.^[8] Samnyasa (IAST , also spelled , Sannyasa) in Hinduism symbolizes the conception of the life of a monk, a person is now integrated into the spiritual world after wholly giving up material life. ... Periyar is one of the major river in Kerala. ... In Tibet, many Buddhists carve mantras into rocks as a form of devotion. ...

With the permission of his mother, Shankara left Kerala and travelled towards North India in search of a Guru. On the banks of the Narmada River, he met Govinda Bhagavatpada, the disciple of Gaudapada. When Govinda Bhagavatpada asked Shankara's identity, he replied with an extempore verse that brought out the Advaita Vedanta philosophy. Govinda Bhagavatapada was impressed and took Shankara as his disciple.^[9] Adi Shankara was commissioned by his Guru to write a commentary on the Brahma Sutras and propagate Advaita Vedanta. The Madhavīya Shankaravijaya states that Adi Shankara calmed a flood from the Reva River by placing his kamaṇḍalu ("water pot") in the path of the raging water, thus saving his Guru, Govinda Bhagavatpada, who was engaged in Samādhi ("meditation") in a cave nearby. Dark green region marks the approximate extent of northern India while the regions marked as light green lies within the sphere of north Indian influence. ... Guru - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... The Narmada or Nerbudda is a river in central India. ... Govinda Bhagavatpada (IAST ) was the Guru of the Advaita philosopher, Adi Shankara. ... Gaudapada (c. ... Advaita Vedanta (IAST ; Devanagari ; IPA ) is the dominant sub-school of the Vedānta (literally, end or the goal of the Vedas, Sanskrit) school of Hindu philosophy. ... The Brahma sutra is the nyaya prasthana, the logical text that sets forth the philosophy systematically (nyaya - logic/order). ... The Narmada or Nerbudda is a river in central India. ... Samadhi (Sanskrit, lit. ...

On his mission to spread the Advaita Vedanta philosophy, Adi Shankara travelled to Kashi, where a young man named Sanandana from Choladesha in South India, became his first disciple. In Kashi, Adi Shankara was on his way to the Vishwanath Temple, when he came upon an untouchable with four dogs. When asked to move aside by Shankara's disciples, the untouchable replied: "Do you wish that I move my ever lasting Ātman ("the Self"), or this body made of food?" Understanding that the untouchable was none other than god Shiva, and his dogs the four Vedas, Shankara prostrated himself before him, composing five shlokas known as Manisha Panchakam.^[10][11] VārāṇasÄ«   (HindÄ«: वाराणसी, UrdÅ«: وارانسی, IPA: ), also known as Benares, Banaras, or Benaras (HindÄ«: बनारस, UrdÅ«: بنارس, ; IPA: ), or Kashi or Kasi (काशी کاشی ), is a famous Hindu holy city situated on the banks of the river Ganges (Ganga) in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. ... Padmapadacharya (fl. ... The Chola Dynasty (Tamil: , IPA: ) was a Tamil dynasty that ruled primarily in southern India until the 13th century. ... South India is a linguistic-cultural region of India that comprises the four Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu and the Union Territory of Pondicherry, whose inhabitants are collectively referred to as South Indians. ... The most famous temple of the city of Varanasi, the Vishwanath temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. ... In the Indian caste system, a Dalit, often called an untouchable, is a person who does not have any varnas. ... The Atman or Atma (IAST: Ä€tmā, sanskrit: आत्म‍ ) is a philosophical term used within Hinduism and Vedanta to identify the soul. ... It has been suggested that Deva (tribe) be merged into this article or section. ... “Nilakantha” redirects here. ... Veda redirects here. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

On reaching Badari in the Himalayas, he wrote the famous Bhashyas ("commentaries") and Prakarana granthas ("philosophical treatises"). Afterwards he taught these commentaries to his disciples. Some, like Sanandana, were quick to grasp the essence; the other disciples thus became jealous of Sanandana. In order to convince the others of Sanandana's inherent superiority, Adi Shankara summoned Sanandana from one bank of the Ganga River, while he was on the opposite bank. Sanandana crossed the river by walking on the lotuses that were brought out wherever he placed his foot. Adi Shankara was greatly impressed by his disciple and gave him the name Padmapāda ("lotus-footed one").^{[12] [13]} ... Perspective view of the Himalayas and Mount Everest as seen from space looking south-south-east from over the Tibetan Plateau. ... The Ganges River (Ganga in Indian languages; Ganges is the Latin form) (Devanagari गंगा) is the major river in northern India and Bangladesh. ... Padmapāda (fl. ...

Meeting with Mandana Mishra

One of the most famous debates of Adi Shankara was with the ritualist Mandana Mishra. Mandana Mishra's Guru was the famous Mimamsa philosopher, Kumarīla Bhaṭṭa. Shankara sought a debate with Kumarīla Bhaṭṭa and met him in Prayag where he had buried himself in a slow burning pyre to repent for sins committed against his Guru: Kumarīla Bhaṭṭa had learnt Buddhist philosophy incognito from his Guru in order to be able to refute it. This constitutes a sin according to the Vedas.^[14] Kumarīla Bhaṭṭa thus asked Adi Shankara to proceed to Mahiṣmati (known today as Mahishi (Bangaon, Saharsa in Bihar)^[15] to meet Mandana Mishra and debate with him instead. The main objective of the Purva (earlier) Mimamsa school was to establish the authority of the Vedas. ... (c. ... Guru - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... The main objective of the Purva (earlier) Mimamsa school was to establish the authority of the Vedas. ... Kumarila Bhatta (Sanskrit: कुमारिल भट्ट) was an 8th century Hindu philosopher and mimamsa scholar from Prayag (Now Allahabad, UP, India). ... Map of India. ... Buddhist philosophy is the branch of Eastern philosophy based on the teachings of Gautama Buddha, a. ... Veda redirects here. ... Saharsa is a city and a municipality in Saharsa district in the Indian state of Bihar in northeast India, east of the Kosi River. ... Bihar (Hindi: बिहार, Urdu: بہار, IPA: ,  ) is a state of the Indian union situated in the eastern part of the country. ...

Adi Shankara had a famous debate with Mandana Mishra in which the wife of Mandana Mishra, Ubhaya Bhāratī, was the referee. After debating for over fifteen days, Mandana Mishra accepted defeat.^[16] Ubhaya Bhāratī then challenged Adi Shankara to have a debate with her in order to 'complete' the victory. This debate was to be on the subject of kāmaśāstra ("science of sex-love"). But Adi Shankara, being a sannyasi, had no knowledge of this subject; thus, after requesting for some time before entering into this fresh debate, he entered the body of a king by his yogic powers and acquired the knowledge of kāmaśāstra. Later, however, Ubhaya Bhāratī declined to debate with him and allowed Mandana Mishra to accept sannyasa with the monastic name, Sureśvarācārya as per the agreed rules of the debate.^[17] In Hinduism, Kamashastra (from Kama = pleasure shastra = specialised knowledge or technique) was a document about sex written by Nandi, the disciple of lord Shiva. ... Yoga (Devanagari: योग) is one of the six schools of Hindu philosophy, focusing on meditation as a path to self-knowledge and liberation. ... The introduction to this article provides insufficient context for those unfamiliar with the subject matter. ... Image:.jpg The debate with the master SureÅ›vara (c. ...

Dig-vijaya

Sharada temple at Sringeri Sharada Peetham, Sringeri

Adi Shankara then travelled with his disciples to Maharashtra and Srisailam. In Srisailam, he composed Shivanandalahari, a devotional hymn to Shiva. The Madhaviya Shankaravijayam says that when Shankara was about to be sacrificed by a Kapalika, the god Narasimha appeared to save Shankara on Padmapada's prayer to him. So Adi Shankara composed the Laksmi-Narasimha stotra.^[18] He then travelled to Gokarṇa, the temple of Hari-Shankara and the Mūkambika temple at Kollur. At Kollur, he accepted as his disciple a boy believed to be dumb by his parents. He gave him the name, Hastāmalakācārya ("one with the amalaka fruit on his palm", i.e., one who has clearly realised the Self). Next, he visited Śṛngeri to establish the Śārada Pīṭham and made Toṭakācārya his disciple.^[19] Image File history File links Sringeri_Sharadha_temple. ... Image File history File links Sringeri_Sharadha_temple. ... Sri Sringeri Sharada Peetham is one of the important Hindu Advaita maá¹­has. ... Sringeri is the site of the first matha established by the Adi Sankaracharya, the 8th century Hindu reformer and exponent of the Advaita Vedanta philosophy. ... Maharashtra   (Marathi: महाराष्ट्र , English: , IPA: ) is Indias third largest state in terms of area and second largest in terms of population after Uttar Pradesh. ... Srisailam is a Jyothirlingam (Hindu shrine to Shiva) located in Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh, India. ... Shivanandalahari (IAST ) is a devotional hymn composed by Adi Shankara, the Advaita philosopher, on Shiva. ... “Nilakantha” redirects here. ... In Hindu culture, Kapalika means bearer of the skull-bowl. ... Yoga Narasimha form at a temple in Vijayanagara, Hampi, India (man-lion) (also spelt as Narasingh, Narasinga) (नरसिंह in Devanagari) is described as the fourteenth incarnation (avatara) of Vishnu within the Puranic texts of Hinduism [1] who takes the form of half-man / half-lion, having a human torso and lower... Padmapadacharya (fl. ... Gokarna meaning Cows Ear is a small town situated in North Kannada district coastal Karnataka, India. ... Mookambika Temple is a famous Hindu temple situated at Kollur, Kundapur Taluk of Karnataka state, India, on the banks of the river Sauparnika. ... Kollur is a tiny hamlet situated at Kundapur, about 140 Kms away from Mangalore. ... The introduction to this article provides insufficient context for those unfamiliar with the subject matter. ... Hastamalakacharya (IAST ) (c. ... Binomial name Phyllanthus emblica Gaertn. ... Sringeri is the site of the first matha established by the Adi Sankaracharya, the 8th century Hindu reformer and exponent of the Advaita Vedanta philosophy. ... Sri Sringeri Sharada Peetham is one of the important Hindu Advaita maá¹­has. ... Totakacharya (IAST ) (c. ...

After this, Adi Shankara began a Dig-vijaya ("missionary tour") for the propagation of the Advaita philosophy by controverting all philosophies opposed to it. He travelled throughout India, from the South to Kashmir and Nepal, preaching to the local populace and debating philosophy with Hindu, Buddhist and other scholars and monks along the way. South India is a linguistic-cultural region of India that comprises the four Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu and the Union Territory of Pondicherry, whose inhabitants are collectively referred to as South Indians. ... Kashmir (or Cashmere) may refer to: Kashmir region, the northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent India, Kashmir conflict, the territorial dispute between India, Pakistan, and the China over the Kashmir region. ...

With the Malayali King Sudhanva as companion, Shankara passed through Tamil Nadu , Andhra Pradesh and Vidarbha. He then started towards Karnataka where he encountered a band of armed Kapalikas. King Sudhanva, with his army, resisted and defeated the Kapalikas. They safely reached Gokarna where Shankara defeated in debate the Shaiva scholar, Neelakanta. Malayali or Malayalee is the Malayalam word used to denote a person (usually Dravidians) from the state of Kerala. ... Tamil Nadu (தமிழ் நாடு, Land of the Tamils) is a state at the southern tip of India. ... Andhra Pradesh  : (Telugu: ఆంధ్ర ప్రదేశ్, Urdu: آندھرا پردیش, IPA: ), is a state in South India. ... Vidarbha is the north-eastern region of Maharashtra state, now forming two divisions (Nagpur and Amravati). ... Karnātakā   (Kannada: ಕನಾ೯ಟಕ) (IPA: ) is one of the four southern states of India. ... In Hindu culture, Kapalika means bearer of the skull-bowl. ... Gokarna meaning Cows Ear is a small town situated in North Kannada district coastal Karnataka, India. ... Åšaivism, also transliterated Shaivism and Saivism, is a branch of Hinduism that worships Siva as the Supreme God. ...

Proceeding to Saurashtra (the ancient Kambhoja)^[20] and having visited the shrines of Girnar, Somnath and Prabhasa and explaining the superiority of Vedanta in all these places, he arrived at Dwarka. Bhaṭṭa Bhāskara of Ujjayini, the proponent of Bhedābeda philosophy, was humbled. All the scholars of Ujjayini (also known as Avanti) accepted Adi Shankara's philosophy. Saurashtra may refer to: Saurashtra (region) Saurashtra language Saurashtra script There are several popular cities in Saurahstra Area viz:- Bhavnagar, Jamnagar, Rajula, Mahuva, Veraval, Kandla, Kundla Category: ... Kamboja is ancient name of a country and the tribe settled therein. ... Dwarka   is a city and a municipality in Jamnagar district in the state of Gujarat, India. ... Ujjain   (Hindi:उज्जैन) (also known as Ujain, Ujjayini, Avanti, Avantikapuri) is an ancient city of central India, in the Malwa region of the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, on the eastern bank of the Kshipra River. ... The name may refer to one of the following. ...

He then defeated the Jainas in philosophical debates at a place called Bahlika. Thereafter, the Acharya established his victory over several philosophers and ascetics in Kamboja (region of North Kashmir), Darada (Dabistan) and many regions situated in the desert and crossing mighty peaks, entered Kashmir. Later, he had an encounter with a tantrik, Navagupta at Kamarupa. Navagupta pretended to have become a disciple, but later caused Adi Shankara to develop a rectal fistula. However, Adi Shankara was soon cured and Navagupta later died of the same disease.^[21] Jainism (pronounced in English as //), traditionally known as Jain Dharma (जैन धर्म) , is a classical religion with its origins in the prehistory of India. ... Bactria (Bactriana, also Bhalika in Indian languages) was the ancient Greek name of the country between the range of the Hindu Kush (Caucasus Indicus) and the Amu Darya (Oxus); its capital, Bactra (now Balkh), was located in what is now northern Afghanistan, southern Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan. ... Look up Kamboja in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Kashmir (or Cashmere) may refer to: Kashmir region, the northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent India, Kashmir conflict, the territorial dispute between India, Pakistan, and the China over the Kashmir region. ... Daradas were a people who lived north and north-east to the Kashmir valley. ... Tantra (Sanskrit: तन्त्र weave denoting continuity[1]), tantricism or tantrism is any of several esoteric traditions rooted in the religions of India. ... Kamarupa is the ancient name of the kingdom/region that consisted of the Brahmaputra valley and adjoining region. ... An anal fistula is an abnormal connection between the epithelialised surface of the anal canal and (usually) the perianal skin. ...

Accession to Sarvajnapitha

Statue of Adi Shankara at his Samadhi Mandir in Kedarnath, India

Adi Shankara visited Sarvajñapīṭha in Kashmir (now in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir).^[22] The Madhaviya Shankaravijayam states this temple had four doors for scholars from the four cardinal directions. The southern door (representing South India) had never been opened, indicating that no scholar from South India had entered the Sarvajna Pitha. Adi Shankara opened the southern door by defeating in debate all the scholars there in all the various scholastic disciplines such as Mimamsa, Vedanta and other branches of Hindu philosophy; he ascended the throne of Transcendent wisdom of that temple.^[23] Image File history File links Adi_Shankara. ... Image File history File links Adi_Shankara. ... Kashmir (or Cashmere) may refer to: Kashmir region, the northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent India, Kashmir conflict, the territorial dispute between India, Pakistan, and the China over the Kashmir region. ... Azad Kashmir (formally the Islamic Republic of Azad Jammu and Kashmir) is part of what India calls Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, the Pakistani-occupied part of the former princely state of Jammu and Kashmir, along with the Northern Areas. ... The Gopuram of temples, in south India, are adorned with colourful icons depicting a particular story surrounding the temples deity. ... South India is a linguistic-cultural region of India that comprises the four Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu and the Union Territory of Pondicherry, whose inhabitants are collectively referred to as South Indians. ... The main objective of the Purva (earlier) Mimamsa school was to establish the authority of the Vedas. ... This article includes a list of works cited but its sources remain unclear because it lacks in-text citations. ... Hindu philosophy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ...

Towards the end of his life, Adi Shankara travelled to the Himalayan area of Kedarnath-Badrinath and attained videha mukti ("freedom from embodiment"). There is a samadhi mandir dedicated to Adi Shankara behind the Kedarnath temple. However, there are variant traditions on the location of his last days. One tradition, expounded by Keraliya Shankaravijaya, places his place of death as Vadakkunnathan temple in Thrissur, Kerala.^[24] The followers of the Kanchi kamakoti pitha claim that he ascended the Sarvajñapīṭha and attained videha-mukti in Kanchipuram (Tamil Nadu). The Kedarnath temple Kedarnath is a Hindu holy town located in the the Indian state of Uttarakhand. ... ... Videha mukti (literally, liberation without the body, in Sanskrit) refers to the moksha (liberation) attained by a person after death. ... The Vadakkunathan Temple The Vadakkunathan Temple Vadakkkunnathan Temple is one of the largest temples in Kerala that is dedicated to Lord Shiva. ... For the district with the same name, see Thrissur district. ... Videha mukti (literally, liberation without the body, in Sanskrit) refers to the moksha (liberation) attained by a person after death. ... Tamil Nadu (தமிழ் நாடு, Land of the Tamils) is a state at the southern tip of India. ...

Dates

Modern scholarly opinion is that Shankara's date should lie somewhere in the mid-8th century CE. It has proved impossible to reach agreement on Adi Shankara's precise dates of birth or death. Traditional sources from the Shankara Maṭhas give two different dates; some cite 788 – 820 CE, while others cite 509 – 477 BCE. The Śṛṅgeri Śāradā Pīṭham accepts the 788 – 820 CE dates.^[25]Of the other major Shankara Maṭhas active today, the ones at Dwaraka, Puri and Kanchi ascribe the dates 509 – 477 BCE to Adi Shankara. If these dates were true, they would require moving back the date of Buddha (which serves as an anchor for modern academic history of India).^[26] (See also Mathas). According to Swami Niranjanananda Saraswati's biography of Adi Shankara, published in his book Sannyasa Darshan, Adi Shankara was born in Kalady, Kerala, in 686, and attained mahasamadhi at Kedarnath, Uttarakhand, in 718. Events Charlemagne conquers Bavaria. ... Events Michael II succeeds Leo V as Byzantine Emperor The Historia Brittonum is written (approximate date) Births Rhodri Mawr (the Great), ruler of Gwynedd (Wales) (approximate date) Photius I, patriarch of Constantinople (approximate date) Deaths December 24: Leo V, Byzantine Emperor (assassinated) Shankara, Hinduist teacher Tang Xian Zong, emperor of... Events Births Emperor Kimmei of Japan († 571) Adi Sankara Deaths Categories: 509 ... Events Huneric becomes king of Vandals Aelle king of the South Saxons, arrives in England, with his three sons, near Cymenshore. ... Sri Sringeri Sharada Peetham is one of the important Hindu Advaita maá¹­has. ... Events Charlemagne conquers Bavaria. ... Events Michael II succeeds Leo V as Byzantine Emperor The Historia Brittonum is written (approximate date) Births Rhodri Mawr (the Great), ruler of Gwynedd (Wales) (approximate date) Photius I, patriarch of Constantinople (approximate date) Deaths December 24: Leo V, Byzantine Emperor (assassinated) Shankara, Hinduist teacher Tang Xian Zong, emperor of... Events Births Emperor Kimmei of Japan († 571) Adi Sankara Deaths Categories: 509 ... Events Huneric becomes king of Vandals Aelle king of the South Saxons, arrives in England, with his three sons, near Cymenshore. ... BCE is a TLA that may stand for: Before the Common Era, date notation equivalent to BC (e. ... Standing Buddha sculpture, ancient region of Gandhara, northern Pakistan, 1st century CE, Musée Guimet. ... Events October 21 - Conon becomes Pope, succeeding Pope John V. Empress Jito ascends to the throne of Japan Kingdom of Kent attacked and conquered by West Saxons under Caedwalla Births August 23 - Charles Martel, winner of the Battle of Tours Deaths Emperor Temmu of Japan Korean Buddhist monk Weonhyo See... Uttarakhand (Hindi: उत्तराखंड), known as Uttaranchal from 2000 to 2006, became the 27th state of the Republic of India on November 9, 2000. ... Events Pelayo established the Kingdom of Asturias in the Iberian peninsula (modern day Portugal and Spain). ...

Mathas

Vidyashankara temple at Sringeri Sharada Peetham, Sringeri

Adi Shankara founded four Maṭhas, to guide the Hindu religion. These are at Sringeri in Karnataka in the south, Dwaraka in Gujarat in the west, Puri in Orissa in the east, and Jyotirmath (Joshimath) in Uttarakhand in the north. Hindu tradition states that he put in charge of these mathas his four main disciples: Sureshwaracharya, Hastamalakacharya, Padmapadacharya, and Totakacharya respectively. The heads of the mathas trace their authority back to these figures. Each of the heads of these four mathas takes the title of Shankaracharya ("the learned Shankara") after the first Shankara. The matha at Kanchi, Tamil Nadu, claims that it was founded by Adi Shankara.^[27] The table below gives an overview of the four Amnaya Mathas founded by Adi Shankara and their details.^[28] Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2048x1536, 578 KB) Vidyasankara temple, Sringeri. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2048x1536, 578 KB) Vidyasankara temple, Sringeri. ... Sri Sringeri Sharada Peetham is one of the important Hindu Advaita maá¹­has. ... Sringeri is the site of the first matha established by the Adi Sankaracharya, the 8th century Hindu reformer and exponent of the Advaita Vedanta philosophy. ... A maá¹­ha (also written matha and mutt) is a term for monastic and similar religious establishments of the Hindu religion. ... Sri Sringeri Sharada Peetham is one of the important Hindu Advaita maá¹­has. ... Karnātakā   (Kannada: ಕನಾ೯ಟಕ) (IPA: ) is one of the four southern states of India. ... The Dwaraka PÄ«tha or Dwaraka matha is situated in the coastal city of Dwaraka, Gujarat — which itself is a great site of pilgrimage for the Hindus, dedicated to Krishna. ... Gujarātlanguage|GujarātÄ«]]: , IPA: ,  ) is a state in the Republic of India. ... The Govardhana matha is located in the city of Puri in Orissa state (India), and is associated with the Jagannath temple. ... Orissa   (Oriya: ଓଡ଼ିଶା), is a state situated in the east coast of India. ... Jyotirmath, also called Jyotir Math and Joshimath, is a place in Uttaranchal, India in the Himalayas. ... Uttarakhand (Hindi: उत्तराखंड), known as Uttaranchal from 2000 to 2006, became the 27th state of the Republic of India on November 9, 2000. ... Image:.jpg The debate with the master SureÅ›vara (c. ... Hastamalakacharya (IAST ) (c. ... Padmapāda (fl. ... Totakacharya (IAST ) (c. ... Shankaracharya, (IAST: Åšankarāchārya) is a commonly used title of heads of maÅ£has (monasteries) in the Advaita tradition. ... Kanchipuram temple, engraved in 1811. ... Tamil Nadu (தமிழ் நாடு, Land of the Tamils) is a state at the southern tip of India. ...

A disciple (from the Latin discipulus, a pupil) is one who receives instruction from another; a scholar; a learner; especially, a follower who has learned to believe in the truth of the doctrine of his teacher, and implies that the pupil is under the discipline of, and understands, his teacher... A maá¹­ha (also written matha and mutt) is a term for monastic and similar religious establishments of the Hindu religion. ... ... The Vedas are part of the Hindu Shruti; these religious scriptures form part of the core of the Brahminical and Vedic traditions within Hinduism and are the inspirational, metaphysical and mythological foundation for later Vedanta, Yoga, Tantra and even Bhakti forms of Hinduism. ... In Hinduism, a Sampradaya is a tradition of disciplic succession serving as a spiritual channel and encompassing a common philosophy embraced by many schools, groups, or guru lineages (called parampara). ... Hastamalakacharya (IAST ) (c. ... The Govardhana matha is located in the city of Puri in Orissa state (India), and is associated with the Jagannath temple. ... The Rig Veda ऋग्वेद (Sanskrit ṛc praise + veda knowledge) is the earliest of the four Hindu religious scriptures known as the Vedas. ... Image:.jpg The debate with the master SureÅ›vara (c. ... Sri Sringeri Sharada Peetham is one of the important Hindu Advaita maá¹­has. ... The Yajur Veda यजुर्वेद is one of the four Hindu Vedas; it contains religious texts focussing on liturgy and ritual. ... Padmapāda (fl. ... The Dwaraka PÄ«tha or Dwaraka matha is situated in the coastal city of Dwaraka, Gujarat — which itself is a great site of pilgrimage for the Hindus, dedicated to Krishna. ... The Sama Veda (सामवेद), or Veda of Holy Songs, is third in the usual order of enumeration of the four Vedas, the ancient core Hindu scriptures. ... Totakacharya (IAST ) (c. ... Jyotirmath, also called Jyotir Math and Joshimath, is a place in Uttaranchal, India in the Himalayas. ... The Atharva Veda is a sacred text of Hinduism, part of the four books of the Vedas. ...

Philosophy and religious thought

Main article: Advaita Vedanta

The swan is an important motif in Advaita Vedanta. Its symbolic meanings are: firstly; upon verbally repeating hamsa (the Sanskrit word for Swan), it becomes soham (Sanskrit, "I am That"). Secondly, even as a swan lives in water its feathers are not soiled by water, a liberated Advaitin lives in this world full of maya but is untouched by its illusion. Thirdly, a monk of the Dashanami order is called a Paramahamsa ("the supreme swan")

Advaita ("non-dualism") is often called a monistic system of thought. The word "Advaita" essentially refers to the identity of the Self (Atman) and the Whole (Brahman^[29]). The key source texts for all schools of Vedānta are the Prasthanatrayi– the canonical texts consisting of the Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita and the Brahma Sutras. Advaita Vedanta (IAST ; Devanagari ; IPA ) is the dominant sub-school of the Vedānta (literally, end or the goal of the Vedas, Sanskrit) school of Hindu philosophy. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1430x1073, 855 KB) Beskrivelse Copied from the English Wiki: Source: en:Image:Swans. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1430x1073, 855 KB) Beskrivelse Copied from the English Wiki: Source: en:Image:Swans. ... Hamsa, also spelt as Hansha (Anser indicus), is one of the most significant birds with wide references in texts pertaining to Hindu, Jaina and Buddhist, and their respective mythologies. ... Advaita Vedanta (IAST ; Devanagari ; IPA ) is the dominant sub-school of the Vedānta (literally, end or the goal of the Vedas, Sanskrit) school of Hindu philosophy. ... Sanyasa (pronounced sanyaas) symbolises the conception of the mystic life in Hinduism where a person is now integrated into the spiritual world after wholly giving up material life. ... Dasanami Sampradaya (IAST ), literally Tradition of Ten Names, is a Hindu monastic tradition established by Adi Shankara in the 8th century CE in India. ... Paramahamsa (also paramahansa and paramhansa) -- This is a religio/theological title associated with particular Hindu saints, by their devotees; one thus sees these religious figures referred to as -- Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and Paramahansa Yogananda. Hamsa is only an allegory. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article may require cleanup. ... The Atman or Atma (IAST: Ä€tmā, sanskrit: आत्म‍ ) is a philosophical term used within Hinduism and Vedanta to identify the soul. ... Brahman (Devanagari: ब्रह्म) is the concept of the Godhead found in Hinduism. ... Prasthanatrayi, literally, three points of departure, (IAST ) refers to the three canonical texts of Hindu philosophy, especially the Vedanta schools. ... The Upanishads (Devanagari: उपनिषद्, IAST: upaniá¹£ad) are part of the Vedas and form the Hindu scriptures which primarily discuss philosophy, meditation, and the nature of God; they form the core spiritual thought of Vedantic Hinduism. ... Bhagavad Gīta भगवद्गीता, composed ca the fifth - second centuries BC, is part of the epic poem Mahabharata, located in the Bhisma-Parva chapters 23–40. ... The Brahma sÅ«tras, also called Vedānta SÅ«tras, constitute the Nyāya prasthāna, the logical starting point of the Vedānta philosophy (Nyāya = logic/order). ...

Adi Shankara was the first in its tradition to consolidate the siddhānta ("doctrine") of Advaita Vedanta. He wrote commentaries on the Prasthana Trayi. A famous quote from Vivekacūḍāmaṇi, one of his prakarana granthas that succinctly summarises his philosophy is: Prasthanatrayi, literally, three points of departure, (IAST ) refers to the three canonical texts of Hindu philosophy, especially the Vedanta schools. ... The two Epics and the Prasthana thraya—the triple foundation of the Vedanta school of philosophical and spiritual system, namely the Upanishads, Brahma Sutras (Vedanta Sutras) and the Bhagavad-Gita—are the perennial sources of ethical and spiritual knowledge and wisdom, inspiring thousands of earnest seekers of truth. ...

Brahma satyaṃ jagat mithyā, jīvo brahmaiva nāparah

Brahman is the only truth, the world is unreal, and there is ultimately no difference between Brahman and individual self. Brahman (Devanagari: ब्रह्म) is the concept of the Godhead found in Hinduism. ...

Advaita Vedanta is based on śāstra ("scriptures"), yukti ("reason") and anubhava ("experience"), and aided by karmas ("spiritual practices").^[30] This philosophy provides a clear-cut way of life to be followed. Starting from childhood, when learning has to start, the philosophy has to be realised in practice throughout one's life even up to death. This is the reason why this philosophy is called an experiential philosophy, the underlying tenet being "That thou art", meaning that ultimately there is no difference between the experiencer and the experienced (the world) as well as the universal spirit (Brahman). Among the followers of Advaita, as well those of other doctrines, there are believed to have appeared Jivanmuktas, ones liberated while alive. These individuals (commonly called Mahatmas, great souls, among Hindus) are those who realised the oneness of their self and the universal spirit called Brahman. Some of the Translated philosophies of Adi Shankara are - Adi Sanakara Philosophy. Karma is the force generated by a persons actions held in Hinduism and Buddhism to perpetuate transmigration and in its ethical consequences to determine the nature of the persons next existence ... Brahman (Devanagari: ब्रह्म) is the concept of the Godhead found in Hinduism. ... Jivanmukta is a unique concept in Hindu philosophy, and that too, particularly in the school of philosophy known as advaita. ... Mahatma is Sanskrit for Great Soul (महात्मा mahātmā: महा mahā (great) + आत्मं or आत्मन ātman (soul)). This epithet is applied to people like Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, though sources vary on who first gave him this name. ... This article discusses the adherents of Hinduism. ... Atma_Bodha_translation Aparokshanubhuti_translation Vakya_Vritti_translation Saundaryalahari_ Panchikaranam_translation Category: ...

Adi Shankara's Bhashyas (commentaries) on the Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita and the Brahma Sutras are his principal and almost undeniably his own works. Although he mostly adhered to traditional means of commenting on the Brahma Sutra, there are a number of original ideas and arguments to establish that the essence of Upanishads is Advaita. He taught that it was only through direct knowledge of Brahman that one could be enlightened. The Upanishads (उपनिषद्, Upanişad) are part of the Hindu Shruti scriptures which primarily discuss meditation and philosophy and are seen as religious instructions by most schools of Hinduism. ... Bhagavad Gīta भगवद्गीता, composed ca the fifth - second centuries BC, is part of the epic poem Mahabharata, located in the Bhisma-Parva chapters 23–40. ... The Brahma sutra is the nyaya prasthana, the logical text that sets forth the philosophy systematically (nyaya - logic/order). ... Brahman (Devanagari: ब्रह्म) is the concept of the Godhead found in Hinduism. ...

Adi Shankara's opponents accused him of teaching Buddhism in the garb of Hinduism, because his non-dualistic ideals were a bit radical to contemporary Hindu philosophy. However, it may be noted that while the Later Buddhists arrived at a changeless, deathless, absolute truth after their insightful understanding of the unreality of samsara, historically Vedantins never liked this idea. Although Advaita proposes the theory of Maya, explaining the universe as a "trick of a magician", Adi Shankara and his followers see this as a consequence of their basic premise that Brahman alone is real. Their idea of Maya emerges from their belief in the reality of Brahman, rather than the other way around. (See also List of types of clothing) Introduction Humans often wear articles of clothing (also known as dress, garments or attire) on the body (for the alternative, see nudity). ... The Wheel of Life as portrayed within Buddhism, showing the cycle of Samsara, or reincarnation. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Maya (illusion). ... Brahman (Devanagari: ब्रह्म) is the concept of the Godhead found in Hinduism. ...

Historical and cultural impact

At the time of Adi Shankara's life, Hinduism had begun to decline because of the influence of Buddhism and Jainism. Hinduism had become divided into innumerable sects, each quarrell