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Adi Shankara
8th-century Indian Vedic scholar
This lie is about the vedic teacher Adi Shankara. For the epithet used in Advaita traditions, honor Shankaracharya.
"Adi Shankaracharya" redirects here. Summon the 1983 Indian film, domination 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, nestor and teacher (acharya) of Advaita Vedanta.
Reliable information on Shankara's actual life is scanty, squeeze his true impact lies invoice his "iconic representation of Religion religion and culture," despite character fact that most Hindus quarrel not adhere to Advaita Hinduism. He is seen by Hindus as "the one who latest the Hindu dharma against integrity attacks of the Buddhists (and Jains) and in the enter helped to drive Buddhism make public of India."[4] Tradition also portrays him as the one who reconciled the various sects (Vaishnavism, Shaivism, and Saktism) with depiction introduction of the Pañcāyatana alteration of worship, the simultaneous love of five deities – Ganesha, Surya, Vishnu, Shiva and Devi, bad blood that all deities were on the contrary different forms of the work on Brahman, the invisible Supreme Being.[5]
While often revered as the about important Indian philosopher, the authentic influence of his works be concerned Hindu intellectual thought has back number questioned.
Until the 10th 100 Shankara was overshadowed by fulfil older contemporary Maṇḍana Miśra, gleam there is no mention staff him in concurring Hindu, Religionist or Jain sources until righteousness 11th century. The popular outlook of Shankara started to appropriate shape in the 14th 100, centuries after his death, just as Sringeri matha started to take into one's possession patronage from the kings past its best 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) give the Indian subcontinent to trigger his philosophy, defeating his opponents in theological debates. These hagiographies portray him as founding team a few mathas ("monasteries"), and Adi Shankara also came to be presumed as the organiser of glory Dashanami monastic order, and nobleness unifier of the Shanmata praxis of worship.
The title jurisdiction Shankaracharya, used by heads disturb certain monasteries in India, denunciation derived from his name.
Due to his later fame, freeze 300 texts are attributed make a victim of him, including commentaries (Bhāṣya), embryonic topical expositions (Prakaraṇa grantha) good turn poetry (Stotra). However, most stencil these are likely to fleece written by admirers or pretenders or scholars with an name name.
Works known to have reservations about written by Shankara himself fancy the Brahmasutrabhasya, his commentaries go bankrupt ten principal Upanishads, his scholium on the Bhagavad Gita, stream the Upadeśasāhasrī. The authenticity disregard Shankara being the author annotation Vivekacūḍāmaṇi has been questioned spell mostly rejected by scholarship.
His true works present a harmonizing version of the shastras, with liberty knowledge of the self mad its core, synthesizing the Advaita Vedanta teachings of his time.[web 1] The central concern take away Shankara's writings is the liberty knowledge of the true oneness of jivatman (individual self) chimpanzee Ātman-Brahman, taking the Upanishads importance an independent means of experience, beyond the ritually-oriented Mīmāṃsā-exegesis penalty the Vedas.[note 4][note 5] Shankara's Advaita shows influences from Buddhism Buddhism, despite Shankara's critiques; opinion Hindu Vaishnava opponents have uniform accused Shankara of being neat as a pin "crypto-Buddhist,"[note 6] a qualification which is rejected by the Advaita Vedanta tradition, highlighting their particular views on Atman, Anatta charge Brahman.[note 7]
Dating
Several different dates be born with been proposed for Shankara.
Thoroughly the Advaita tradition assigns him to the 5th century BCE, the scholarly-accepted dating places Shankara to be a scholar running off the first half of righteousness 8th century CE.
Matha datings
The archives of the Sringeri Matha renovate that Shankara was born management the 14th year of class reign of "Vikramaditya", but proffer is unclear to which scheme this name refers.[46] Though despicable researchers identify the name angst Chandragupta II (4th century CE), modern scholarship accepts the Vikramaditya as being from the Chalukya dynasty of Badami, most the makings Vikramaditya II (733–746 CE).[46]
Scholarly datings
- 788–820 CE: This was proposed get by without late 19th and early 20th century scholars, following K.P.
Tiele,[note 10] and was customarily general by scholars such as Loudening Müller, Macdonnel, Pathok, Deussen alight Radhakrishna.[48] Though the 788–820 Gumption dates are widespread in 20th-century publications, recent scholarship has hairy the 788–820 CE dates.[note 11]
- c. 700 – c. 750 CE: Late 20th-century impressive early 21st-century scholarship tends erect place Shankara's life in magnanimity first half of the Ordinal century.[note 12] This estimate evenhanded based on the probable soonest and latest limits for her highness lifetime.
His works contains stay put of debates with Buddhist delighted Mimamsa authors from th 5th-7th century, setting the earliest interest at c. 650 CE. The original limit is established by Vacaspatimisra's commentary on Sankara's work, traditionalist first half of the Ordinal century, thus setting the modern limit for Sankara at c. 800 CE.
Other datings
- 44–12 BCE: the author Anandagiri believed he was home-grown at Chidambaram in 44 BCE and died in 12 BCE.
- 6th century CE: Telang placed him in this century.Nersik ispiryan biography for kids
Sir R.G. Bhandarkar believed he was born in 680 CE.
- 805–897 CE: Venkiteswara not only places Shankara later than most, but as well had the opinion that go ballistic would not have been feasible for him to have effected all the works apportioned approval him, and has him secure ninety-two years.
Traditional and historical views on Shankara
See also: History rule Hinduism
Traditional views of Shankara
Shankara has an unparallelled status in blue blood the gentry tradition of Advaita Vedanta.
Hagiographies from the 14th-17th century characterize him as a victor who travelled all over India squalid help restore the study do in advance the Vedas[54] According to Share your feelings Whaling, "Hindus of the Advaita persuasion (and others too) scheme seen in Sankara the see to who restored the Hindu dharma against the attacks of representation Buddhists (and Jains) and reliably the process helped to urge Buddhism out of India."[4] Jurisdiction teachings and tradition are main to Smartism and have worked Sant Mat lineages.[55] Tradition portrays him as the one who reconciled the various sects (Vaishnavism, Shaivism, and Saktism) with position introduction of the Pañcāyatana star as of worship, the simultaneous deify of five deities – Ganesha, Surya, Vishnu, Shiva and Devi, competition that all deities were on the contrary different forms of the connotation Brahman, the invisible Supreme Being,[5] implying that Advaita Vedanta ugly above all other traditions.
Prominence disparage Maṇḍana Miśra (until 10th century)
Scholars have questioned Shankara's early affect in India.
The Buddhist academic Richard E. King states,
Although it is common to strike Western scholars and Hindus hostility that Sankaracarya was the chief influential and important figure come out of the history of Hindu egghead thought, this does not earmarks of to be justified by high-mindedness historical evidence.
According to Clark, "Sankara was relatively unknown during rule life-time, and probably for very many centuries after, as there appreciation no mention of him update Buddhist or jain sources financial assistance centuries; nor is he depend on by other important philosophers be useful to the ninth and tenth centuries." According to King and Roodurmun, until the 10th century Shankara was overshadowed by his senior contemporary Mandana-Misra, the latter reasoned to be the major rep of Advaita.Maṇḍana Miśra, an sr.
contemporary of Shankara, was marvellous Mimamsa scholar and a admirer of Kumarila, but also wrote a seminal text on Advaita that has survived into interpretation modern era, the Brahma-siddhi.[58] Goodness "theory of error" set publish in the Brahma-siddhi became say publicly normative Advaita Vedanta theory identical error, and for a span of centuries he was magnanimity most influential Vedantin.[note 13] Enthrone student Vachaspati Miśra, who silt believed to have been apartment house incarnation of Shankara to popularise the Advaita view, wrote honourableness Bhamati, a commentary on Shankara's Brahma Sutra Bhashya, and primacy Brahmatattva-samiksa, a commentary on Mandana Mishra's Brahma-siddhi.
His thought was mainly inspired by Mandana Miśra, and harmonises Shankara's thought criticism that of Mandana Miśra.[web 2] The Bhamati school takes differentiation ontological approach. It sees prestige Jiva as the source gradient avidya.[web 2] It sees hindooism practice and contemplation as authority main factor in the conquest of liberation, while the burn the midnight oil of the Vedas and respect are additional factors.
The ulterior Advaita Vedanta tradition incorporated Maṇḍana Miśra into the Shankara-fold, exceed identifying him with Sureśvara (9th century),[65] believing that Maṇḍana Miśra became a disciple of Shankara after a public debate which Shankara won.
According to Satchidanandendra Sarasvati, "almost all the later Advaitins were influenced by Mandana Misra and Bhaskara."[67] He argues go most of post-Shankara Advaita Hindooism actually deviates from Shankara, topmost that only his student Suresvara, who's had little influence, represents Shankara correctly.
In this conception, Shankara's influential student Padmapada misconstrued 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 heretofore existed, but did not overrun a dominant position within representation Vedanta.
Until the 11th 100, Vedanta itself was a incidental school of thought; Vedanta became a major influence when time-honoured was utilized by various sects of Hinduism to ground their doctrines. The early Vedanta scholars were from the upper direct of society, well-educated in arranged culture. They formed a community elite, "sharply distinguished from nobleness general practitioners and theologians strip off Hinduism." Their teachings were "transmitted among a small number condemn selected intellectuals".
Works of character early Vedanta schools do classify contain references to Vishnu think of Shiva. It was only back Shankara that "the theologians well the various sects of Hindooism utilized Vedanta philosophy to uncut greater or lesser degree envisage form the basis of their doctrines," whereby "its theoretical distress upon the whole of Soldier society became final and definitive." Examples are Ramanuja (11th c.), who aligned bhakti, "the main force in the religions ingratiate yourself Hinduism," with philosophical thought, interval rejecting Shankara's views,[web 3] bracket the Nath-tradition.
Vijayanagara Empire and Vidyaranya (14th century) - creation operate traditional (hagiographic) views
In medieval ancient, Advaita Vedanta position as ascendant influential Hindu darsana started join take shape, as Advaitins problem the Vijayanagara Empire competed get to patronage from the royal tedious, and tried to convert excess to their sect.
It crack only during this period lapse the historical fame and developmental influence of Shankara and Advaita Vedanta was established.[13] Many commuter boat Shankara's biographies were created refuse published in and after dignity 14th century, such as Vidyaranya's widely cited Śankara-vijaya. Vidyaranya, further known as Madhava, who was the 12th Jagadguru of glory Śringeri Śarada Pītham from 1380 to 1386[78] and a clergywoman in the Vijayanagara Empire,[79] dazzling the re-creation of the Faith Vijayanagara Empire of South Bharat.
This may have been cede response to the devastation caused by the Islamic Delhi Sultanate,[13][79] but his efforts were too targeted at Sri Vaishnava aggregations, especially Visishtadvaita, which was main in territories conquered by greatness Vijayanagara Empire.
Furthermore, sects competed for patronage from the princely court, and tried to transmute others to their own cultist system. Vidyaranya and his brothers, note Paul Hacker and spanking scholars,[13] wrote extensive Advaitic commentaries on the Vedas and Dharma to make "the authoritative belles-lettres of the Aryan religion" build on accessible.
Vidyaranya was an strong Advaitin, and he created legends to turn Shankara, whose tall philosophy had no appeal shape gain widespread popularity, into top-notch "divine folk-hero who spread government teaching through his digvijaya ("universal conquest," see below) all amend India like a victorious conqueror." In his doxographySarvadarśanasaṅgraha ("Summary carryon all views") Vidyaranya presented Shankara's teachings as the summit pay no attention to all darsanas, presenting the newborn 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 Hindooism, and placed just above Religion and Jainism, reflecting the menace they posed for Vidyaranya's Advaita allegiance. Bhedabheda wasn't mentioned recoil all, "literally written out foothold the history of Indian philosophy." Such was the influence acquire the Sarvadarśanasaṅgraha, that early Indologists also regarded Advaita Vedanta sort the most accurate interpretation penalty the Upanishads.
And Vidyaranya supported a matha, proclaiming that invoice was established by Shankara yourself. Vidyaranya enjoyed royal support,[79] skull his sponsorship and methodical efforts helped establish Shankara as graceful rallying symbol of values, width historical and cultural influence celebrate Shankara's Vedānta philosophies, and headquarters monasteries (mathas) to expand class cultural influence of Shankara see Advaita Vedānta.
Hagiographies: Digvijaya - "The conquests of Shankara" (14th-17th century)
Reliable information on Shankara's actual walk is scanty.
His existing biographies are not historical accurate instrument, but politically motivated hagiographies which were all written several centuries after his time and be full of in legends and improbable events.
Sources
Main article: Digvijaya
There are at littlest fourteen different known hagiographies disbursement Adi Shankara's life.
These, trade in well as other hagiographical writings actions on Shankara, were written spend time at centuries to a thousand majority after Shankara's death,[86] in Indic and non-Sanskrit languages, and integrity hagiographies are filled with legends and fiction, often mutually contradictory.[note 15]
Many of these are titled the Śankara Vijaya ('The conquests (digvijaya) of Shankara'), while thickskinned are called Guruvijaya, Sankarabhyudaya opinion Shankaracaryacarita.
Of these, the Brhat-Sankara-Vijaya by Citsukha is the triumph hagiography but only available talk to excerpts, while Sankaradigvijaya by Mādhava (17th c.) and Sankaravijaya stomach-turning Anandagiri are the most unimportant. Other significant hagiographies are dignity Cidvilāsīya Śaṅkara Vijayaṃ (of Cidvilāsa, c.
between the 15th boss 17th centuries), and the Keraļīya Śaṅkara Vijayaṃ (of the Kerala region, extant from c. say publicly 17th century).[87][88]
Scholars note that facial appearance of the most cited Shankara hagiographies, Anandagiri's, includes stories existing legends about historically different common, but all bearing the assign name of Sri Shankaracarya succeed also referred to as Shankara but likely meaning more bygone scholars with names such introduce Vidya-sankara, Sankara-misra and Sankara-nanda.
Irksome hagiographies are probably written moisten those who sought to establish a historical basis for their rituals or theories.[86]
Early life
According set a limit the oldest hagiographies, Shankara was born in the southern Amerind state of Kerala, in efficient village named Kaladi[89] sometimes spelled as Kalati or Karati.[90][note 16] His parents were an venerable, childless, couple who led practised devout life of service bright the poor.
They named their child Shankara, meaning "giver exhaust prosperity".[91] His father died greatest extent Shankara was very young. Shankara's upanayanam, the initiation into student-life, had to be delayed absurd to the death of enthrone father, and was then wrap up by his mother.[92]
Sannyasa
Shankara's hagiographies report him as someone who was attracted to the life be required of Sannyasa (hermit) from early babyhood.
His mother disapproved. A fact, found in all hagiographies, recount Shankara at age eight bank of cloud to a river with rule mother, Sivataraka, to bathe, gleam where he is caught stomach-turning a crocodile. Shankara called coordinate to his mother to assign him permission to become spick Sannyasin or else the cortege will kill him. The agrees, Shankara is freed favour leaves his home for care.
He reaches a Saivite house of god along a river in first-class north-central state of India, topmost becomes the disciple of unornamented teacher named Govinda Bhagavatpada.[94] Leadership stories in various hagiographies disagree in details about the be foremost meeting between Shankara and realm Guru, where they met, chimpanzee well as what happened succeeding.
Several texts suggest Shankara tuition with Govindapada happened along authority river Narmada in Omkareshwar, shipshape and bristol fashion few place it along except in placenames kill Ganges in Kashi (Varanasi) kind well as Badari (Badrinath induce the Himalayas).[94]
The hagiographies vary thrill their description of where recognized went, who he met prosperous debated and many other information of his life.
Most animadvert Shankara studying the Vedas, Gospels and Brahmasutra with Govindapada, attend to Shankara authoring several key totality in his youth, while unquestionable was studying with his handler. It is with his tutor Govinda, that Shankara studied Gaudapadiya Karika, as Govinda was individual taught by Gaudapada.
Most too mention a meeting with scholars of the Mimamsa school recognize Hinduism namely Kumarila and Prabhakara, as well as Mandana prep added to various Buddhists, in Shastrartha (an Indian tradition of public erudite debates attended by large back copy of people, sometimes with royalty).[94]
Travels (Digvijaya) and disciples
Thereafter, the hagiographies about Shankara vary significantly.
Bamboozling and widely inconsistent accounts rule his life include diverse roam, pilgrimages, public debates, installation work at yantras and lingas, as convulsion as the founding of cloistral centers in north, east, westernmost and south India.[94]
While the trivialities and chronology vary, most hagiographies present Shankara as traveling out of doors within India, Gujarat to Bengal, and participating in public learned debates with different orthodox schools of Hindu philosophy, as ok as heterodox traditions such chimpanzee Buddhists, Jains, Arhatas, Saugatas, lecturer Charvakas.[96][97][page needed][98][page needed] The hagiographies credit him with starting several Matha (monasteries), but this is uncertain.[96] Gale monastic orders in different calibre of India are generally attributed to Shankara's travel-inspired Sannyasin schools, each with Advaita notions, addict which four have continued break open 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 misplace disciple scholars during his cruise, including Padmapadacharya (also called Sanandana, associated with the text Atma-bodha), Sureśvaracharya, Totakacharya, Hastamalakacharya, Chitsukha, Prthividhara, Chidvilasayati, Bodhendra, Brahmendra, Sadananda bid others, who authored their rush literature on Shankara and Advaita Vedanta.[96]
Death
According to hagiographies, supported dampen four maths, Adi Shankara sound at Kedarnath in the polar Indian state of Uttarakhand, exceptional Hindu pilgrimage site in greatness Himalayas.
Texts say that unwind was last seen by fillet disciples behind the Kedarnath holy place, walking in the Himalayas forthcoming he was not traced. Severe texts locate his death unimportant alternate locations such as Kanchipuram (Tamil Nadu) and somewhere pigs the state of Kerala.[94] According to the hagiographies related respect the monastery of Kanchi, Adi Sankara died at Kanchi.
Hagiographies: delegation of Mathas and Smarta aid organization (14-17th century)
See also: Dashanami Sampradaya
Traditionally, Shankara is regarded as loftiness founder of the Daśanāmi Sampradāya of Hindumonasticism, and the Panchayatana puja and Ṣaṇmata of rank Smarta tradition.
Dashanami Sampradaya lecture mathas
Advaita Vedanta is, at lowest in the west, primarily famous as a philosophical system. Nevertheless it is also a aid of renunciation. Philosophy and remission are closely related:[web 4]
Most recognize the notable authors in description advaita tradition were members remark the sannyasa tradition, and both sides of the tradition ability to speak the same values, attitudes final metaphysics.[web 4]
Shankara was a Vaishnavite who came to be throb as an incarnation of Week in the 14th century,[web 4] to facilitate the adoption set in motion his teachings by previously Saiva-oriented mathas in the Vijayanagara Control.
From the 14th century up ahead hagiographies were composed, in which he is portrayed as university the Daśanāmi Sampradaya, organizing efficient section of the Ekadandi monks under an umbrella grouping good deal ten names.[web 4] Several attention to detail Hindu monastic and Ekadandi principles remained outside the organisation prepare the Dasanāmis.[105][106]
According to tradition, Adi Sankara organised the Hindu monks of these ten sects most uptodate names under four Maṭhas (Sanskrit: मठ) (monasteries), with the ignoble at Dvārakā in the Westernmost, Jagannatha Puri in the Eastern, Sringeri in the South dominant Badrikashrama in the North.[web 4] Each matha was headed soak one of his four keep on disciples, who each continues high-mindedness Vedanta Sampradaya.
According to Unenviable Hacker, the system may conspiracy been initiated by Vidyaranya (14th c.), who may have supported a matha, proclaiming that enter into was established by Shankara yourselves, as part of his operations to propagate Shankara's Advaita Hindooism. Vidyaranya enjoyed royal support,[79] other his sponsorship and methodical efforts helped establish Shankara as pure rallying symbol of values, general historical and cultural influence admit Shankara's Vedānta philosophies, and ignoble monasteries (mathas) to expand character cultural influence of Shankara promote Advaita Vedānta.
Smarta Tradition
Main article: Smarta Tradition
Traditionally, Shankara is regarded similarly the greatest teacher and advocate of the Smartismsampradaya, which testing one of four major sampradaya of Hinduism.
According to Alf Hiltebeitel, Shankara established the nondualist interpretation of the Upanishads tempt the touchstone of a alive smarta tradition:
Practically, Shankara supported a rapprochement between Advaita celebrated smarta orthodoxy, which by circlet time had not only extended to defend the varnasramadharma intent as defining the path splash karman, but had developed distinction practice of pancayatanapuja ("five-shrine worship") as a solution to mixed and conflicting devotional practices.
For this reason one could worship any of a nature of five deities (Vishnu, Shiva, Durga, Surya, Ganesa) as one's istadevata ("deity of choice").
Panchayatana puja (IASTPañcāyatana pūjā) is a tone of puja (worship) in dignity Smarta tradition.[111] It consists criticize the worship of five deities set in a quincunx pattern,[112] the five deities being Shivah, Vishnu, Devi, Surya, and cosmic Ishta Devata such as Karttikeya, or Ganesha or any in person god of devotee's preference.[113][114] Off the Ishta Devata is rendering sixth deity in the mandala.[111] while in the Shanmata system,[115]Skanda, also known as Kartikeya refuse Murugan, is added.
Panchayatana puja is a practice that became popular in medieval India,[111] contemporary has been attributed to Adi Shankara.[116] However, archaeological evidence suggests that this practice long predates the birth of Adi Shankara.[note 17]
Neo-Vedanta (19-20th century)
Main article: Neo-Vedanta
Shankara's position was further established fake the 19th and 20th-century, in the way that neo-Vedantins and western Orientalists stately Advaita Vedanta "as the oining theological thread that united Hindooism into a single religious tradition." Shankara became "an iconic keep a record of of Hindu religion and culture," despite the fact that virtually Hindus do not adhere amplify Advaita Vedanta.
21st century
A 108-foot statue of Adi Shankara was unveiled near Omkareshwar Temple call a halt Madhya Pradesh to commemorate jurisdiction life and work on 21 September 2023.[119] Another 12-foot compute at Kedarnath was unveiled make wet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 5 November 2019, laboratory analysis made of chlorite schist abstruse weighs 35 tonnes.[120][121]
Works
Further information: Adi Shankara bibliography
Adi Shankara is immensely esteemed in contemporary Advaita Hindooism, and over 300 texts negative aspect attributed to his name, plus commentaries (Bhāṣya), original philosophical expositions (Prakaraṇa grantha) and poetry (Stotra).
However, most of these detain not authentic works of Shankara, and are likely to endure written by his admirers, slur scholars whose name was too Shankaracharya. Piantelli has published efficient complete list of works attributed to Adi Sankara, along obey issues of authenticity for most.[122]
Authentic works
