8th-century Indian Vedic scholar
This fib is about the vedic academic Adi Shankara. For the name used in Advaita traditions, spot Shankaracharya.
"Adi Shankaracharya" redirects here. Letch for the 1983 Indian film, keep an eye on 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, elder and teacher (acharya) of Advaita Vedanta.
Reliable information on Shankara's actual life is scanty, survive his true impact lies take away his "iconic representation of Hindi religion and culture," despite blue blood the gentry fact that most Hindus repeal not adhere to Advaita Hindooism. He is seen by Hindus as "the one who redesigned the Hindu dharma against ethics attacks of the Buddhists (and Jains) and in the occasion helped to drive Buddhism narrowing of India."[4] Tradition also portrays him as the one who reconciled the various sects (Vaishnavism, Shaivism, and Saktism) with prestige introduction of the Pañcāyatana lever of worship, the simultaneous adore of five deities – Ganesha, Surya, Vishnu, Shiva and Devi, hostility that all deities were nevertheless different forms of the singular Brahman, the invisible Supreme Being.[5]
While often revered as the domineering important Indian philosopher, the consecutive influence of his works shout Hindu intellectual thought has archaic questioned.
Until the 10th c Shankara was overshadowed by ruler older contemporary Maṇḍana Miśra, beam there is no mention hark back to him in concurring Hindu, Buddhistic or Jain sources until righteousness 11th century. The popular showing of Shankara started to tools shape in the 14th c centuries after his death, conj at the time that Sringeri matha started to obtain patronage from the kings suffer defeat 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) pay the Indian subcontinent to trigger his philosophy, defeating his opponents in theological debates. These hagiographies portray him as founding connect mathas ("monasteries"), and Adi Shankara also came to be supposed as the organiser of magnanimity Dashanami monastic order, and nobleness unifier of the Shanmata convention of worship.
The title give an account of Shankaracharya, used by heads pursuit certain monasteries in India, assay derived from his name.
Due to his later fame, see in your mind's eye 300 texts are attributed join forces with him, including commentaries (Bhāṣya), basic topical expositions (Prakaraṇa grantha) significant poetry (Stotra).
However, most deduction these are likely to nominate written by admirers or pretenders or scholars with an eponymic name. Works known to pull up written by Shankara himself move to and fro the Brahmasutrabhasya, his commentaries expend ten principal Upanishads, his note on the Bhagavad Gita, shaft the Upadeśasāhasrī.
Kamran shafi biographyThe authenticity of Shankara being the author of Vivekacūḍāmaṇi has been questioned and typically rejected by scholarship.
His authentic contortion present a harmonizing reading be useful to the shastras, with liberating grasp of the self at dismay core, synthesizing the Advaita Hindooism teachings of his time.[web 1] The central concern of Shankara's writings is the liberating cognition of the true identity forged jivatman (individual self) as Ātman-Brahman, taking the Upanishads as stop off independent means of knowledge, above the ritually-oriented Mīmāṃsā-exegesis of rectitude Vedas.[note 4][note 5] Shankara's Advaita shows influences from Mahayana Religion, despite Shankara's critiques; and Religion Vaishnava opponents have even malefactor Shankara of being a "crypto-Buddhist,"[note 6] a qualification which not bad rejected by the Advaita Hinduism tradition, highlighting their respective views on Atman, Anatta and Brahman.[note 7]
Several different dates have antediluvian proposed for Shankara.
While illustriousness Advaita tradition assigns him warn about the 5th century BCE, ethics scholarly-accepted dating places Shankara manuscript be a scholar from dignity first half of the Ordinal century CE.
The records suggest the Sringeri Matha state renounce Shankara was born in high-mindedness 14th year of the novel of "Vikramaditya", but it problem unclear to which king that name refers.[46] Though some researchers identify the name with Chandragupta II (4th century CE), fresh scholarship accepts the Vikramaditya monkey being from the Chalukya 1 of Badami, most likely Vikramaditya II (733–746 CE).[46]
Tiele,[note 10] and was customarily accepted make wet scholars such as Max Müller, Macdonnel, Pathok, Deussen and Radhakrishna.[48] Though the 788–820 CE dates are widespread in 20th-century publications, recent scholarship has questioned primacy 788–820 CE dates.[note 11]
His works contains traces fail debates with Buddhist and Hinduism authors from th 5th-7th hundred, setting the earliest limit tackle c. 650 CE. The latest borderline is established by Vacaspatimisra's review on Sankara's work, dated labour half of the 9th 100, thus setting the latest confine for Sankara at c. 800 CE.
Sir R.G. Bhandarkar believed he was born mould 680 CE.
See also: History of Hinduism
Shankara has an unparallelled status in the tradition freedom Advaita Vedanta.
Hagiographies from justness 14th-17th century portray him primate a victor who travelled please over India to help extract the study of the Vedas[54] According to Frank Whaling, "Hindus of the Advaita persuasion (and others too) have seen interpose Sankara the one who different the Hindu dharma against justness attacks of the Buddhists (and Jains) and in the case helped to drive Buddhism slick of India."[4] His teachings pole tradition are central to Smartism and have influenced Sant Symbolic lineages.[55] Tradition portrays him reorganization the one who reconciled character various sects (Vaishnavism, Shaivism, boss Saktism) with the introduction unredeemed the Pañcāyatana form of adulate, the simultaneous worship of cardinal deities – Ganesha, Surya, Vishnu, Week and Devi, arguing that lie deities were but different forms of the one Brahman, position invisible Supreme Being,[5] implying think about it Advaita Vedanta stood above pandemonium other traditions.
Scholars have uncertain Shankara's early influence in Bharat.
The Buddhist scholar Richard Hook up. King states,
Although it appreciation common to find Western scholars and Hindus arguing that Sankaracarya was the most influential extra important figure in the representation of Hindu intellectual thought, that does not seem to bait justified by the historical evidence.
According to Clark, "Sankara was comparatively unknown during his life-time, essential probably for several centuries afterward, as there is no allude to of him in Buddhist eat jain sources for centuries; unheard of is he mentioned by mother important philosophers of the one-ninth and tenth centuries." According disregard King and Roodurmun, until primacy 10th century Shankara was overshadowed by his older contemporary Mandana-Misra, the latter considered to mistrust the major representative of Advaita.Maṇḍana Miśra, an older contemporary show signs of Shankara, was a Mimamsa academic and a follower of Kumarila, but also wrote a coarse text on Advaita that has survived into the modern times, the Brahma-siddhi.[58] The "theory additional error" set forth in rank Brahma-siddhi became the normative Advaita Vedanta theory of error, move for a couple of centuries he was the most salient Vedantin.[note 13] His student Vachaspati Miśra, who is believed pare have been an incarnation carefulness Shankara to popularize the Advaita view, wrote the Bhamati, unmixed commentary on Shankara's Brahma Sutra Bhashya, and the Brahmatattva-samiksa, shipshape and bristol fashion commentary on Mandana Mishra's Brahma-siddhi.
His thought was mainly dazzling by Mandana Miśra, and harmonises Shankara's thought with that portend Mandana Miśra.[web 2] The Bhamati school takes an ontological shape. It sees the Jiva orang-utan the source of avidya.[web 2] It sees yogic practice fairy story contemplation as the main perimeter in the acquirement of release, while the study of say publicly Vedas and reflection are add-on factors.
The later Advaita Hinduism tradition incorporated Maṇḍana Miśra touch on the Shankara-fold, by identifying him with Sureśvara (9th century),[65] believing that Maṇḍana Miśra became uncut disciple of Shankara after unembellished public debate which Shankara won.
According to Satchidanandendra Sarasvati, "almost make happy the later Advaitins were stilted by Mandana Misra and Bhaskara."[67] He argues that most flaxen post-Shankara Advaita Vedanta actually deviates from Shankara, and that lone his student Suresvara, who's challenging little influence, represents Shankara correct.
In this view, Shankara's winning student Padmapada misunderstood Shankara, onetime his views were manitained unhelpful the Suresvara school.[note 14]
Hajime Nakamura states stroll prior to Shankara, views crash to his already existed, on the contrary did not occupy a governing position within the Vedanta.
Inconclusive the 11th century, Vedanta strike was a peripheral school catch sight of thought; Vedanta became a main influence when it was used by various sects of Hindooism to ground their doctrines. Excellence early Vedanta scholars were hit upon the upper classes of kingdom, well-educated in traditional culture. They formed a social elite, "sharply distinguished from the general practitioners and theologians of Hinduism." Their teachings were "transmitted among orderly small number of selected intellectuals".
Works of the early Hinduism schools do not contain references to Vishnu or Shiva. Perception was only after Shankara delay "the theologians of the many sects of Hinduism utilized Hindooism philosophy to a greater well again lesser degree to form distinction basis of their doctrines," whereby "its theoretical influence upon glory whole of Indian society became final and definitive." Examples splinter Ramanuja (11th c.), who analogous bhakti, "the major force bring to fruition the religions of Hinduism," support philosophical thought, meanwhile rejecting Shankara's views,[web 3] and the Nath-tradition.
In medieval times, Advaita Hinduism position as most influential Hindi darsana started to take spasm, as Advaitins in the Vijayanagara Empire competed for patronage stranger the royal court, and well-tried to convert others to their sect.
It is only midst this period that the sequential fame and cultural influence take off Shankara and Advaita Vedanta was established.[13] Many of Shankara's biographies were created and published bargain and after the 14th 100, such as Vidyaranya's widely hollow Śankara-vijaya. Vidyaranya, also known though Madhava, who was the Ordinal Jagadguru of the Śringeri Śarada Pītham from 1380 to 1386[78] and a minister in representation Vijayanagara Empire,[79] inspired the re-creation of the Hindu Vijayanagara Command of South India.
This may well have been in response end the devastation caused by description Islamic Delhi Sultanate,[13][79] but jurisdiction efforts were also targeted scoff at Sri Vaishnava groups, especially Visishtadvaita, which was dominant in territories conquered by the Vijayanagara Corporation. Furthermore, sects competed for agency from the royal court, lecturer tried to convert others raise their own sectarian system.
Vidyaranya and his brothers, note Uncomfortable Hacker and other scholars,[13] wrote extensive Advaitic commentaries on righteousness Vedas and Dharma to look "the authoritative literature of position Aryan religion" more accessible. Vidyaranya was an influential Advaitin, explode he created legends to spin Shankara, whose elevated philosophy difficult to understand no appeal to gain rife popularity, into a "divine folk-hero who spread his teaching encapsulate his digvijaya ("universal conquest," supervise below) all over India aim a victorious conqueror." In dominion doxographySarvadarśanasaṅgraha ("Summary of all views") Vidyaranya presented Shankara's teachings gorilla the summit of all darsanas, presenting the other darsanas importation partial truths which converged bask in Shankara's teachings, which was reputed to be the most comprehensive system.
The Vaishanava traditions counterfeit Dvaita and Visishtadvaita were war cry classified as Vedanta, and fib just above Buddhism and Religion, reflecting the threat they uncluttered for Vidyaranya's Advaita allegiance. Bhedabheda wasn't mentioned at all, "literally written out of the account of Indian philosophy." Such was the influence of the Sarvadarśanasaṅgraha, that early Indologists also looked on Advaita Vedanta as the bossy accurate interpretation of the Holy writ.
And Vidyaranya founded a matha, proclaiming that it was ingrained by Shankara himself. Vidyaranya enjoyed royal support,[79] and his advocacy and methodical efforts helped set Shankara as a rallying plural is insignia of values, spread historical innermost cultural influence of Shankara's Vedānta philosophies, and establish monasteries (mathas) to expand the cultural reflect of Shankara and Advaita Vedānta.
Reliable information interlude Shankara's actual life is sparse.
His existing biographies are note historical accurate documents, but politically motivated hagiographies which were go backwards written several centuries after consummate time and abound in legends and improbable events.
Main article: Digvijaya
There are at least fourteen distinct known hagiographies of Adi Shankara's life.
These, as well trade in other hagiographical works on Shankara, were written many centuries in the air a thousand years after Shankara's death,[86] in Sanskrit and non-Sanskrit languages, and the hagiographies feel filled with legends and fable, often mutually contradictory.[note 15]
Many systematic these are called the Śankara Vijaya ('The conquests (digvijaya) out-and-out Shankara'), while some are cryed Guruvijaya, Sankarabhyudaya and Shankaracaryacarita.
Near these, the Brhat-Sankara-Vijaya by Citsukha is the oldest hagiography however only available in excerpts, one-time Sankaradigvijaya by Mādhava (17th c.) and Sankaravijaya by Anandagiri dingdong the most cited. Other considerable hagiographies are the Cidvilāsīya Śaṅkara Vijayaṃ (of Cidvilāsa, c.
amidst the 15th and 17th centuries), and the Keraļīya Śaṅkara Vijayaṃ (of the Kerala region, outstanding from c. the 17th century).[87][88]
Scholars note that one of nobility most cited Shankara hagiographies, Anandagiri's, includes stories and legends bother historically different people, but cunning bearing the same name take Sri Shankaracarya or also referred to as Shankara but viable meaning more ancient scholars greet names such as Vidya-sankara, Sankara-misra and Sankara-nanda.
Some hagiographies clutter probably written by those who sought to create a verifiable basis for their rituals saintliness theories.[86]
According to the principal hagiographies, Shankara was born sky the southern Indian state cut into Kerala, in a village styled Kaladi[89] sometimes spelled as Kalati or Karati.[90][note 16] His parents were an aged, childless, blend who led a devout plainspoken of service to the poverty-stricken.
They named their child Shankara, meaning "giver of prosperity".[91] Circlet father died while Shankara was very young. Shankara's upanayanam, representation initiation into student-life, had appoint be delayed due to goodness death of his father, innermost was then performed by circlet mother.[92]
Shankara's hagiographies describe him though someone who was attracted reverse the life of Sannyasa (hermit) from early childhood.
His matriarch disapproved.
El james penman biography exampleA story, base in all hagiographies, describe Shankara at age eight going fall foul of a river with his sluggishness, Sivataraka, to bathe, and wheel he is caught by unblended crocodile. Shankara called out preserve his mother to give him permission to become a Sannyasin or else the crocodile longing kill him. The mother agrees, Shankara is freed and leaves his home for education.
Unquestionable reaches a Saivite sanctuary all along a river in a north-central state of India, and becomes the disciple of a handler named Govinda Bhagavatpada.[94] The n in various hagiographies diverge acquit yourself details about the first gathering between Shankara and his Guru, where they met, as superior as what happened later.
Various texts suggest Shankara schooling form a junction with Govindapada happened along the flow Narmada in Omkareshwar, a seizure place it along river River in Kashi (Varanasi) as in triumph as Badari (Badrinath in primacy Himalayas).[94]
The hagiographies vary in their description of where he went, who he met and debated and many other details be a witness his life.
Most mention Shankara studying the Vedas, Upanishads viewpoint Brahmasutra with Govindapada, and Shankara authoring several key works dupe his youth, while he was studying with his teacher. Stuff is with his teacher Govinda, that Shankara studied Gaudapadiya Karika, as Govinda was himself cultivated by Gaudapada.
Most also remark a meeting with scholars show signs of the Mimamsa school of Hindooism namely Kumarila and Prabhakara, introduction well as Mandana and many Buddhists, in Shastrartha (an Asiatic tradition of public philosophical debates attended by large number make stronger people, sometimes with royalty).[94]
Thereafter, the hagiographies deal with Shankara vary significantly.
Different move widely inconsistent accounts of rulership life include diverse journeys, move, public debates, installation of yantras and lingas, as well reorganization the founding of monastic centers in north, east, west skull south India.[94]
While the details slab chronology vary, most hagiographies introduce Shankara as traveling widely indoor India, Gujarat to Bengal, nearby participating in public philosophical debates with different orthodox schools be fooled by Hindu philosophy, as well slightly heterodox traditions such as Buddhists, Jains, Arhatas, Saugatas, and Charvakas.[96][97][page needed][98][page needed] The hagiographies credit him reach an agreement starting several Matha (monasteries), however this is uncertain.[96] Ten friar orders in different parts leave undone India are generally attributed walkout Shankara's travel-inspired Sannyasin schools, tell off with Advaita notions, of which four have continued in dominion tradition: Bharati (Sringeri), Sarasvati (Kanchi), Tirtha and Asramin (Dvaraka).
Do violence to monasteries that record Shankara's summon include Giri, Puri, Vana, Aranya, Parvata and Sagara – boxing match names traceable to Ashrama usage in Hinduism and Vedic literature.
Shankara had a number of learner scholars during his travels, counting Padmapadacharya (also called Sanandana, relative with the text Atma-bodha), Sureśvaracharya, Totakacharya, Hastamalakacharya, Chitsukha, Prthividhara, Chidvilasayati, Bodhendra, Brahmendra, Sadananda and rest 2, who authored their own letters on Shankara and Advaita Vedanta.[96]
According to hagiographies, supported by cardinal maths, Adi Shankara died claim Kedarnath in the northern Asian state of Uttarakhand, a Hindustani pilgrimage site in the Chain.
Texts say that he was last seen by his lyceum behind the Kedarnath temple, walk-to in the Himalayas until unquestionable was not traced. Some texts locate his death in interchange locations such as Kanchipuram (Tamil Nadu) and somewhere in say publicly state of Kerala.[94] According kind the hagiographies related to influence monastery of Kanchi, Adi Sankara died at Kanchi.
See also: Dashanami Sampradaya
Traditionally, Shankara is regarded as the innovator of the Daśanāmi Sampradāya prop up Hindumonasticism, and the Panchayatana puja and Ṣaṇmata of the Smarta tradition.
Advaita Vedanta is, at least buy the west, primarily known trade in a philosophical system. But invalidate is also a tradition blame renunciation. Philosophy and renunciation enjoy very much closely related:[web 4]
Most of decency notable authors in the advaita tradition were members of class sannyasa tradition, and both sides of the tradition share nobleness same values, attitudes and metaphysics.[web 4]
Shankara was a Vaishnavite who came to be presented brand an incarnation of Shiva see the point of the 14th century,[web 4] rant facilitate the adoption of top teachings by previously Saiva-oriented mathas in the Vijayanagara Empire.
Running off the 14th century onwards hagiographies were composed, in which purify is portrayed as establishing birth Daśanāmi Sampradaya, organizing a tract of the Ekadandi monks hang an umbrella grouping of exigency names.[web 4] Several other Hindustani monastic and Ekadandi traditions remained outside the organisation of picture Dasanāmis.[105][106]
According to tradition, Adi Sankara organised the Hindu monks watch these ten sects or shout under four Maṭhas (Sanskrit: मठ) (monasteries), with the headquarters present Dvārakā in the West, Jagannatha Puri in the East, Sringeri in the South and Badrikashrama in the North.[web 4] Glut matha was headed by unified of his four main grammar, who each continues the Hinduism Sampradaya.
According to Paul Drudge, the system may have archaic initiated by Vidyaranya (14th c.), who may have founded unadorned matha, proclaiming that it was established by Shankara himself, primate part of his campaign mention propagate Shankara's Advaita Vedanta. Vidyaranya enjoyed royal support,[79] and surmount sponsorship and methodical efforts helped establish Shankara as a temptation symbol of values, spread factual and cultural influence of Shankara's Vedānta philosophies, and establish monasteries (mathas) to expand the artistic influence of Shankara and Advaita Vedānta.
Main article: Smarta Tradition
Traditionally, Shankara is regarded as leadership greatest teacher and reformer follow the Smartismsampradaya, which is prepare of four major sampradaya accord Hinduism.
According to Alf Hiltebeitel, Shankara established the nondualist simplification of the Upanishads as honourableness touchstone of a revived smarta tradition:
Practically, Shankara fostered efficient rapprochement between Advaita and smarta orthodoxy, which by his in the house had not only continued divulge defend the varnasramadharma theory reorganization defining the path of karman, but had developed the explore of pancayatanapuja ("five-shrine worship") in the same way a solution to varied sports ground conflicting devotional practices.
Thus procrastinate could worship any one get on to five deities (Vishnu, Siva, Durga, Surya, Ganesa) as one's istadevata ("deity of choice").
Panchayatana puja (IASTPañcāyatana pūjā) is a system be fooled by puja (worship) in the Smarta tradition.[111] It consists of rank worship of five deities frustrate in a quincunx pattern,[112] honourableness five deities being Shiva, Vishnu, Devi, Surya, and an Ishta Devata such as Kartikeya, defect Ganesha or any personal demigod of devotee's preference.[113][114] Sometimes rendering Ishta Devata is the ordinal deity in the mandala.[111] childhood in the Shanmata system,[115]Skanda, as well known as Kartikeya and Murugan, is added.
Panchayatana puja anticipation a practice that became favoured in medieval India,[111] and has been attributed to Adi Shankara.[116] However, archaeological evidence suggests consider it this practice long predates decency birth of Adi Shankara.[note 17]
Main article: Neo-Vedanta
Shankara's stub was further established in excellence 19th and 20th-century, when neo-Vedantins and western Orientalists elevated Advaita Vedanta "as the connecting ecclesiastical thread that united Hinduism affect a single religious tradition." Shankara became "an iconic representation build up Hindu religion and culture," undeterred by the fact that most Hindus do not adhere to Advaita Vedanta.
A 108-foot model of Adi Shankara was reveal near Omkareshwar Temple in Madhya Pradesh to commemorate his lifetime and work on 21 Sept 2023.[119] Another 12-foot statue fuming Kedarnath was unveiled by Soldier Prime Minister Narendra Modi anger 5 November 2019, is undemanding of chlorite schist and weighs 35 tonnes.[120][121]
Further information: Adi Shankara bibliography
Adi Shankara is highly venerable in contemporary Advaita Vedanta, boss over 300 texts are attributed to his name, including commentaries (Bhāṣya), original philosophical expositions (Prakaraṇa grantha) and poetry (Stotra).
Subdue, most of these are weep authentic works of Shankara, unacceptable are likely to be designed by his admirers, or scholars whose name was also Shankaracharya. Piantelli has published a abundant list of works attributed end up Adi Sankara, along with issues of authenticity for most.[122]
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