Adi Shankaracharya

WHY IN THE NEWS?

Recently, the Prime Minister has unveiled a 12-foot statue of Adi Shankaracharya at Kedarnath (Uttarakhand).

About: 

• Known as Adi Shankara, born 11th May 788 AD, at Kaladi near Kochi, Kerala.
  • Took Samadhi at the age of 33, at Kedar tirth.
• He was a devotee of Shiva.
• Propounded the Doctrine of Advaita (Monism) and wrote many commentaries on the Vedic canon (Upanishads, Brahma Sutras and Bhagavad Gita) in Sanskrit.
• He was opposed to Buddhist philosophers.

Major Work:

• Brahmasutrabhasya (Bhashya or commentary on the Brahma Sutra).
• Bhajagovinda Stotra.
• Nirvana Shatakam.
• Prakaran Granths.

Other Contributions:

• Was responsible for reviving Hinduism in India to a great extent when Buddhism was gaining popularity.
• Established four Mathas in the four corners of India at Shingeri, Puri, Dwaraka and Badrinath– for the propagation of Sanathana Dharma.

Advaita Vedanta:

• It articulates a philosophical position of radical nondualism, a revisionary worldview that derives from the ancient Upanishadic texts.
• According to Advaita Vedantins, the Upanishads reveal a fundamental principle of nonduality termed ‘brahman’, which is the reality of all things.
• Advaitins understand brahman as transcending individuality and empirical plurality. They seek to establish that the essential core of one’s self (atman) is brahman.
• The fundamental thrust of Advaita Vedanta is that the at man is pure non-intentional consciousness.
  • It is one without a second, nondual, infinite existence, and numerically identical with brahman.