Sri Sankaracharya

For all living creatures, a human birth is indeed rare; much more difficult it is to attain full
manhood; rarer than this is a Spiritual attitude in life.

(Taken from Viveka-Chudamani by Sri Sankaracharya)

Sri Sankaracharya, also called Adi Shankara (8th century approx.) was a philosopher and
Spiritual Master. Shankara advocated philosophy of Advaita, or non-dualism, regarding man and
God as aspects of the same unified consciousness. His philosophy sought to avoid dogma and
ritualism and restore the greatness and importance of the Vedas, placing particular emphasis on
the Upanishads. Shankara's teachings contributed to a renaissance in Hinduism at a time when
Buddhism and Jainism were gaining popularity. He is considered the founder of the Dasanami
sannyasin, an order of Hindu renunciants.

Biography of Sri Sankaracharya: Part 1

Childhood
Sri Sankaracharya (also called as Adi Sankara or Shankara) was born in a small village, Kaladi,
in Kerala. His father Shivaguru was a learned Brahmin. His mother Aryaamba was a remarkable
woman. Shivaguru and Aryaamba were well educated and devoted to God. But they did not have
any children. At the suggestion of a close friend they went to Trichur and offered prayers to Lord
Shiva at the Vrishaachaleshwara temple. Lord Shiva appeared as an old man in a dream to
Shivaguru and asked him if he wanted a hundred sons with long lives and dull wits or a single son
who would become a great sage but condemned to a short life. Shivaguru choose the latter. At
the same time Lord Shiva also appears in a dream to Aryaamba and tells her that her son would
be a great sage. Shortly after this a son was born to them and they named him Shankara. It is
believed that Shankara was born in the year 805 AD.

Shivaguru died when Shankara was only five years old. Therefore Shankara was raised under
the loving care of his mother. From his childhood Shankara turned out to be a prodigy in every
respect. It is said that when he was only one year old he learnt Sanskrit. When he was five years
old he was sent to nearby Gurukula (school). By the time he was twelve years old he had
mastered all the branches of knowledge. At the age of sixteen he started writing commentaries on
the Vedanta, which are considered his major works. According to the rules of the Gurukula pupils
should get their food by begging. Accordingly Shankara went round to beg. When he stopped at a
house to beg, the lady of the house was so poor that she did not have any thing to offer him
except a few gooseberries. Seeing her poor and miserable condition Shankara prayed to the
Goddess of wealth to bless the family. It is said that soon the family became rich and prosperous.

After completing his education at the Gurukula, Sankara returned home. Here he was serving his
mother who was ill and also teaching some pupils. Sankara wanted to take up sanyasa. His
mother was unwilling to let her only son take up sanyasa. Since the purpose of Shankara's life
was much greater than taking care of his mother, a miracle happened. When Shankara was
taking bath in the Purna river, a crocodile caught hold of his leg and started to drag him into the
river. Shankara felt that his life would soon come to an end. He loudly called out to his mother.
Aryaamba rushed to the scene. Since every Hindu is supposed to enter the phase of Sanyasa
before his or her death, Shankara requested the permission of his mother to become a
Sannyasin. Seeing her son's plight, Aryaamba gave her consent. The crocodile let go of his leg
and swam away.

Biography of Sri Sankaracharya: Part 2

Discipleship
Shankara now became a wondering monk. However, he promised his mother that he would
return to perform her funeral rites.

Shankara was in search of a Guru. He wanted to have a Guru who had realized Brahman. In
search of his Guru Shankara proceeded north and reached the banks of Narmada after passing
through many hermitages. There he found the hermitage of Govinda Bhagavatpada. Seeing
Govinda deeply absorbed in meditation, Shankara's heart was filled with joy. He folded his hands
respectfully, approached the old man, prostrated before him and said, "I bow down before my
Guru, Govinda." When Govinda Guru opened his and saw the boy-ascetic with a bright and
radiant face, he was very happy. Govinda asked Shankara who he was. Shankara replied: "O
revered Guru! I am neither fire nor air nor earth nor water , none of these, but the Immortal Atma
that is hidden in all names and forms." Having initiated him and invested him with the robe of a
Sannyasin, Govinda taught him the philosophy of Advaita. It was with the help of Guru Govinda
that Shankara experienced Brahman or the experience of the infinite. Now the entire world
appeared to be full of Brahman to him.

In the light of the truth he had realized, Shankara's Guru asked him to write commentaries on the
three basic texts, namely the Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita and Brahmasutras. Thus the rest of
Sankara's life was devoted to the propagation of Vedanta. After visiting many pilgrim centers,
Shankara came to Kashi. Now he was fifteen years of age. It was at Kashi that he started to
spread the Advaita philosophy, and started writing the commentaries on the Brahma sutras, the
Upanishads, and Bhagavad Gita. During his stay at Kashi, he wrote the famous Bhaja Govindam.

Biography of Sri Sankaracharya: Part 3

Travelling over India
over IndiaHe also started on a tour of India to establish his philosophy. Soon he established
himself as the authority on Vedanta philosophy. His vast knowledge and deep spiritual insights
won him many disciples and debates. He met the leaders of different schools of thought. He went
to all the celebrated seats of learning. He challenged the learned men to discussion, argued with
them and defeated them. The most famous debate that Shankara won was the one he had with
Mandana Misra, who was the chief Pundit of the court of Mahishmati. Mandana Misra was an
authority on Karma Kanda (the ritualistic portion of the Vedas). Since Shankara taught Jnana
Kanda (the path of knowledge), he agreed to have a debate with Mandana Misra. At first
Mandana Mishra was skeptical about having a philosophic debate with a sannyasi. Once the
debate started he began loosing on every point of argument that was raised and finally he had to
accept defeat.

Then his wife Bharati who was also a great scholar challenged Shankara into a debate. When
she wanted to debate on the subject of marital life and obligations, Shankara being a celibate
since childhood had no understanding of marital relations, takes a three-month break from the
debate to learn about this subject. The legend says that he infused his spirit into the body of a
dying king and spent the next three months learning about this subject. After the three months he
returns and wins the debate. Mandana and his wife become his disciples.

During this time he received the message of his mother's illness. After she died he performed her
last rites despite opposition from the ritualistic kinsmen who felt that the last rites cannot be
performed by a sanyasi. Shortly after this his Guru also passed away. Shankara paid his last
respects to Govinda and established a temple in his honour. Shankara then proceeded to
Prayaag, where he met Kumararila and Prabhaakara. Kumararila was very much responsible for
the decline of Buddhism. When Prabhaakara and his son, Prthiviidhara were defeated in a
debate, both of them became Shankara's disciples. After his mother's death, Shankara traveled
twice throughout India enjoying the patronage and protection of kings and scholars. Even
members of the royal families gave up their wealth and position to become his disciple.

Shankara continued to travel around the land refuting all objectionable practices. Shankara
founded the dasanami order of sanyasis. It is divided into ten groups namely Aranya, Ashrama,
Bharati, Giri, Parvata, Puri, Sarasvati, Sagara, Tirtha and Vana.

He established Maths in four places:

Vimala Pitha at Puri with which Aranyas and Vanas are associated with the mantra 'prajnanam
brahman'.
Kalika Pitha in Dvaraka, associated with Tirthas and Ashramas, with the mantra 'tat tvam asi.'
Sarada Pitha in Sringeri, associated with Bharatis, Puris and Sarasvatis with the mantra 'aham
brahmaasmi.'
Jyoti Math in Badrinath associated with Giri, Parvata and Sagara and the mantra 'ayam atman
brahman.'

He also installed the Sri Chakaras in many temples such as the Kamakshi temple of Kanchi, Nara
Narayana temple of Badri and Guhyesvari temple in Nepal. He placed Sri Sureswaracharya at
the head of the Math in Sringeri, Sri Padmapada in Dvaaraka, Sri Totaka in Badri and
Hastamalaka in Purii.

Shankara finally proceeded to Kedarnath higher up in the Himalayas. He became one with the
Linga in his thirty-second year. This happened around 820 A.D.

AUM