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Home / IAS Preparation / Adi Shankaracharya

Adi Shankaracharya: Light of Vedanta in the Dark Age!

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Adi Shankaracharya is known to be one of the greatest philosophers of Hinduism. He revived the Vedic practices and traditions during a time of cultural decline. Not much is known about his early life with certainty. 

However, based on folk tales and research, here are some highlights of Adi Shankaracharya's early life for the UPSC IAS exam. This article will also be helpful for UPSC History Optional Aspirants.

Early Life

Adi Shankaracharya was likely born in the 8th century AD in Kaladi village of Kerala. His birth name was Shankara or Shiva. 

  • His exact birth date is uncertain. His parents were Shivaguru and Aryamba. His mother, Aryamba, had meditated and prayed for a son like him, who could enlighten the world.
  • When he was just a young boy, he showed signs of being exceptionally intelligent and wise beyond his years. He had a sharp memory and could recollect information easily. As a child, he asked many questions related to spirituality and the purpose of life. He completed his primary education in the village school.
  • His father, Shivaguru, passed away when adi shankaracharya was very young. His mother, Aryamba, then decided to raise him alone and provide him with spiritual knowledge. Aryamba instilled the values of truth, non-violence, and devotion in Adi Shankaracharya from a very young age.
  • At the age of 8, he left his home to become a Sanyasi or monk. His mother initially refused to let him go but later agreed. He convinced his mother that he had an important purpose and mission in the world. His mother gave him her blessings, and he set off on a spiritual journey.
  • After leaving home, he traveled to various holy places. He spent his time studying the Vedas and Upanishads from gurus. Adi Shankaracharya deeply analyzed the philosophies of the Vedas and Upanishads. He also studied Buddhist and Jain philosophies to identify their weaknesses.
  • At the age of 16, Adi Shankaracharya met his guru Govindapada who taught him Advaita Vedanta. He realized that Advaita Vedanta was the truest philosophy explaining the eternal truth. His guru recognized Adi Shankaracharya's excellence and made him a sanyasi at a young age.
  • After completing his studies, he traveled extensively across India. His goal was to revive the Vedic philosophies. He debated with scholars of other religions and sects. His sharp intellect and mastery of scriptures helped him win debates against renowned scholars.
  • By the time he was in his mid-20s, he had established four mathas or monasteries across India. He appointed his key disciples as heads of these matches. Maths helped systematically transmit the knowledge of Advaita Vedanta.
  • Adi Shankaracharya wrote many important texts and commentaries on the Upanishads and Vedas. His simple yet profound interpretations spread the knowledge of Vedanta to the masses. He passed away at a young age but succeeded in his mission of reviving Hinduism.

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Shankaracharya Philosophy

The philosophy of adi shankaracharya is based on the teachings of the Upanishads and the concept of Advaita or non-dualism. 

  • Adi Shankaracharya developed a system of philosophy called Advaita Vedanta which revolves around the idea of the oneness of Atman and Brahman. According to him, Atman, or the individual soul, is identical to the supreme soul Brahman. Attaining self-realization and knowledge of this non-dual truth is the ultimate goal of human life.
  • Adi Shankaracharya believed that the individual soul and the supreme soul are like waves and the ocean. The waves appear to be different from the ocean but are made up of the same water substance. Similarly, Atman and Brahman may appear different but are, in essence, the same. They are two names for the same eternal reality. Through ignorance, the Atman sees itself as distinct from Brahman. But his philosophy of Advaita Vedanta reveals the truth beyond duality.
  • Adi Shankaracharya presented three key arguments to prove the Advaita view. First, the argument from the oneness of consciousness. He said all beings experience the consciousness that is essentially one and uniform. This universal consciousness is Brahman.
  • Second, the world is full of instances of transformation where the ultimate reality does not change. For example, ice transforms into water, and then vapor, but the substance of hydrogen and oxygen remains the same. In a similar way, the individual soul appears different but is ultimately the supreme Brahman.
  • Third, he used the argument from the impossibility of infinite regress. He said the individual soul could not be ultimately different from Brahman; otherwise, an infinite number of souls would exist. This is impossible. There must be a first principle or the ultimate reality, which is Brahman.
  • According to him knowledge alone can lead to the realization that Atman and Brahman are one and the same. Self-knowledge destroys ignorance and attachment, which clouds this realization. Direct experience further strengthens this knowledge.
  • Adi Shankaracharya emphasized that ritualistic actions are secondary and do not lead to liberation. The goal of human life is attaining self-knowledge through discrimination of the real from the unreal. After self-realization, a person views the world and other souls with detachment and equal vision. They see the supreme self in all beings.
  • His non-dual philosophy presents a monistic view of the world. It unifies all contradictions by revealing the oneness underlying apparent dualities of self and other, soul and body, mind and matter. It provides a logical basis for religious doctrines like the concept of Ishwara or the personal God.

Shankaracharya Bhakti Movement 

The Bhakti movement refers to the rise of devotional worship and ideology in Hinduism between the 7th century and 15th centuries. 

  • During this time, many saint poets and social reformers promoted the path of devotion and love of God as the means to attain salvation. While he is seen as a proponent of the philosophy of Advaita Vedanta, he also contributed to the growth of bhakti in certain ways.
  • He lived during the early stages of the Bhakti movement. While his core teachings focused on self-knowledge and non-dualism, he also advocated the path of devotion or bhakti marga for spiritual upliftment. In his writings, he emphasized that devotion to the supreme Brahman is an effective means to realize the truth beyond duality.
  • He composed spiritual poems and stotras in praise of deities like Shiva, Vishnu, Ganesha, and Devi. His composition of the Lalita Sahasranama stotra in praise of the goddess Lalita Tripurasundari spread the influence of the divine mother tradition. By eulogizing deities, he promoted the practice of deity worship among the masses.
  • He established mathas or monasteries across India, which became centers of religious and spiritual teachings. The disciple lineages created by him helped preserve and propagate the philosophy of devotion and divine love for centuries. The maths institutionalized bhakti marga alongside the jnana marga of knowledge.
  • While emphasizing philosophical knowledge, he did not discourage rituals and devotional practices. He recognized that the path of devotion appeals to different spiritual temperaments. In his teachings, he sought to integrate jnana and bhakti as complementary means to attain the ultimate truth.
  • Adi Shankaracharya stressed that rituals and devotional worship help create a conducive spiritual environment. They act as a preparatory measure to receive higher knowledge. While rituals do not lead to moksha directly, they aid in cultivating dispassion which is needed for wisdom to arise.
  • Adi Shankaracharya encouraged the practice of nama japa, or chanting the Names of God, as a form of meditation. Chanting the Name harmonizes the mind and fills it with divine love and grace. The practice keeps the seeker absorbed in the supreme self and prepares him for self-knowledge, according to him.
  • While he laid the foundation for the philosophy of Advaita Vedanta, he also recognized the value of deity worship and chanting the divine Names. He integrated the paths of knowledge and devotion within his teachings. 
  • The institutions and traditions established by his help nurtured the growth of bhakti among spiritual seekers for centuries after him. His philosophy and organization formed an important basis for the Bhakti movement to flourish in later times.

Adi Shankaracharya Mathas

Let us have a look at the four Mathas of Adi Shankaracharya.

Matha

Location

Sringeri Matha

Karnataka, India

Dwaraka Pitha

Gujarat, India

Jyotir Math

Uttarakhand, India

Govardhan Pitha

Puri, Odisha

Conclusion

While his primary role was that of a philosopher and communicator of Upanishadic wisdom, he also contributed to the growth of devotional spirituality in India through his compositions, teachings, and institutions. He sought to present an integrated vision of spirituality, including knowledge, rituals, and devotion.

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Adi Shankaracharya FAQs

He likely lived in the 8th century AD in India during the early Medieval age. Some historians place him between 788-820 CE.

His philosophy was Advaita Vedanta, or non-dualism. He emphasized that Atman (soul) and Brahman (God) are ultimately the same and one without a second.

He established 4 mathas or monastic institutions located at Sringeri, Dwaraka, Jyotir, and Govardhana. These mathas spread his teachings.

He revived the Vedantic traditions, integrated jnana, and bhakti paths, established mathas, and wrote commentaries on major Upanishads.

The ultimate goal was to spread the wisdom of Vedanta through his teachings and help seekers attain self-realization and moksha.
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