ādi śaṅkarācārya
Ādi Śaṅkarācārya was an intrepid scholar, an illustrious teacher, a visionary administrator and a superb poet.
Sharing his biography in short, few selected hymns and recommended readings for a detailed study.
May his life, teachings and hymns, brighten up this day and take us from untruth to Truth, to Oneness!
श्रुति स्मृति पुराणानाम् आलयं करुणालयम्
नमामि भगवत्पाद शङ्करं लोकशङ्करम्
Read. Reflect. Share. Meditate. Be Free.
1. Birth at Kalady, Kerala
- A child as a blessing of Lord Śiva to Mother Āryāmbā and father Śivaguru, aptly named, Śaṅkara (bestower of Auspiciousness)
- A prodigy for whom father resolved to perform Upanayaṇam (initiation into education) early, but fate had it, and father passed away when Śaṅkara was ~3
- Mother Āryāmbā sent Śaṅkara to Gurukul when he was ~5
- Brilliant Śaṅkara, completed education in mere 3years
- The only child of Mother, renounced home when ~8 in search of his Guru
2. Initiation at Oṁkāranātha, Narmadā
- met Guru Govindapāda
- In ~3years, Śankara was fully versed in Vedānta
- Guru Govindapāda instructed Śankara to go to Kāśī, and Guru left his physical body
3. Becoming of ācārya at Kāśī (Varanasi)
- young ascetic Śaṅkara (12y) was propounding doctrine of Advaita Vedānta, stirring scholars and attracting disciples
- Śaṅkara became ācārya — Śaṅkarācārya!
- an encounter with Lord Śiva (in the form of Candāla) who brought knowledge to realisation of Oneness and instructed Śankara to write commentaries on scriptures and eradicate all superstitious ideologies
- Ācārya along with few disciples left for Badarikāśrama in Himalayas
4. Commentaries at Badarikāśrama
- There king received Śaṅkarācārya at Jyotirdhāma and facilitated writing Bhāṣya (commentaries)
- Ācārya stayed here for ~4years and completed writing commentaries on Upaniṣads, Brahma-sūtra, BhagavadGītā
5. Digvijayam, Kashmir and Kedarnath
- From here, Śaṅkarācārya traversed Bhāratavarṣa (India) many times
- Established 4 maṭhā-s (seats of wisdom) in four directions ensuring spiritual welfare and unity of country
- Debated, consecrated innumerous temples, reformed methods of worship and infused divine way of life
- Śaṅkarācārya ascended seat of highest wisdom after debating with many scholars at Śāradā Pītha, Kashmir
- Śaṅkarācārya entered Mahāsamādhī (shedding mortal in divine union with the Absolute) at Kedarnath at the age of ~32years
- Śaṅkarācārya is rightly considered an avatāra of Śiva (Dakṣiṇāmūrti) who in his compassion became a guiding light leaving his silence and gave direction with words.
6. Selected Hymns by Śaṅkarācārya
- Acyutāṣṭakam, composed before leaving home while re-consecrating Lord Kṛṣṇa away from river for his mother: Acyutāṣṭakam
- Daśa Ślokī, uttered when Guru Govindapāda asked Śaṅkara, who are you? Daśa Ślokī
- Bhaja Govindam, uttered in compassion when Śaṅkarācārya saw an old man nearing death reciting grammar rules
- Śiva pancākṣara Stotra: An expansion of oṃ namaḥ śivāya. I had its reverberating experience at Kashi Vishwanath temple of Uttarkashi.
- Nirvāṇa Ṣaṭkam: True definition of Self (ātman)