Adi Shankaracharya

• 06 Nov 2021

Why in News

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

Key Points

• About: 
  
  • Known as Adi Shankara, born 11^th 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 propagation of Sanathana Dharma.
• Advaita Vedanta:
  
  • It articulates a philosophical position of radical nondualism, a revisionary worldview which it 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 atman is pure non-intentional consciousness.
    
    • It is one without a second, nondual, infinite existence, and numerically identical with brahman.

Source: IE