Shri Adi Shankaracharya: Foremost Spiritual Guru of India

For the sake of ease and convenience, I am not including the deities worshipped in India, the ancient seers of the Vedic hymns and the authors of the Purana-Itihasas. When we look at every other spiritual guru in India, in all of history, there has only been one man who defied every idea of limits. He single handedly revived a culture and strengthened it to the core in the whole Indian Subcontinent. He ensured that Sanatana Dharma will stay as eternal as the name states. It is his blessings that we are still enjoying Hinduism as it is today.

His knowledge was sky high, his intelligence was Supreme, his influence was strong, his will was unbendable. An outsider would scarcely believe that such a man could have lived in our land. He accomplished in mere 32 years what anyone else couldn't have done in a full life. He is the most influential spiritual master, the greatest of philosophers, the Supreme author and the most important reformer of Sanatana Dharma - Sripada Adi Shankaracharya.

Popularly known as Shankara Bhagavatpaada Acharya, he was born 1231 years ago and lived only till 32 years of age but went on to become one of the most revered Gurus of India. Shankaracharya was an early 8th century Indian philosopher and theologian who consolidated the doctrine of Advaita Vedanta. He is credited with unifying and establishing the main currents of thought in Hinduism. The Acharya is worshipped and remembered as a ????????? (Jagadguru) which means “Guru to the world”. Shankaracharya is named in all the major lineages of Gurus like the ones originating from Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu.

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Starting from Lord Shiva, through Shankaracharya and till my own Guru, I pay obeisance to the lineage of all my Gurus.

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The Guru Parampara or lineage starting from Lord Narayana and through Lord Brahma, Maharishi Vasishtha, his descendants, Veda Vyasa, Shuka, Adi Shankaracharya and his students, I pay obeisance to all of the Gurus before me. The Acharya was born in a poor family and his father passed away when Shankara was but a boy. As a child, Shankara proved himself proficient in learning Sanskrit and becoming an expert of Vedas, Puranas, Shastras and other scriptures. He was not content with it and wished to become a Sanyasi (hermit).

His mother agreed only after a dramatic event wherein a crocodile got hold of Shankara in the local river. When his mother agreed to let him pursue Sanyasa, the crocodile spared him. It is unclear as to where all Shankara went and whom all he met but it is agreed upon by everyone that this travel was when he met his teacher Govinda Bhagavatpaada. Shankara learned from his Guru, in more detail, the Vedas, Upanishads, Brahma Sutra, and different philosophical ideas like Mimamsa, Dvaita, Advaita Vedanta etc. It was Govinda Bhagavatpaada who introduced Shankara to the doctrine of Advaita Vedanta.

Shankaracharya travelled far and wide in the Indian Subcontinent participating in public philosophical debates with different orthodox schools of Hindu philosophy while also with scholars among Buddhists, Jains, Arhatas, Saugatas, and Charvakas. Shankaracharya gained prominent and knowledgeable disciples like Padmapada, Sureshvara, Totaka, Brahmendra, Sadananda etc. He also set up four monasteries at Puri, Dwaraka, Badrinath and Sringeri to propagate the doctrine of Advaita Vedanta.

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Bhagavatpaada Acharya is considered to have authored over 300 texts including ????? (Bhashya) or Commentaries, ?????? ???????? (Prakarana Granthaya) or original compositions and ??????? (Stotra) or poetries praising different deities. He is known for his commentaries on ??????????? (Brahma Sutra) and the eleven major Upanishads.

?????????? ??????? (Brihadaranyaka Upanishad)

???????????????? (Chandogyopanishad)

???????????? (Aitareyopanishad)

????????? ??????? (Taittiriya Upanishad)

?????????? (Kena Upanishad)

????????? (Isha Upanishad)

????????? (Katha Upanishad)

????????????? (Mundaka Upanishad)

????????????? (Prashna Upanishad)

???????????????? (Mandukya Upanishad)

??????????????????? (Shvetashvatara Upanishad)

Shankaracharya is also attributed to have written commentaries on ??????????? (Sanat Sujatiya), ?????????????? (Vishnu Sahasranamam), ??????? ??????? (Gayatri Mantram), Bhagavad Gita and Yoga Sutras. His Prakarana Granthas, works like ???????????? (Viveka Choodamani) and ???????????? (Upadeshasahasri) are renowned. He has also written:-

???????? (Panchikarana)

???? ??? (Atma Bodha)

?????????????? (Aparoksha anubhuti)

??????? ????? (Nirvana Shatakam)

????? ??????? (Manisha Panchakam)

????? ?????? (Vakya Vritti)

??????????? ???? ?????? (Prashnottara Ratna Malika)

????????? (Vakyasudha)

???????????? (Prabodhasudhakara)

???? ??????? (Matr Panchakam)

Acharya’s major composition of hymns include:-

???? ????????? (Ganesha Pancharatnam)

????????????? (Kalabhairava Ashtakam)

?????????????????????? (Dakshinamurti Stotram)

?? ???????? / ?????????? (Bhaja Govindam) / Mohamudgara)

???????????? (Shivanandalahari)

???????????? (Saundaryalahari)

???? ????????????? ???????? ???????? (Shri Lakshmi Nrisimha Karavalamba Stotram)

????? ??????? (Sharada Bhujangam)

??????? ???????? (Kanakadhara Stotram)

?????? ??????? (Vishnu Bhujangam)

Adi Shankaracharya is considered by many as an incarnation of Lord Shiva himself. He is regarded as the greatest reformer and teacher of both Advaita Vedanta and Smarta Tradition.The Acharya was a scholar par excellence, proficient linguist and an expert in debates. His teachings and works, along with the traditions and practices he started, still are followed by millions of people and have reformed Sanatana Dharma unlike any other modern day philosopher could ever imagine of. That's why Adi Shankaracharya is one of the foremost, if not the greatest Guru of Sanatana Dharma and India. Namo Shri Adi Shankaracharya Ji