5 FACTS YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT ADI SHANKARACHARYA

5 FACTS YOU DID NOT KNOW ABOUT ADI SHANKARACHARYA

 WHO WAS ADI SHANKARACHARYA?

Adi Shankaracharya was an Indian Vedic scholar as well as a teacher. He is famous for expounding the Advaita Vedanta philosophy. He is also famous for his countless literary works, including stotras (such as Sri Ganesh Pancharatnam, Sri Ram Bhujangam, Devi Bhujangam, Guruvashtakam, Nirvana Shatakam, etc.) Bhashya Granthas (such as Brahma Sutras, Katha Upanishad, Taittriya Upanishad, etc.) and Prakarana Granthas (such as Vakya Vritti, Atma Bodha, etc.).

He is believed to have been born in Kalady, present-day Kochi in Kerala and died in Kedarnath, present-day Uttarakhand. He was the disciple of Govinda Bhagavatpada. He is often called as Jagadguru Shankaracharya.

Here are 5 things you didn't know about the great Indian scholar.

1. ADI SHANKARA'S WORKS

Adi Shankaracharya is believed to have authored over 300 literary works, including commentaries (Bhashya), philosophical expositions (Prakarana Grantha) and poetry (Stotra).

Here is a famous verse form his stotra 'Bhaja Govindam'

भज गोविन्दं भज गोविन्दं, गोविन्दं भज मढूमते| 

 संप्राप्तेसंनिहितेकालेिहि िहि रक्षनत डुक्ंुकरणे||

Bhajagovindaṁ bhajagovindaṁ govindaṁ bhajamūḍhamate |

 samprāpte sannihite kāle nahi nahi rakśati ḍukṛñkaraṇe ||

Meaning-Seek Govind, Seek Govind, Seek Govind, O Fool! When the appointed time (death) comes grammar-rules surely will not save you.

You can also refer the following link to get a full list of Adi Shankaracharya's works.

https://vivekavani.com/works-adi-shankaracharya/

2. ADI SHANKARA'S CHILDHOOD

According to sources, Adi Shankaracharya was born in a village named Kaladi to Nambudiri Brahmin parents. His father died when Shankaracharya was just a child. He was attracted to the life of a hermit from a young age but his mother disaproved. One story tells us that Shankara, as he was known in his childhood, went to a river with his mother where he was caught by a crocodile. He called out to his mother to give him permission to become a hermit or the crocodile would kill him. His mother agreed.

Shankara became a disciple of a teacher named Govinda Bhagavatpada.

3. ADI SHANKARA'S DEBATES AND DISCIPLES

Several sources mention Adi Shankara traveling within India and participating in public philosophical debates with several schools of Hindu philosophy, as well as Buddhists, Jains, Charvakas, etc.

It is also said that he started several monastries (matha), but this is uncertain. Several monastries were established on the basis of his Advaita Vedanta philosophy.

Shabkaracharya's disciples include Padmapadacharya, Totakacharya, Chitsukha, Bodhendra and others, who authored their own literature on Advaita Vedanta.

4. DEATH

Adi Shankaracharya is believed to have died at the age of 32, at Kedarnath, Uttarakhand. Texts say that he was last seen walking in Himalayas until he was not traced.

Some also believe that he died in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu or somewhere in Kerala.

5. ADI SHANKARA'S ADVAITA VEDANT PHILOSOPHY

Adi Shankaracharya is famous for expounding the Advaita Vedanta philosophy, which focuses on Brahman, atman (soul), vidya ( knowledge), maya (illusion), karma (actions) and moksha (liberation from the cycle of birth and death ). Adi Shankaracharya believed that only knowledge can save people from suffering.