Shankaracharya
Encyclopedia
Shankaracharya, is a commonly used title of heads of matha
s in the Advaita Vedanta
tradition. The title derives from Adi Shankara
, a 9th century CE reformer of Hinduism
. He is honored as Jagadguru, a title that was used earlier only to Lord Krishna. The popular view among historians is that there were four mathas established by Ādi Śankara:
Sri Adi Shankara established a fifth math in Kanchipuram
, with jurisdiction over the four mathas and that Sankaracharya ascended a sarvagna-pitha at Kanchipuram and he died in Kanchi.
Like other religions and sects, some rivalry exists between some groups who claim to have been initiated into the Shankaracharya Order.
The existence of such multiple mathas occurs because a Guru/or descendant of the shankaracharya lineage could have had many disciples. This could have resulted in the branching out of the parent institution. It is also possible that a Guru might have died without naming a successor, leading to the formation of rival groups.
Jyotirmath and Govardhan matha have a broken lineage and were later revived.
's commentary on Verse 2, Chapter 4 of the Bhagavad-Gita.
Matha
A matha ) is a term for monastic and similar religious establishments of Hinduism and Jainism. A matha is usually more formal, hierarchical, and rule-based than an ashram.-Advaita Mathas:...
s in the Advaita Vedanta
Advaita Vedanta
Advaita Vedanta is considered to be the most influential and most dominant sub-school of the Vedānta school of Hindu philosophy. Other major sub-schools of Vedānta are Dvaita and ; while the minor ones include Suddhadvaita, Dvaitadvaita and Achintya Bhedabheda...
tradition. The title derives from Adi Shankara
Adi Shankara
Adi Shankara Adi Shankara Adi Shankara (IAST: pronounced , (Sanskrit: , ) (788 CE - 820 CE), also known as ' and ' was an Indian philosopher from Kalady of present day Kerala who consolidated the doctrine of advaita vedānta...
, a 9th century CE reformer of Hinduism
Hinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
. He is honored as Jagadguru, a title that was used earlier only to Lord Krishna. The popular view among historians is that there were four mathas established by Ādi Śankara:
- the Uttarāmnāya matha, or northern matha at JyotirmathJyotirmathJyotirmath , also called Jyotir Math and Joshimath , is a city and a municipal board in Chamoli District in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. It is home to one of the four cardinal pīthas established by Adi Shankara.-Demographics:...
- the Pūrvāmnāya matha or eastern matha, the Govardhana mathaGovardhana mathaThe Govardhana matha is located in the city of Puri in Orissa state , and is associated with the Jagannath temple. It is one of those four cardinal mathas said to have been founded by Adi Shankara, and is the eastern matha. As per the tradition initiated by Adi Shankara, it is in charge of the Rig...
, at PuriPuriPuri is district headquarter, a city situated about south of state capital Bhubaneswar, on the eastern coast of the Bay of Bengal in the Indian state of Orissa. It is also known as Jagannath Puri after the Jagannath Temple . It is a holy city of the Hindus as a part of the Char Dham pilgrimages... - the Dakshināmnāya matha, or the Sringeri Sharada PeethamSringeri Sharada PeethamSringeri Sharada Peetham is the southern Advaita Vedanta matha. It is located in Shringeri. It is claimed that it is the first of the four original mathas established by Adi Shankara.-Location:...
, the southern matha, at ShringeriShringeriSringeri , also written as Sringeri, Śŗngeri and Śŗngagiri is a hill town and taluk headquarters located in Chikmagalur district in the Indian state of Karnataka, is the site of the first maţha established by Adi Shankaracharya, Hindu theologian and exponent of the Advaita Vedanta philosophy, in... - the Paśchimāmnāya matha, or the Dvaraka Pitha, the western matha, at DwarkaDwarkaDwarka also spelled Dvarka, Dwaraka, and Dvaraka, is a city and a municipality of Jamnagar district in the Gujarat state in India. Dwarka , also known as Dwarawati in Sanskrit literature is rated as one of the seven most ancient cities in the country...
.
Sri Adi Shankara established a fifth math in Kanchipuram
Kanchipuram
Kanchipuram, or Kanchi, is a temple city and a municipality in Kanchipuram district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is a temple town and the headquarters of Kanchipuram district...
, with jurisdiction over the four mathas and that Sankaracharya ascended a sarvagna-pitha at Kanchipuram and he died in Kanchi.
Like other religions and sects, some rivalry exists between some groups who claim to have been initiated into the Shankaracharya Order.
The existence of such multiple mathas occurs because a Guru/or descendant of the shankaracharya lineage could have had many disciples. This could have resulted in the branching out of the parent institution. It is also possible that a Guru might have died without naming a successor, leading to the formation of rival groups.
Jyotirmath and Govardhan matha have a broken lineage and were later revived.
Early Life
The original Shankaracharya was born in the year 788 A.D in Kalady, Ernakulam, Kerala, of a poor brahmin couple, Shivagur and Aryamba. He was given the name Shankara, which is one of the popular titles for the great God, Shiva. Tradition holds that Shankara was born due the blessing of Lord Shiva. His father Shivagur was a priest in a Shiva temple. His father died when Sankara was only 7 years old. Shankara exhibited extrordinary intelligence in his boyhood, mastering all the then-current theologies and philosophies by the age of 17.Further reading
The Shankaracharya tradition is described in Maharishi Mahesh YogiMaharishi Mahesh Yogi
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi , born Mahesh Prasad Varma , developed the Transcendental Meditation technique and was the leader and guru of the TM movement, characterised as a new religious movement and also as non-religious...
's commentary on Verse 2, Chapter 4 of the Bhagavad-Gita.
- Adi Shankara, the jagad guru, his life and philosophy; Shantha N. Nair; 1st ed.; ISBN 978-81-8220-306-8; New Delhi, India : Global Vision Pub. House, 2010
- Sri Shankaracharya : life and philosophy : an elucidative and reconciliatory interpretation, by Swami Mukhyananda, 4th ed.; ISBN 81-7505-283-X; Kolkata; Advaita Ashrama, 2006