Shankaracharya
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Shankaracharya (शङ्कराचार्य) (IAST: Śaṅkarācārya, Shankara acharya) is a commonly used title of heads of monasteries called mathas in the Advaita Vedanta tradition. The title derives from Adi Shankara, teachers from the successive line of teachers dating back to his him are known as Shankaracharyas.[1][2] He is honored as Jagadguru, a title that was used earlier only to Krishna.
Adi Shankara set up four monasteries knows Mathas, in the North, South, East and West of India, to be held by realised men. They would take on the role of teacher and could be consulted by anyone with of a spiritual nature.[3][4]
The table below gives an overview of the four Amnaya Mathas founded by Adi Shankara, and their details.[6]
Shankaracharya is also seen as an avatar of Shiva (Shankara)[7]. Shankaracharya is responsible for founding many punyakshetras along the length and breadth of India, by taming avatars of Parvati and imprisoning her essence in Sri Chakras.
Adi Shankaracharya wished to grace the Indian subcontinent by establishing five major mathas in the four corners of the peninsula – north (Jyothirmath), south (Kanchi), east (Puri), west (Dwaraka) – to propagate the philosophy of Advaita Vedanta and to promulgate the concept of Sanatana dharma, thus establishing dharma or righteousness, as the way of life of people. His primary four disciples and himself took charges of each math and thus established a strong Guru-Sishya parampara (a lineage of masters-disciples) in every math, that continues to guide people to this day.
The word Shankaracharya, is composed of two parts, Shankara and Acharya. Acharya is a Sanskrit word meaning "teacher", so Shankaracharya means "teacher of the way of Shankara".[1]
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Shankaracharya
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Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya with his four disciples - Padmapadacharya, Sureshwaracharya, Hastamalakacharya & Totakacharya
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Adi Shankara set up four monasteries knows Mathas, in the North, South, East and West of India, to be held by realised men. They would take on the role of teacher and could be consulted by anyone with of a spiritual nature.[3][4]
- The Dakshinānmnāya Sri Sharada Peetham (Main Matha) or the Shri Sringeri Sharada Peetham in Sringeri, Karnataka.
- The Uttarāmnāya matha (Northern Matha) or the Jyotirmath Peetham in the city of Jyotirmath, Badrikashram also known as Joshimath, Uttarakhand.
- The Pūrvāmnāya matha (Eastern Matha), or the Govardhan Peetham at Puri, Odisha.
- The Paśchimāmnāya matha (Western Matha), or the Dwarka Sharada Peetham at Dwarka, Gujarat.
The table below gives an overview of the four Amnaya Mathas founded by Adi Shankara, and their details.[6]
| Shishya (lineage) |
Direction | Maṭha | Mahāvākya | Veda | Sampradaya |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Padmapāda | East | Govardhana Pīṭhaṃ | Prajñānam brahma (Consciousness is Brahman) | Rig Veda | Bhogavala |
| Sureśvara | South | Sringeri Śārada Pīṭhaṃ | Aham brahmāsmi (I am Brahman) | Yajur Veda | Bhūrivala |
| Hastāmalakācārya | West | Dvāraka Pīṭhaṃ | Tattvamasi (That thou art) | Sama Veda | Kitavala |
| Toṭakācārya | North | Jyotirmaṭha Pīṭhaṃ | Ayamātmā brahma (This Atman is Brahman) | Atharva Veda | Nandavala |
Adi Shankaracharya wished to grace the Indian subcontinent by establishing five major mathas in the four corners of the peninsula – north (Jyothirmath), south (Kanchi), east (Puri), west (Dwaraka) – to propagate the philosophy of Advaita Vedanta and to promulgate the concept of Sanatana dharma, thus establishing dharma or righteousness, as the way of life of people. His primary four disciples and himself took charges of each math and thus established a strong Guru-Sishya parampara (a lineage of masters-disciples) in every math, that continues to guide people to this day.
The word Shankaracharya, is composed of two parts, Shankara and Acharya. Acharya is a Sanskrit word meaning "teacher", so Shankaracharya means "teacher of the way of Shankara".[1]
Further reading
- Mukhyananda, Swami (2006) Sri Shankaracharya: life and philosophy: An elucidative and reconciliatory interpretation, 4th ed.; OCLC 426914596; Kolkata; Advaita Ashrama
- Esoteric Buddhism by A.P. Sinnett, pp 81 ISBN 1438503652
See also
- Adi Shankara
- Kalady, Kerala - the holy birthplace of Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya
- Govardhan Peetham (East), Puri, Odisha
- Dwarka Sharada Peetham (West), Dwarka, Gujarat
- Jyotirmath Peetham (North), Jyotirmath, Badrikashram, Uttarakhand
- Shri Sringeri Sharada Peetham (South), Sringeri, Karnataka
- Shri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham, Kancheepuram, Tamil Nadu
- Jagadguru of Shri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam
- Sri Chandrashekarendra Saraswathi, Shankaracharya of Kanchi
- Sri Jayendra Saraswathi, Shankaracharya of Kanchi
- Sri Sankara Vijayendra Saraswathi, Shankaracharya of Kanchi
- Sri Jagadguru of Sringeri Sharada Peetham
- Swāmī Abhinava Vidyā Tīrtha, Śaṅkarācārya of Śṛṅgeri
- Swāmī Bhāratī Tīrtha, Śaṅkarācārya of Śṛṅgeri
- Swāmī Bhāratīkṛṣṇa Tīrtha, scholar; mathematician; first Śaṅkarācārya to visit the West
- Swāmī Brahmānanda Sarasvatī, Śrīvidyā siddha; Śaṅkarācārya of Jyotirmāyā Pīṭha, Śaṅkara Matha, Badrināth
- Swāmī Swarupānanda Sarasvatī; Śaṅkarācārya of Jyotirmāyā Pīṭha, Śaṅkara Matha, Badrināth
- Swāmī Candrasekhara Bhāratī, Śaṅkarācārya of Śṛṅgeri
- Swāmī Saccidānanda Bhāratī, Śaṅkarācārya of Śṛṅgeri
- Swāmī Saccidānanda Bhāratī, Śaṅkarācārya of Śṛṅgeri
- Swāmī Saccidānanda Śivābhinava Nṛsiṁha Bhāratī, Śaṅkarācārya of Śṛṅgeri
- Swāmī Vidyāraṇya Tīrtha, Śaṅkarācārya of Śṛṅgeri
- Jagadguru of Ramachandrapura Matha - Sri Sri Raghaveshwara Bharati
- Jagadguru of Swarnavalli Matha - Gangadharendra Saraswati Swamiji
References
- Brahmānanda Sarasvatī, 1870-1953. The sweet teachings of the blessed Śaṅkrācārya Swami Brahmananda Saraswati. Shriver, LB, -2013,, Humes, Cynthia Ann, 1958-. Fairfield, IA. ISBN 9781304662002. OCLC 897816497.
External links
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