Adi Shankaracharya – A Great Philosopher and Reformer of all Times
One of the greatest philosophers, Adi Shankaracharya was born in a namboodri brahmin family approximately in the 8th century A.D. ie; nearly about 1230 years ago in a village called Kalady on the banks of river Periyar (Poorna) in Kottayam district of Kerala State. In the Vasantha Ruthuvu (spring season) at noon in the auspicious abhijit muhurta.
He was named ‘Sankara’ by his parents. Unfortunately, his father Sivaguru died when Shankara was only at the age of 3 years old and he was brought up by his mother Aryamba with great love and care.
A Brilliant Prodigy
Shankara was a gifted child and had a very sharp memory. Shankara exhibited extraordinary intelligence and remarkable scholarship in his childhood days. Even before he was eight years old, Shankara mastered all Vedas and before he was twelve, he completed all Sastras and Upanishads.
By Sixteen, he had digested the prasthaanatraya and Bhashya commentaries. He was the great Spiritual Scholar, Philosopher, Visionary, Reformer and a great Teacher of all times.
Adi Shankaracharya’s Miracles
Right from childhood, Shankara was interested in Sanyasa and wanted to lead a meaningful life detached from worldly pleasures. He started his quest for truth and decided to renounce what was very dear to him much against the wishes of his mother. There were few miracles in his life to say, he was a divine personality. According to legend, one day his mother fainted after walking three kilometres for her daily bath in the river Periyar (Poorna).
Feeling helpless, little Shankara prayed to Lord Krishna and with his prayer, God appeared before him and blessed him by saying “The River will flow where your little footprints are marked” The river took its new course in the place marked by the little boy’s feet and it rerouted her way towards their house.
Thereafter, his mother used to take her bath in that river near their house. Sankara then installed Lord Krishna at that place symbolising the occasion by reciting his famous Achyuta Ashtakam.
Further, Shankara enacted a small drama to his decision to be approved by his mother for renouncing. Once, while taking a bath in the Poorna River, Shankara was attacked by Crocodile. He raised an alarm and his mother started screaming for help. Though his mother wanted to rescue him, she could not and was helpless.
Shankara in absolute calm told his mother that he might die if she did not let him accept Sanyasa. When she reluctantly agreed and remained with no other choice at that time. As soon as she accepted, Sankara recited a mantra and the crocodile disappeared from the scene.
Shankara assured his mother that he would be at her bedside in her last moment. He heard her call when he was journeying in the north and miraculously appeared before his mother. As desired by her, Sankara prayed to Lord Vishnu who made His presence felt by giving darshan as Krishna to his dying mother. As promised, he had performed the funeral rites of his mother in spite of the problems he faced in his community.
During his childhood, once Sankara had to go to the house of a poor lady to collect alms for his guru. She had nothing to give him at that time and she gave him an Amla because she did not want to send him empty-handed. Having come to know of her poverty, he instantly composed a hymn of Goddess Lakshmi which later became very popular as “Kanakadhara Stavam”.
Goddess Mahalakshmi pleased with his hymn dropped a shower of golden Amlas in the house of that poor lady to eradicate her abject poverty.
Spiritual Contribution
Adi Shankaracharya is said to have travelled all over India and visited places like Kashi(Varanasi), Nepal, Kashmir, Badari, Kedar, Allahabad, Dwaraka, Puri, Rameswaram, Sringeri, Kanyakumari, Prayag, Kanchi and Hrishikesh etc.
Establishment of Monasteries
During the process of reviving the ancient culture and to maintain national integration, Sankaracharya had established four Mutts or Monasteries which are associated with four Vedas namely Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samaveda and Adharvanaveda at four corners of our country.
- He founded the first Jyothir Mutt in the north at Badarikshetram where the Alakananda river flows and his disciple Totakacharya, an Adharvana Vedic Scholar was made incharge of the Mutt.
- Sankaracharya set up the second Kali Mutt in the west at Dwaraka and Padmapada, a Rigveda Scholar took charge as the pontiff.
- The third is Govardhana Mutt at Puri in the east and Hastamalaka, a Samavedic Scholar was made the pontiff.
- The fourth one is the Sharada Mutt at Sringeri in the south sculpted the Srichakra on a rock and installed Mother Sharada on it and his disciple Sureshwaracharya, a Sukla Yajurvedic scholar was made the incharge of the Mutt.
Adi Shankaracharya – Intellectual Writings
In his life span of thirty-two years, Adi Shankaracharya shared his discoveries and intellectual thoughts through his innumerable outstanding works like
- Vivekachoodamani,
- Soundaryalahari,
- Sivanandalahari,
- Mahishasuramardini Stotram,
- Manishapanchakam,
- Upanishad Sahasri,
- Atma Bhodha,
- Bhashyas on Brahmasutras,
- Kanakadharastotram,
- Siva panchakshari,
- Ganesh pancharatna Stotram,
- Lakshminarayana Stotram,
- Hanumad Panchakam,
- Bhaja Govindam Slokas,
- Panchayudha Stotram, and
- Achyuta Ashtakam and many more.
Adi Shankaracharya took all the technicalities of language in his numerous works. His mastery of language could be seen in his Upanishad and Bhagavad Gita commentaries, Brahma Sutra expositions and Bhaja Govindam Slokas. The great Sanskrit language almost became plastic at his hands and Sankara’s pen was made to dance itself to the rhythm of his heart and to the swing of his thoughts.
His commentaries on different works are said to be of immense value to the past, present and future generations of humanity of the world for realization of truth and spiritual enlightenment.
Towards the end of his life, Sankaracharya took a journey to the Himalayan areas of Kedar and Badarinath to attain Veda Mukti (Freedom from Embodiment). Many saints were born, and many others should have contributed great works but Sankaracharya stands as a Towering Personality who did pioneering work for the spread of Hindu philosophy and establishing Sanatana Dharma in our country.
To sum up, Sankaracharya’s words from Upadesa Sahasri assume greater relevance and significance even to present-day society.
He says “We should study the scriptures, perform the duties well, drive away all ignoble thoughts from the minds, get out of the little ego, seek the company of the good and wise, be devoted to God, listen to the vedantic truths, refrain from vain quarrel, avoid quibbling before the venerable elders, keep satisfied with what we have, possess humility, develop the power of tolerance, be charitable in deed and word, think in solitude and pray the God regularly’’.
Sankaracharya conquered the world with his philosophy and attained the status of ‘Jagadguru’. As he was the first preacher of Hindu Dharma, he became Jagad Guru Adi Sankaracharya. He is undoubtedly a great protector of Hindu Dharma and proved to be a testimony who untiringly strived for achieving national integration in the country with his philosophical contributions.
