Shankaracharya

Shankaracharya

from Sanskrit “teacher Shankara”

1. Adi-Shankaracharya (Primordial Shankara, in contrast to titles of the heads of the monastic orders he founded), or Shankara (according to the main version, he lived in 788-812 AD) is the greatest Hindu philosopher and reformer, the largest teacher of Shaivism. The main representative (one of the founders, along with Gaudapada) of the direction of Advaita Vedanta in philosophy. At a very early age, he began to study Vedas and went in search of a Guru, studied with Govinda in the Gaudapada tradition. He wandered around India, talentedly preaching his teaching, defeating supporters of other darshans in numerous disputes. He founded ten monastic orders of Advaitists according to the number of monasteries he created indifferent parts of India (four of which – in Puri, in Shringeri, in Kanchipuram, in Dvaraka, have retained their significance today). Shankara's followers are called Dashans, "having ten names", after the names of monastic orders. Shankara is the author of comments on Brahma Sutras and other sacred texts, religious and philosophical poems, treatises, hymns to Shiva.
2. There is a version that there were several teachers named Shankaracharya, and also that Shankaracharya was an Advaitin and at the same time a Tantric. Thus, it is described by the tantric tradition of Shri Vidya, which is partly based on the teachings of Shankaracharya. For example, Shri Vidya recognizes Shankaracharya's texts "Soundarya Lahari" and others as Shakta. According to one of the legends, Shankaracharya communicated with Satya Nath on the sacred mountain Shaila and it is likely that he could at least have an idea about Natha Yoga. Nathas do not deny the reality of Shakti and honor it by various methods, also, not limiting themselves exclusively to Shaktism or Shaivism, Nath strives to realize the unity of both – Shiva and Shakti.

The title

of the spiritual leaders of Shaivism, heading the monastic orders and monasteries (pithas), founded by Shankara to preserve and develop the traditions of Advaita Vedanta and Shaivism. They are located in Dvaraka, in Puri, in Shringeri and in Kanchipuram. The title is passed down from teacher to successor, thereby maintaining an unbroken line of spiritual guidance from Shankaracharya himself.