Biography
Adi Shankaracharya (c. 8th century CE) was a philosopher and theologian who consolidated the doctrine of Advaita Vedanta — the non-dualistic interpretation of the Upanishads. He wrote commentaries (bhashyas) on the Brahma Sutras, the principal Upanishads, and the Bhagavad Gita. He established four mathas (monastic centers) across India and reorganized the Dashanami monastic order. He died at age 32, having revived Hinduism against Buddhist influence.
Family Relationships
Major Events
Renunciation at age 8
Left home to become a sannyasi, receiving his mother's reluctant permission.
Study under Govinda
Studied Advaita under Govinda Bhagavatpada, who was a disciple of Gaudapada.
Commentaries
Wrote bhashyas on the Brahma Sutras, ten principal Upanishads, and the Bhagavad Gita.
Debate with Mandana Mishra
Defeated the Mimamsa scholar Mandana Mishra, whose wife Ubhaya Bharati tested him on kama shastra.
Four Mathas
Established monastic centers at Sringeri, Dwaraka, Puri, and Jyotirmath.
Death at 32
Died young, possibly at Kedarnath, having completed his life's mission.
Important Dialogues
“The Self is the witness of the mind, the intellect, and the senses. It is pure consciousness — eternal, infinite, and free. "I am That" (Shivoham).”
Vivekachudamani
Ethical Dilemmas
Mayavada vs. realism
Shankara's doctrine that the world is maya (illusory) was criticized as making the world unreal.
Resolution
He clarified that the world is "neither real nor unreal" — it is empirically real but ultimately sublated by brahma-jnana.
Related Verses
ब्रह्म सत्यं जगन्मिथ्या
brahma satyaṃ jaganmithyā
Brahman is real; the world is appearance. The individual soul is Brahman itself — none other.
Shankara (attributed)शिवोऽहम्
śivo'ham
I am Shiva — I am the auspicious, the Self, the infinite.
Nirvana ShatakamInterpretations Across Traditions
Advaita Vedanta
Shankara is the supreme acharya who established the correct interpretation of the Upanishads: Brahman alone is real; the world is appearance; the soul is not different from Brahman.
Ramanuja (Vishishtadvaita)
Shankara's Advaita is incorrect — the world and souls are real parts of Brahman, not illusory. The soul is a mode of Brahman, not identical.
Madhva (Dvaita)
Shankara's Advaita is fundamentally wrong — God and souls are eternally distinct. The world is real, not maya.