Hastamalakacharya

Samkhya	Kapila;
Yoga	Patanjali;
Vaisheshika	Kanada, Prashastapada;
Secular	Valluvar;

Hastamalakacharya (

Dvāraka Pīṭhaṃ, the monastery founded by Adi Shankara in Dwaraka

. Hastamalaka founded a matha by name Idayil Matham in Thrissur, Kerala.

Meeting Adi Shankara

The Mādhavīya Śaṃkaravijayam states that when Adi Shankara was at

temple dedicated to Shiva and Parvati

.

In that village there lived a brāhmaņa, Prabhākara, who was noted for his learning. He had a son who though appearing quite handsome, behaved rather like an idiot. Though

upanayanam was performed for him, he did not take to studying the Vedas, instead preferred to sit around doing nothing. Hearing about Adi Shankara's visit, Prabhākara approached the Acharya

(teacher) with a load of fruit and prostrated before him. He also made his son prostrate before him. Prabhākara explained to Adi Shankara that his son behaved rather like an idiot and sat idly throughout the day.

Then, Adi Shankara addressed that young boy and asked him who he was. The boy replied in 12 verses containing the gist of the

amalaka fruit in his hand) since the knowledge of the Self

was natural to him like an Amalaka fruit in one's hand. Adi Shankara took the boy into his party and started towards his next destination.