Shankaracharya

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This article is about a title used in the Advaita traditions. For the philosopher, see Adi Shankara.

Sureshwaracharya, Hastamalakacharya and Totakacharya
.

Shankaracharya (

IAST: Śaṅkarācārya, "Shankara-acharya") is a religious title used by the heads of amnaya monasteries called mathas in the Advaita Vedanta tradition of Hinduism. The title derives from Adi Shankara
; teachers from the successive line of teachers retrospectively dated back to him are known as Shankaracharyas.

Establishment of the tradition

According to a tradition developed in the 16th century, Adi Shankara set up four monasteries known as Mathas or Peethams, in the North, South, East and West of India, to be held by realised men who would be known as Shankaracharyas. They would take on the role of teacher and could be consulted by anyone with sincere queries of a spiritual nature.[1][2] Another monastery Kanchi Kamkoti Peeth in south India also derives its establishment and tradition to Adi Shankara, however its heads are called "Acharya" or "Jagadguru" instead of "Shankaracharya".

The table below gives an overview of the four main Shankaracharya Amnaya Mathas reputedly founded by Adi Shankara, and their details.[3]

Shishya

(lineage)
Direction
 Maṭha
Mahāvākya
Veda
 Sampradaya Present Shankaracharya
Padmapāda
 		East Puri Govardhanmaṭha Pīṭhaṃ Prajñānam brahma (Consciousness is supreme being)
Rig Veda
 Bhogavala Swami Nischalananda Saraswati
Sureśvara South Sringeri Śārada Pīṭhaṃ Aham brahmāsmi (I am the supreme being)
Yajur Veda
 Bhurivala Sri Bharati Tirtha
Hastāmalakācārya West Dvāraka Sharada Pīṭhaṃ Tattvamasi (That thou art)
Sama Veda
 Kitavala Swami Sadanand Saraswati[4]
Toṭakācārya North Badari Jyotirmaṭha Pīṭhaṃ Ayamātmānam brahma (This Atman is supreme being)
Atharva Veda
 Nandavala Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati (contested)/

Swami Vasudevanand Saraswati (disputed)[5]

Etymology

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".[6]

Further reading

  • Mukhyananda, Swami (2006) Sri Shankaracharya: life and philosophy: An elucidative and reconciliatory interpretation, 4th ed.;
    OCLC 426914596
    ; Kolkata; Advaita Ashrama
  • ISBN 1438503652

See also

References

  1. OCLC 573397586.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link
    )
  2. OCLC 44933824
    .
  3. ^ "Adi Shankara's four Amnaya Peethams". Archived from the original on 26 June 2006. Retrieved 20 August 2006.
  4. ^ "Swami Swaroopanand Saraswati's successors: TWO Shankaracharyas of two different Peeths now - DETAILS here". Zee News. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  5. ^ "Swami Swaroopanand Saraswati's successors: TWO Shankaracharyas of two different Peeths now - DETAILS here". Zee News. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  6. OCLC 1063750429.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link
    )

External links


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