Religion:Shankaracharya
Shankaracharya (Sanskrit: शङ्कराचार्य, 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.
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".[1]
Establishment of the tradition
Adi Shankara, known as Adi Shankaracharya, set up four monasteries known as Mathas or Peethams, in the North, South, East and West of India, to be administered 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 and they would guide the humanity in times of trouble and provide solace.[2][3] Another monastery Kanchi Kamkoti Peetham in south India also derives its establishment and tradition to Adi Shankara. The table below gives an overview of the four main Shankaracharya Amnaya Mathas reputedly founded by Adi Shankara, and their details.[4][5]
| Shishya (lineage) |
Direction | Maṭha | Mahāvākya | Veda | Sampradaya | Present Shankaracharya |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Padmapāda | East | Puri Govardhanmaṭha Pīṭhaṃ | Prajñānam brahma (Consciousness is Brahman) | Rig Veda | Bhogavala | Swami Nischalananda Saraswati |
| Sureśvara | South | Sringeri Śārada Pīṭhaṃ | Aham brahmāsmi (I am Brahman) | Yajur Veda | Bhurivala | Sri Bharati Tirtha |
| Hastāmalakācārya | West | Dvāraka Sharada Pīṭhaṃ | Tattvamasi (That thou art) | Sama Veda | Kitavala | Swami Sadanand Saraswati[6] |
| Toṭakācārya | North | Badari Jyotirmaṭha Pīṭhaṃ | Ayamātmānam brahma (This Atman is Brahman) | Atharva Veda | Nandavala | Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati (disputed)[7] |
Further reading
- Mukhyananda, Swami (2006) Sri Shankaracharya: life and philosophy: An elucidative and reconciliatory interpretation, 4th ed.; OCLC 426914596; Kolkata; Advaita Ashrama
- Esoteric Buddhism by A.P. Sinnett, pp 81 ISBN 1438503652
See also
- Adi Shankara
- Kalady, Kerala - Birthplace of Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya
- Govardhan Peetham (East), Puri, Odisha
- Dwarka Sharada Peetham (West), Dwarka, Gujarat
- Jyotirmaya Peetham (North), Joshimath, Uttarakhand
- Sringeri Sharada Peetham (South), Sringeri, Karnataka
- Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham, Kancheepuram, Tamil Nadu
- Sri Jayendra Saraswathi, Shankaracharya of Kanchi
- Swami Abhinava Vidya Tīrtha, Shankaracharya of Sringeri
- Swami Bharati Tīrtha, Shankaracharya of Sringeri
- Swami Bharatikrishna Tīrtha, scholar; mathematician; first Sankaracharya to visit the West
- Swami Brahmananda Sarasvati, Srividya Siddh Sankaracharya of Jyotirmaya Pitha, Shankara Matha, Badrinath
- Swami Shantanand Saraswati, Shankaracharya of Jyotirmaya Pitha
- Swami Swarupananda Sarasvati, Shankaracharya of Jyotirmaya Pitha, Sankara Matha, Badrinath
- Swami Candrasekhara Bharati, Shankaracharya of Sringeri
- Swami Saccidananda Bharati, Shankaracharya of Sringeri
- Swami Sacchidananda Bharati, Shankaracharya of Sringeri
- Swami Sacchidananda Shivabhinava Nṛusimha Bharati, Shankaracharya of Sringeri
- Swami Vidyaranya Tīrtha, Shankaracharya of Sringeri
- Sri Sri Raghaveshwara Bharati, Jagadguru of Ramachandrapura Matha
References
- ↑ Snow, Michael J. (October 2018). Mindful philosophy. Milton Keynes. ISBN 9781546292388. OCLC 1063750429.
- ↑ Waite, Dennis, 1948- (2010). The book of one : the ancient wisdom of Advaita ([2nd ed.] ed.). Winchester, UK: O Books. ISBN 9781846943478. OCLC 573397586.
- ↑ Barrett, David V. (2001). The new believers : a survey of sects, cults, and alternative religions. Barrett, David V.. London: Cassell. ISBN 0304355925. OCLC 44933824. https://archive.org/details/newbelieverssurv00barr.
- ↑ "Adi Shankara's four Amnaya Peethams". http://www.sringerisharadapeetham.org/html/History/amnaya.html.
- ↑ "India has four Shankaracharyas. Here's who they are and what they do". 2026-01-22. https://www.indiatoday.in/information/story/four-shankaracharyas-hindu-monasteries-advaita-vedanta-succession-disputes-2856050-2026-01-22.
- ↑ "Swami Swaroopanand Saraswati's successors: TWO Shankaracharyas of two different Peeths now - DETAILS here" (in en). https://zeenews.india.com/india/swami-swaroopanand-saraswati-s-successors-two-shankaracharyas-of-two-different-peeths-now-details-here-2509089.html.
- ↑ ANI (2022-10-15). "SC stops the coronation of Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati, next hearing on October 18" (in en-US). https://theprint.in/india/sc-stops-the-coronation-of-swami-avimukteshwaranand-saraswati-next-hearing-on-october-18/1169772/.
External links
* Advaita-Vedanta.org "Dasanami Sampradaya - The Monastic Tradition", an account of the four amnaya mathas, and the "Dashanamī parampāra"
- "History of Jagadguru Sri Adi Shankara Bhagavatpada", "Biography of Jagadguru Sri Adi Shankaracharya"
- Drig Drishya Viveka by Sri Adi Shankaracharya by Anandmurti Gurumaa.
- Brahma Jnanavali Mala of Adi Shankaracharya
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