Template:Short description Template:About Template:Use dmy dates

Shankaracharya (Template:Langx, Template:IAST3, "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.

EtymologyEdit

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".<ref name=":0">Template:Cite book</ref>

Establishment of the traditionEdit

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.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> 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.<ref name="web">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Shishya
(lineage)
Direction [[Matha|Template:IAST]] Template:IAST Veda Template:IAST Present Shankaracharya
Template:IAST East Template:IAST Template:IAST Rig Veda Bhogavala Swami Nischalananda Saraswati
Template:IAST South Template:IAST Template:IAST Yajur Veda Bhurivala Sri Bharati Tirtha
Template:IAST West Template:IAST Template:IAST Sama Veda Kitavala citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

Template:IAST North Template:IAST Template:IAST Atharva Veda Nandavala citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

Further readingEdit

  • Mukhyananda, Swami (2006) Sri Shankaracharya: life and philosophy: An elucidative and reconciliatory interpretation, 4th ed.; Template:OCLC; Kolkata; Advaita Ashrama
  • Esoteric Buddhism by A.P. Sinnett, pp 81 Template:ISBN

See alsoEdit

ReferencesEdit

Template:Reflist

External linksEdit

Template:Sister project links


Template:Shankara mathas Template:Authority control