Editing Shankaracharya (section)

== 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 [[moksha|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>{{Cite book|title=The book of one : the ancient wisdom of Advaita|last=Waite, Dennis, 1948-|date=2010|publisher=O Books|isbn=9781846943478|edition=[2nd ed.]|location=Winchester, UK|oclc=573397586}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/newbelieverssurv00barr|title=The new believers : a survey of sects, cults, and alternative religions|last=Barrett, David V.|date=2001|publisher=Cassell|others=Barrett, David V.|isbn=0304355925|location=London|oclc=44933824|url-access=registration}}</ref> Another monastery [[Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham|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">{{cite web|url=http://www.sringerisharadapeetham.org/html/History/amnaya.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060626233820/http://www.sringerisharadapeetham.org/html/History/amnaya.html|archive-date=26 June 2006 |title=Adi Shankara's four Amnaya Peethams |access-date= 2006-08-20}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
![[Guru-shishya tradition|Shishya]]<br>(lineage)
![[Relative direction|Direction]]
![[Matha|{{IAST|Maṭha}}]]
!{{IAST|[[Mahāvākya]]}}
![[Veda]]
!{{IAST|[[Sampradaya]]}}
!Present Shankaracharya
|-
|{{IAST|[[Padmapāda]]}}
!East
|{{IAST|[[Govardhan Math|Puri Govardhanmaṭha Pīṭhaṃ]]}}
|{{IAST|Prajñānam brahma (Consciousness is Brahman)}}
|[[Rig Veda]]
|Bhogavala
|[[Nischalananda Saraswati|Swami Nischalananda Saraswati]]
|-
|{{IAST|[[Sureśvara]]}}
!South
|{{IAST|[[Sringeri Sharada Peetham|Sringeri Śārada Pīṭhaṃ]]}}
|{{IAST|Aham brahmāsmi (I am Brahman)}}
|[[Yajur Veda]]
|Bhurivala
|[[Bharathi Tirtha|Sri Bharati Tirtha]]
|-
|{{IAST|[[Hastamalakacharya|Hastāmalakācārya]] }}
!West
|{{IAST|[[Dwarka Sharada Peetham|Dvāraka Sharada Pīṭhaṃ]]}}
|{{IAST|Tattvamasi (That thou art)}}
|[[Sama Veda]]
|Kitavala
|Swami Sadanand Saraswati<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Swami Swaroopanand Saraswati's successors: TWO Shankaracharyas of two different Peeths now - DETAILS here |url=https://zeenews.india.com/india/swami-swaroopanand-saraswati-s-successors-two-shankaracharyas-of-two-different-peeths-now-details-here-2509089.html |access-date=2023-05-06 |website=Zee News |language=en}}</ref>
|-
|{{IAST|[[Totakacharya|Toṭakācārya]]}}
!North
|{{IAST|[[Jyotir Math|Badari Jyotirmaṭha Pīṭhaṃ]]}}
|{{IAST|Ayamātmānam brahma (This Atman is Brahman)}}
|[[Atharva Veda]]
|Nandavala
|Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati ''<small>(disputed)</small>''<ref>{{Cite web |last=ANI |date=2022-10-15 |title=SC stops the coronation of Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati, next hearing on October 18 |url=https://theprint.in/india/sc-stops-the-coronation-of-swami-avimukteshwaranand-saraswati-next-hearing-on-october-18/1169772/ |access-date=2025-01-23 |website=ThePrint |language=en-US}}</ref>
|}