Shankaracharya

Apr 21, 2026 - 10:23
0 0
Shankaracharya

Reverted 2 edits by Tkd.Vaibhav (talk): Not facts, but legend and mythology

← Previous revision Revision as of 04:51, 21 April 2026
Line 4: Line 4:
[[File:Raja Ravi Varma - Sankaracharya.jpg|thumb|alt=Adi shankara| Adi Shankaracharya with his four disciples - [[Padmapadacharya]], [[Sureshwaracharya]], [[Hastamalakacharya]] and [[Totakacharya]].]]
[[File:Raja Ravi Varma - Sankaracharya.jpg|thumb|alt=Adi shankara| Adi Shankaracharya with his four disciples - [[Padmapadacharya]], [[Sureshwaracharya]], [[Hastamalakacharya]] and [[Totakacharya]].]]


'''Shankaracharya''' ({{langx|sa|शङ्कराचार्य}}, {{IAST3|Śaṅkarācārya}}, "[[Adi Shankara|Shankara]]-''[[acharya]]''") is a religious title used by the heads of the 04 cardinal [[amnaya]] monasteries called [[matha]]s in the [[Advaita Vedanta]] tradition of [[Hinduism]] established by Adi Shankaracharya Bhagavatpada. The title derives from [[Adi Shankara]]; teachers from the successive line of teachers from the 4 cardinal mathas, retrospectively dated back to him are known as Shankaracharyas.
'''Shankaracharya''' ({{langx|sa|शङ्कराचार्य}}, {{IAST3|Śaṅkarācārya}}, "[[Adi Shankara|Shankara]]-''[[acharya]]''") is a religious title used by the heads of [[amnaya]] monasteries called [[matha]]s 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 ==
== Etymology ==
The word Shankaracharya is composed of two parts, Shankara and Acharya. Acharya is a [[Sanskrit]] word meaning "teacher", so Shankaracharya means a "teacher in the tradition of [[Adi Shankara|Shankara]]".{{Cite book |last=Snow, Michael J. |title=Mindful philosophy |date=October 2018 |isbn=9781546292388 |location=Milton Keynes |oclc=1063750429}}
The word Shankaracharya is composed of two parts, Shankara and Acharya. Acharya is a [[Sanskrit]] word meaning "teacher", so Shankaracharya means a "teacher in the tradition of [[Adi Shankara|Shankara]]".{{Cite book |last=Snow, Michael J. |title=Mindful philosophy |date=October 2018 |isbn=9781546292388 |location=Milton Keynes |oclc=1063750429}}
== Establishment of the tradition ==
== Establishment of the tradition ==
Jagadguru [[Adi Shankara]] Bhagavatpada, set up four monasteries, known as [[Matha|Mathas]] or Chaturamnaya Peethams, in the North, South, East and West of India, to be headed by [[moksha|Self-realised]] initiated acharyas who would be pontiffs of the said peethas and would bear the title "Shankaracharya" as prefix to their names. They would take on the role of teacher and could be consulted by anyone with sincere spiritual inquiries, and they would guide humanity in times of trouble and give solace.{{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}}{{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}}
[[Adi Shankara]], the first Shankaracharya, set up four monasteries, known as [[Matha|Mathas]] or Peethams, in the North, South, East and West of India, to be headed by [[moksha|Self-realised]] men who would be known as Shankaracharyas. They would take on the role of teacher and could be consulted by anyone with sincere spiritual inquiries, and they would guide humanity in times of trouble and give solace.{{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}}{{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}} Apart from the four, another monastery, [[Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham|Kanchi Kamkoti Peetham]] in South India, is also believed to have been established by [[Adi Shankara]].
The table below gives an overview of the four cardinal main [[Amnaya]] Mathas founded by Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya.{{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}}{{cite news|date=2026-01-22|website=[[India Today]]|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/information/story/four-shankaracharyas-hindu-monasteries-advaita-vedanta-succession-disputes-2856050-2026-01-22|title=India has four Shankaracharyas. Here's who they are and what they do |access-date= 2026-01-22}}
The table below gives an overview of the four main Shankaracharya [[Amnaya]] Mathas famously founded by Adi Shankara.{{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}}{{cite news|date=2026-01-22|website=[[India Today]]|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/information/story/four-shankaracharyas-hindu-monasteries-advaita-vedanta-succession-disputes-2856050-2026-01-22|title=India has four Shankaracharyas. Here's who they are and what they do |access-date= 2026-01-22}}


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
Read More