June 2007
Shankaracharya's
name stands out very prominently in so far as Hindu religion is concerned.
Before the advent of Shankaracharya, Buddhism had a strong hold in
India. Shankaracharya propagated the Hindu-Veda Dharma or Vedanta.
Hence he was known as the World Teacher or Jagad Guru.
Shankara was born
in very poor family 1400 year ago in South
India in a village of Kerala. His father died during his childhood. The
mother had to take care of him. She was religious, disciplined and highly
educated.
At the age of
five, Shankara was sent to Guru to study Sanskrit, Hindu philosophy and
religion. Shankara showed wonderful intelligence in his boyhood. When he was
16, he became master of all the philosophies, Sanskrit Literature, grammar and
religion. Thereafter he was known as Swami Shankaracharya.
Swami
Shankaracharya was commissioned by his Guru to write a commentary on 'Brahma
Sutras' and propagate 'Advaita Vedanta'. He proceeded to preach the Vedanta
throughout
India. According to the Vedanta, every person, every creature and
everything is regarded as the form of Brahman (God). The Universe and
everything found in the Universe is the manifestation of God. Everything we
see is Brahman. Due to illusion of false knowledge (Maya), we feel that there
are differences in the Universe.
As there were no means of
transport in those days, Swami Shankaracharya traveled throughout the county
on foot and spread the teachings of the Hindu Dharma once again all over
India. Shankara established four great Mathas in the four corners of
the country. They are as follows:
-
Jagannath Puri in the east
-
Dwarika Puri in the west
-
Rameshwar Puri (Sringeri) in
the south
-
Badrinath Puri in the north
The spiritual head of each of the
four mathas is still called a "Shankaracharya". In this way, Shankaracharya,
through Religion and Devotion, brought about oneness throughout the vast
country of
India.
Shankaracharya
propagated the Hindu Veda Dharma (Vedanta) for sixteen years. He died at the
age of 32 years. No other person appears to have done so much in the filed of
religion at such a young age.
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