Sri Adi Shankaracharya

Sri Adi Shankaracharya (788 - 820 CE?):

◍ Life: Born in Kaladi, Kerala. (Life)

◍ Sadhana & Philosophy:
• Knowledge of Brahman.
• Exponent of the philosophy of Advaita Vedanta.

◍ Compositions:
• Wrote commentaries on Brahma Sutras, principal Upanishads and Bhagavad Gita.
• Composed Sanskrit Stotras on various Deities.

◍ Other Deeds:
• Founded four Mutts around the four corners of India.
• Believed to be the organiser of Dashanami monastic order and founder of Shanmata tradition of worship.

◍ Pilgrimages:
• Vadakkunnathan Temple: Parents of Adi Shankara prayed for a child.
• Kaladi: Birthplace of Adi Shankara.
• Omkareshwar: Adi Shankara met his guru Govindapada on the bank of river Narmada. (Shankaracharya Gufa)
• Kashi: Lord Shiva gave darshan to Adi Shankara in the form of a Chandala with four dogs. Adi Shankara got disciple Sanandana.
• Badrinath: Adi Shankara wrote commentaries on Brahma Sutras, Gita and Upanishads.
• Prayag: Adi Shankara met Kumarila Bhatta (Mimamsa school) for a debate.
• Mahishmati: Adi Shankara had a debate with Mandana Mishra.
• Gokarna: Adi Shankara met disciple Hastamalaka.
• Sringeri: Adi Shankara established the Sharada Peetha (Southern Mutt).
• Puri: Adi Shankara established the Govardhan Mutt (Eastern Mutt).
• Dwarka: Adi Shankara established the Dwarka Mutt (Western Mutt).
• Joshimath: Adi Shankara established the Jyotir Math (Northern Mutt).
• Kanchipuram: Adi Shankara is said to have established the Kanchi Mutt also.
• Kashmir Sharada Peetha: Adi Shankara ascended the Sarvajna Peetham.
• Kedarnath: Adi Shankara left the earthly abode from here.

► Omkareshwar - Shankaracharya Gufa
(Khandwa district, Madhya Pradesh)

Sri Adi Shankaracharya (788 - 820 CE?) met his guru Sri Govindapada on the bank of river Narmada. The Shankaracharya Gufa is identified as the place where Sri Govindapada stayed and meditated. The Shankaracharya Gufa is very close to the Omkareshwar Shiva Temple.

► Kashi - Varanasi
(Varanasi district, Uttar Pradesh)

Kashi, also known as Varanasi is in the Varanasi district of Uttar Pradesh.

Jyotir Math Joshimath, Chamoli district, Uttarakhand

Joshimath, Chamoli district, Uttarakhand

► Joshimath - Jyotir Math
(Chamoli district, Uttarakhand)

Sri Adi Shankaracharya (788 - 820 CE?) had set up one of his four monasteries in Joshimath. The monastery is known as Jyotir Math.

► Dwarka - Dwarka Sharada Peeth
(Devbhoomi Dwarka district, Gujarat)

Sri Adi Shankaracharya (788 - 820 CE?) had set up one of his four monasteries in Dwarka. The monastery is known as Dwarka Sharada Peeth.

► Purushottama Kshetra - Govardhan Math
(Puri district, Odisha)

Sri Adi Shankaracharya (788 - 820 CE?) had set up one of his four monasteries in Puri. The monastery is known as Govardhan Math.

► Shringeri - Shringeri Sharada Peeth
(Chikmagalur district, Karnataka)

Sri Adi Shankaracharya (788 - 820 CE?) had set up one of his four monasteries in Shringeri. The monastery is known as Shringeri Sharada Peeth.

Bharatavarsha - The Land of Gods and Sages:

• Stotras

• Scriptures

• Pilgrimages

• Sacred Geography - Mountains - Rivers

• Festivals

• Sages - Hermitages - Penances

• Saints - Ramakrishna - Vivekananda - Ramana

• Sadhana

• Sanskrit

• Nature

• Arts and Sciences

• Bharatavarsha - Puranic History - Puranic Lineage