Experience the Knowledge of India Shankara Jayanthi Shankara Jayanthi D.K.Hari & D.K.Hema Hari, Founders, Bharath Gyan Adi Shankara was the saint who propounded the Advaita Vedanta, which speaks of the unity of Atma and Brahman. He unified the various thoughts of Indian philosophy, as He travelled across the country, conducting discourses, and taking part in debates with other philosophers, while defeating many through His arguments. Thus He established Advaita philosophy, which establishes the existence of one formless Divine Reality – Brahman, while considering the universe and its creatures to be an illusion. Dating of Shankara Adi Shankara was born to his parents, Sivaguru and his wife Aryamba. They were a childless couple who propitiated Lord Shiva for a child. Lord Shiva being please with them, appeared in their dreams, “I am really pleased with your devotion. Please let me know if you want many ignorant children, with long life span, or a son who is extremely wise and intelligent, but with a short life span.” The parents chose the latter. Adi Shankara was born on Panchami Tithi during Shukla Paksha of Vaishakha month, which currently falls between April and May in 509 CE, at Kaladi in Kerala, and fulfilled an incredible mission of revitalizing Sanatana Dharma, during his short life span of 32 years. Birth of Adi Shankara Page 1 of 23 Experience the Knowledge of India Shankara Jayanthi Birthplace of Adi Shankara in Kerala Many scholars are of the view that Shankara was born in 780 CE. This theory has been floated as Buddha’s year of birth has been erroneously placed at 540 BCE. Shankara was then placed 1200 years later. Now through our research at Bharath Gyan, we have accurately placed Buddha as belonging to 1887 BCE, in our book Historical Krishna, Dating of Krishna. Page 2 of 23 Experience the Knowledge of India Shankara Jayanthi Having done this, we can correctly place Adi Shankara to 509 BCE, to where He belongs. Again the gap is 1500 years. In Bharath Gyan, similarly we have been able to prepare and give the timeline of all the important characters and events in Indian history. Here is the timeline for your perusal Adi Shankara diverted Purna River Shankara learnt the Veda and recited them, by the age of eight. He was bestowed with many divine powers. He even diverted the Purana River, towards His home. He requested the river to follow in His footsteps - KalAdi, as His mother was finding it difficult to travel long distances to this river. Thus was born the place Kaladi. This River Purna over 2500 years has become a wide river and is now known by the name Periyar. Deepa Stambha In Kaladi, near the ancient Krishna Temple, by the Periyar Temple, they identified the millennia old Deepa Stambha, which marks the house of Adi Shankara and his mother Aryamba. This place has been preserved and developed into a modern temple by the Sringeri Mutt. Adi Shankara caught by crocodile One day while having bath, Shankara was caught by a crocodile. His mother Aryamba hearing the cries, came running. At his time, Shankara, pleaded with His mother, to allow him to take Sanyasa, which she had been denying for some time. At this moment, the mother who saw that her son was in a perilous situation, consented to this last wish of Shankara. Shankara then chanted the sanyasa mantra, and miraculously the crocodile left him. Page 3 of 23 Experience the Knowledge of India Shankara Jayanthi Shankara then began His life of sanyasa, as he travelled across the country. Young Adi Shankara in the grip of a Crocodile Route and places of visits of Adi Shankara Page 4 of 23 Experience the Knowledge of India Shankara Jayanthi Authoring innumerable Works Adi Shankara gave importance to Brahma Sutra, Upanishad and Bhagavad Gita, and has written commentaries on them, from the Advaita Vedanta perspective. Some of His popular works include, Bhaja Govindam, Kanakadhara Stotra, Shivananda Lahari and Saundarya Lahari. Saundarya means Beauty, Lahari, means waves. This poetic work of Shankara, composed in 100 verses, describes the beauty of waves of Divine Energy. Today we speak about the concept of Devi as energy. While this text Saundarya Lahari at the superficial level is describing the beauty of Devi, if we dwell into the subtle level, we can see that Adi Shankara is speaking of the beautiful waves of Energy, Shakti. Every stanza of Saundarya Lahari, is a beautiful wave on the Ocean of Shakti. He authored many works, and also gave commentaries on innumerable works. Bhashya Granthas 1. Brahma Sutras 2. Isavasya Upanishad 3. Kena Upanishad 4. Katha Upanishad 5. Prasna Upanishad 6. Mundaka Upanishad 7. Mandukya Upanishad 8. Mandukya Karida 9. Aitareya Upanishad 10. Taittireeya Upanishad 11. Chhandogya Upanishad 12. Brihad Aranyaka Upanishad 13. Sree Nrisimha Taapaneeya Upanishad 14. Sreemad Bhagawad Geeta 15. Sree Vishnu Sahasranama Page 5 of 23 Experience the Knowledge of India Shankara Jayanthi 16. Sanat Sujateeyam 17. Lalita Tri-satee 18. Hastaamalakeeyam Prakarana Granthas: 19. Viveka Chudamani 20. Aparokshanubhooti 21. Upadesa Sahasri 22. Vaakya Vritti 23. Swaatma Niroopanam 24. Atma-bodha 25. Sarva Vedanta Sara Samgraha 26. Prabodha Sudhakaram 27. Swaatma Prakasika 28. Advaita anubhooti 29. Brahma anuchintanam 30. Prashnouttara Ratnamaalika 31. Sadachara anusandhanam 32. Yaga Taravali 33. Anatmasree Vigarhanam 34. Swaroopa anusandhanam 35. Pancheekaranam 36. Tattwa bodha 37. Prouda anubhooti 38. Brahma Jnanavali Page 6 of 23 Experience the Knowledge of India Shankara Jayanthi 39. Laghu Vakyavritti 40. Bhaja Govindam 41. Prapancha Saaram Stotra and Dhyana Verses: 42. Sri Ganesa Pancharatnam 43. Ganesa Bhujangam 44. Subrahmanya Bhujangam 45. Siva Bhujangam 46. Devi Bhujangam 47. Bhavani Bhujangam 48. Sree Rama Bhujangam 49. Vishnu Bhujangam 50. Sarada Bhujangam 51. Sivananda Lahari 52. Soundarya Lahari 53. Ananda Lahari 54. Sivapaadaadi kesaanta varnana 55. Siva kesaadi padaanta varnana 56. Sree Vishnu-paadaadi-kesanta 57. Uma maheswara Stotram 58. Tripurasundari Vedapada Stotram 59. Tripurasundari Manasapooja 60. Tripurasundari Ashtakam 61. Devi shashti upachara-pooja Page 7 of 23 Experience the Knowledge of India Shankara Jayanthi 62. Mantra matruka Pushpamaala 63. Kanakadhara Stotram 64. Annapoorna Stotram 65. Ardhanareshwara Stotram 66. Bhramanaamba Ashtakam 67. Meenakshi Stotram 68. Meenakshi Pancharatnam 69. Gouri Dasakam 70. Navaratna Malika 71. Kalyana Vrishtistavam 72. Lalitha Pancharatnam 73. Maaya Panchakam 74. Suvarna Mala Stuti 75. Dasa Sloki 76. Veda Sara Siva Stotram 77. Siva Panchaakshara Stotram 78. Sivaaparadha Kshamapana 79. Dakshinamoorthy Ashtakam 80. Dakshinamoorthy Varnamala 81. Mrutyunjaya Manasa Pooja Stotram 82. Siva Namavali Ashtakam 83. Kaala Bhairava Ashtakam 84. Shatpadee Stotram 85. Siva Panchakshara Nakshatra Mala 86. Dwadasa Ling Stotram Page 8 of 23 Experience the Knowledge of India Shankara Jayanthi 87. Kasi Panchakam 88. Hanumat Pancharatnam 89. Lakshmi-Nrisimha Pancharatnam 90. Lakshmi-Nrisimha Karunarasa Stotram 91. Panduranga Ashtakam 92. Achyuta Ashtakam 93. Sree Krishna Ashtakam 94. Hari Stuti 95. Govinda Ashtakam 96. Bhagavat Manasa Pooja 97. Praata Smarana Stotram 98. Jagannatha Ashtakam 99. Guruvashtakam 100. Narmada Ashtakam 101. Yamuna Ashtakam 102. Ganga Ashtakam 103. Manikarnika Ashtakam 104. Nirguna Manasa Pooja 105. Eka Sloki 106. Yati Panchakam 107. Jeevan Mukta Ananda Lahari 108. Dhanya Ashtakam 109. Upadesa (Sadhna) Panchakam 110. Sata Sloki 111. Maneesha Panchakam Page 9 of 23 Experience the Knowledge of India Shankara Jayanthi 112. Advaita Pancharatnam 113. Nirvana Shatakam 114. Devyaparadhakshamapana Stotram . Adi Shankara thus propounded and established on a firm footing, the Advaita school of thought. For present times, one of the more recent milestones in the philosophical scene of India was the explanation to the Vedanta and the Bhagavad Gita by Adi Shankara, called Shankara Bhashya, composed by Adi Shankara around 500 BCE. Adi Shankara Adi Shankara compiled all these works by the age of 16. Even now it is so astonishing, to know how was it possible for Adi Shankara to write so much in a very short life span, besides restoring the Sanathana Dharma & Vedas throughout Bharatha Desa and establishing Chathuramnaya Peethams to Sustain, Protect & Propagate Sanathana Dharma & Vedas throughout India. Recognized Shadmada As per this philosophy, all Divine forms like Vishnu, Shiva, Shakti are different manifestations of Brahman, the Divine Consciousness. Adi Shankara recognized the Shadmada concept, and was able to bring about unity among these different religions of India, by composing hymns dedicated to each of the divinities of these religions. Thereby He gave importance to all religions. From ancient times, Shadmada, 6 religions were practiced in India, namely Page 10 of 23 Experience the Knowledge of India Shankara Jayanthi Shaivam where Shiva and role played by Shiva is of focus, as without potential to manifest, matter and elements of matter, there is no Universe. Vaishnavam where Vishnu and role of Vishnu is given prominence, as without the all-pervading forces none of this would have come and stayed together. Shaktam where energy is given prominence, as energy is an intrinsic aspect of everything. Sauram where Sun is given prominence as the sustainer of earth as well as life on earth. Ganapathyam where intellect is given prominence as without intellect, all of these are as good as non-existent. The focus is more on mankind and his capabilities. Kaumaram where beauty and design is given prominence