Shankaracharya
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Shankaracharya (Template:Langx, Template:IAST3, "Shankara-acharya") is a religious title used by the heads of amnaya monasteries called mathas 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
The word Shankaracharya is composed of two parts, Shankara and Acharya. Acharya is a Sanskrit word meaning "teacher", so Shankaracharya means "teacher of the way of Shankara".<ref name=":0">Template:Cite book</ref>
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 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>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Another monastery 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">Template:Cite web</ref>
| Shishya (lineage) |
Direction | [[Matha|Template:IAST]] | Template:IAST | Veda | Template:IAST | Present Shankaracharya |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Template:IAST | East | Template:IAST | Template:IAST | Rig Veda | Bhogavala | Swami Nischalananda Saraswati |
| Template:IAST | South | Template:IAST | Template:IAST | Yajur Veda | Bhurivala | Sri Bharati Tirtha |
| Template:IAST | West | Template:IAST | Template:IAST | Sama Veda | Kitavala | Swami Sadanand Saraswati<ref name=":1">Template:Cite web</ref> |
| Template:IAST | North | Template:IAST | Template:IAST | Atharva Veda | Nandavala | Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati (disputed)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
Further reading
- Mukhyananda, Swami (2006) Sri Shankaracharya: life and philosophy: An elucidative and reconciliatory interpretation, 4th ed.; Template:OCLC; Kolkata; Advaita Ashrama
- Esoteric Buddhism by A.P. Sinnett, pp 81 Template:ISBN
See also
- Adi Shankara
- Kalady, Kerala - Birthplace of Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya
- Govardhan Peetham (East), Puri, Odisha
- Dwarka Sharada Peetham (West), Dwarka, Gujarat
- Jyotirmaya Peetham (North), Joshimath, Uttarakhand
- Sringeri Sharada Peetham (South), Sringeri, Karnataka
- Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham, Kancheepuram, Tamil Nadu
- Sri Jayendra Saraswathi, Shankaracharya of Kanchi
- Swami Abhinava Vidya Tīrtha, Shankaracharya of Sringeri
- Swami Bharati Tīrtha, Shankaracharya of Sringeri
- Swami Bharatikrishna Tīrtha, scholar; mathematician; first Sankaracharya to visit the West
- Swami Brahmananda Sarasvati, Srividya Siddh Sankaracharya of Jyotirmaya Pitha, Shankara Matha, Badrinath
- Swami Shantanand Saraswati, Shankaracharya of Jyotirmaya Pitha
- Swami Swarupananda Sarasvati, Shankaracharya of Jyotirmaya Pitha, Sankara Matha, Badrinath
- Swami Candrasekhara Bharati, Shankaracharya of Sringeri
- Swami Saccidananda Bharati, Shankaracharya of Sringeri
- Swami Sacchidananda Bharati, Shankaracharya of Sringeri
- Swami Sacchidananda Shivabhinava Nṛusimha Bharati, Shankaracharya of Sringeri
- Swami Vidyaranya Tīrtha, Shankaracharya of Sringeri
- Sri Sri Raghaveshwara Bharati, Jagadguru of Ramachandrapura Matha
References
External links
- Advaita-Vedanta.org "Dasanami Sampradaya - The Monastic Tradition", an account of the four amnaya mathas, and the "Dashanamī parampāra"
- "History of Jagadguru Sri Adi Shankara Bhagavatpada", "Biography of Jagadguru Sri Adi Shankaracharya"
- Drig Drishya Viveka by Sri Adi Shankaracharya by Anandmurti Gurumaa.
- Brahma Jnanavali Mala of Adi Shankaracharya