Shankara’s Thoughts

Dr. Maya Vinai

Department of HSS
BITS Pilani (Hyderabad Campus)
Birthplace (Kalady)
Birthplace of Adi Shankara (788 AD)
Social and Economic stratifications during
Adi Shankara’s times
• Namboodiris
• Kshatriyas
• Nairs
• Ezhavas
• Pulayas
Socio-Cultural Events Events during 8 th C
India
• Multiple schools of philosophical Thoughts
• Age of Intense Debates
• Age of Superstitions (wrong interpretation of the Vedas)
• Age of Rituals
• Divisiveness in the society
• Position of Women
Historical Background
Historical Background (Medieval Age)
• The Palas (Dominant power in Northern and Eastern India)
• Between 8th and 10th centuries A.D., a number of powerful empires
dominated the eastern and northern parts of India.
• The Pala king Dharmapala, son of Gopala reigned from the late 8th
century A.D. to early 9th century A.D. Religion – Mahayana Buddhism
and Tantric Buddhism
• Monarchy- Type of Government
Built by Dharmapala
Somapura Mahavihara (Bangladesh-UNESCO World Heritage Site)
What is a Vihara?
• Vihara, early type of Buddhist monastery consisting of an open court
surrounded by open cells accessible through an entrance porch. The
viharas in India were originally constructed to shelter the monks
during the rainy season, when it became difficult for them to lead the
wanderer's life
Example of a Vihara
Bodhisattva Padmapani
The Pala Dynasty
• The Pala dynasty ruled the regions of Bengal and Bihar for about 400
years, from the 8th century until the end of the 11th century, with
about 20 leaders on the throne during the period.
• The basis of their long rule was the efficient administrative system.
The most glorious aspect of Pala rule was their policy of public-
welfare.
• The Pala rulers were Buddhists.
The Pala dynasty
• Most of the subjects in the area controlled by the Pala Empire were
actually Hindus. The Pala rulers followed an approach of religious
tolerance, granting land for Hindu temples and allowing Hindu
Brahmins to hold high official posts in the Pala court.
• This allowed for a peaceful exchange of ideas between the faiths and
is a large factor in why Hindu Tantrism made its way into Buddhism,
giving rise to the Vajrayana philosophy.
• The Pala dynasty created the environment for Buddhist monasteries
to thrive and discuss philosophies without prejudice.
Hinduism in Medieval Period (500 CE–1500 CE)
• From 500 CE we have the rise of devotion (bhakti) to the major
deities, particularly Vishnu, Shiva and Devi.
• With the collapse of the Gupta empire, regional kingdoms developed
which patronized different religions. For example, the Cholas in the
South supported Shaivism.
Vaishnavites/ Shaivites/ Shaktas
Rise of Temples (10th C)
??? Built between 1003 and 1010 AD, the temple is a part of the
UNESCO World Heritage Site
11th C- ????
Bhakti Saints
• Out of 63 Nayanmars
• 17 were Brahmins,
• 4 were Kshatriyas
• Remaining all were vaishyas/sudras/dalits.
• Out of 12 Alwars
• 7 were Brahmins
• 1 Kshatriya
• 2 Sudras & 1Dalit.
Rise of Tantra
• Shaivism similarly developed during this period with important
philosophers such as Abhinavagupta (c. 975–1025) writing
commentaries on the Tantras, an alternative revelation to the Veda,
and other texts.
• The Tantras became revered as a revelation that fulfilled or
superseded the Veda. Some of these texts advocated ritually polluting
practices such as offering alcohol, meat and ritualized sex to ferocious
deities but most of these texts are simply concerned with daily and
occasional rituals, temple building, cosmology and so on.
Bhakti Poet-saints
• During this time not only religious literature in Sanskrit developed but
also in vernacular languages, particularly Tamil. Here poet-saints
recorded their devotional sentiments.
• 12 Vaishnava Alvars (6th–9th centuries), including one famous female
poet-saint called Andal
• 63 Shaiva Nayanars (8th–10th centuries)
• Subsequent key thinkers and teachers (acharyas or gurus)
consolidated these teachings. They formulated new theologies,
perpetuated by their own disciplic successions (sampradaya).
Andal- The Bhakti Saint
Was Christianity and Islam present in India
then?
• Muziris Port
• St Thomas (6th C)
• 8th C Arab traders- Spread of Islam
In Short
• High precedence of Rituals and tantras
• Fights and clashes amongst each other
• Discrimination on basis of castes and gender
• Why is Adi Shankara so important in history, culture of India?
• What did Shankara do?
• Did he unite these warring groups?
• Was it an easy task?
Sources of present biographical details
• Swami Vidyaranya- Shankara Vijaya

• However, there are at least there are 14 known biographies of Adi

Shankaracharya that depicts his life. Most famous of these
biographies are called the Sankara Vijaya or Guruvijaya,
Shankarabhyudaya, and Shankaracaryacarita.
Life of Namboodiris

• Shankara born into a Namboodiri clan in Kerala

• Agraharam
• King Rajashekara
• Sivaguru and Aryamba- parents
• Namboodiris arrived in Kerala in the early medieval age
• 8th C- Kerala under the rule of Chera- Perumals (8th- 14th C)
• (The Cheras transformed Kerala into an international trade centre by establishing trade
relations across the Arabian Sea with all major Mediterranean and Red Sea ports as well
those of the Far East.
• The early Cheras collapsed after repeated attacks from the neighboring Cholas and
Rashtrakutas. Regained power in the 9th C.
Agraharam- Located in the close vicinity of a
temple
Parents (Company Paintings)
Poorna River (now called Periyar), Village of Kalady
Vaddakumnathan Temple
• Adi Shankara is believed to have been born (788 AD) to Shivaguru and
Aryamba of Kalady consequent to their prayers to lord
Vadakkumnathan. The couple devoutly prayed for 41 days at the
temple.
• Adi Shankara’s childhood home located near the Poorna river which
was always prone to flooding.
Vaddakumnathan Temple
Incident at the Crocodile Ghat
Company Paintings (Son taking leave of mother at
the age of 8 years to attain higher spiritual realms)
Guru’s Guidance
• From the southern state of Kerala, the young Shankara walked about
2000 kilometres— to the banks of the river Narmada, in the central
plains of India, to his Guru— Govindapada.
• He stayed there serving his Guru for four years. Under his teacher’s
compassionate guidance, the young Shankaracharya mastered all the
Vedic scriptures
• “Who are you?”- Nirvana Shatkam
Seeking a Guru on the banks of river Narmada- Bhagawat
Govindapada- Omkaraeshwara Cave
Present day View of Narmada near Omkaraeshwara temple
Cave of Omkaraeshwara-
• It is on an island called Mandhata or Shivpuri in the Narmada river at
Khandwa district in Madhya Pradesh, India
• The shape of the island is said to be like the Devanagari ॐ symbol.
• It houses one of the most famous jyotirlingas of India (out of the 12)
Guru’s Question to the spiritual aspirant
• Who are you?- Nirvana Shatakam
“Mano-budhya-ahankara chittani naham…
• Govinda Pada- Disciple of guru Gaudapada
• Recognition of his disciple and taught him the maha vakyas: (each veda has a
maha vakya)
• Pragyanam Brahma (awakened consciousness is the supreme consciousness)
• Aham Brahmasmi (I am Brahman)
• Tat twam Asi (You are that)
• Ayam Atma (This self is nothing but the supreme consciousness)
• Taught him the Brahma Sutras
Shankara’s Commentaries
• At the age of twelve, his Guru deemed that Shankara was ready to
write commentaries on major scriptural texts. At his Guru’s command,
Shankara wrote commentaries elucidating the subtle meanings
hidden in the teachings of the scriptures.
• 1st task given to Shankara by Govindapada was to write a
commentary on the Brahma Sutras
• At the age of sixteen, he completed writing all the major treatises.
What were the texts he wrote?
• He composed 72 devotional and meditative hymns like Soundarya
Lahari, Sivananda Lahari, Nirvana Shalkam, Maneesha Panchakam.
• He also wrote 18 commentaries on the major scriptural texts
including the Brahma Sutras, the Bhagavad Gita and 12 major
Upanishads.
• He also authored 23 books on the fundamentals of the Advaita
Vedanta philosophy which expound the principles of the non-dual
Brahman. These include Viveka Chudamani, Atma Bodha, Vaakya
Vritti, Upadesa Sahasri, among others.
From the age of 16, the journey began….till
the age of 32
• In essence, the individual is not different from Brahman. Thus by the
statement “Brahma Satyam Jagan Mithya, Jeevo Brahmaiva Na Para”
he condensed the essence of the voluminous scriptures.
• Shankaracharya challenged various eminent scholars and leaders of
various religious sects in vigorous disputes. These men of stature then
accepted Shankaracharya as their guru.
Omkaraeshwara to Kashi (Shankara travelled the length
and breadth of entire Country within the span of 32 years
• Travel from Kalady to
• Travel to Sri Kshetra (Srinagar)
• Joshi Matha (Uttarakhand)
• Dwarka mutt (Gujarat)
Kodachadri hills, the peak of which is at an altitude of 1,343 metres above
sea level.
Adi Shankara Temple in Kashmir
Gopadri Hill, Srinagar
• The temple is used for regular worship and pilgrims visit this place
during the Amarnath Yatra.
• To visit the temple, you have to climb 243 steps leading up to the
temple area and another 8-10 steps from there to the temple hall.
From the top of the hill you can view Srinagar city.
• For the first time, it was called the Shankaracharaya temple when
Governor Sheikh Mohi-ud-Din made the repairs in the mid-19th
century.
Company Paintings- To console his mother (who had objections to Shankara taking Sanyasa)he
promised her that he would come back to her at the time of her death and perform the last rites.
Shankara- Mandana Mishra Debate, judge
Ubhaya Bharati
Restoration of the Company paintings
• It took 40 kilos of onion to conserve and restore the 31 paintings on
display at ‘Sree Sankaram 2019’ based on the life of Adi
Sankaracharya
Nirvana Shatkam
मनोबुद्ध्यहङ्कार चित्तानि नाहं
न च श्रोत्रजिह्वे न च घ्राणनेत्रे ।
न च व्योम भूमिर्न तेजो न वायुः
चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम् ॥१॥

न च प्राणसंज्ञो न वै पञ्चवायुः
न वा सप्तधातुः न वा पञ्चकोशः ।
न वाक्पाणिपादं न चोपस्थपायु
चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम् ॥२॥

न मे द्वेषरागौ न मे लोभमोहौ
मदो नैव मे नैव मात्सर्यभावः ।
न धर्मो न चार्थो न कामो न मोक्षः
चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम् ॥३॥
न पुण्यं न पापं न सौख्यं न दुःखं
न मन्त्रो न तीर्थं न वेदा न यज्ञाः ।
अहं भोजनं नैव भोज्यं न भोक्ता
चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम् ॥४॥

न मृत्युर्न शङ्का न मे जातिभेदः

पिता नैव मे नैव माता न जन्मः ।
न बन्धुर्न मित्रं गुरुर्नैव शिष्यं
चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम् ॥५॥

अहं निर्विकल्पो निराकाररूपो

विभुत्वाच्च सर्वत्र सर्वेन्द्रियाणाम् ।
न चासङ्गतं नैव मुक्तिर्न मेयः
चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम् ॥६॥