Adi Shankara also called as Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya or Adi Shankaracharya was a child prodigy born at Kaladi, Kerala in the early 9th century. At a very tender age he mastered the Vedic scriptures and at the age of eight, he renounced worldly life. First he became a monk, left his native village and travelled different parts of India. Through debates and discourses with other thinkers, Adi Shankara propagated his philosophy by travelling all across the Indian subcontinent. His philosophical bent in mind and intuitive knowledge impressed many people.
Adi Shankara advocated the Advaita school of Hinduism and was a strong believer of non duality of existence. His life span was short one of just thirty two years but in such a short span he contributed to the cause of Hinduism immensely. His works such as Saundaryalahari, Vivekachudamani, Atmabodha, etc are immortal. Commentaries on the Bhagavad Gita, Brahmasutra and many major Upanishads have been written by Adi Shankara. He was the one to start the Shankaracharya tradition and for establishing the Shankara Matths.
Undoubtedly, after Gautama Buddha, it was Adi Shankaracharya who became the greatest son of the Indian subcontinent. Not only did he revive Hinduism but when Islam was becoming a major challenge for Hinduism, it was Adi Shankaracharya who strengthened its base. There is no one who can be compared to Adi Shankara for his contributions as a scholar and philosopher.
This 8th century theologian and philosopher of India consolidated the doctrine of Advaita Vedanta in early 8th century. His four disciples are Hastamalakacharya, Padmapadacharya, Totakacharya and Sureshwaracharya. The title Shankaracharya is commonly used for Matthas or heads of monasteries in the Vedanta tradition. Shankaracharyas are the successive line of teachers dating back to him.
