Sankaracharya Philosophy

Sankaracharya Philosophy Sankara wrote Bhashyas or commentaries on the Brahma Sutras, the Upanishads and the Gita.The Bhashya on the Brahma Sutras is called Sareerik Bhasya. Sankara wrote commentaries on Sanat Sujatiya and Sahasranama Adhyaya. It is usually said, “For learning logic and metaphysics, go to Sankara's commentaries; for gaining practical knowledge, which unfolds and strengthens devotion, go to his works such as Viveka Chudamani, Atma Bodha, Aparoksha Anubhuti, Ananda Lahari, Atma-Anatma Viveka, Drik-Drishya Viveka and Upadesa Sahasri”. Sankara wrote innumerable original works in verses which are matchless in sweetness, melody and thought. Sankara’s supreme Brahman is Nirguna (without the Gunas), Nirakara (formless), Nirvisesha (without attributes) and Akarta (non-agent). He is above all needs and desires. Sankara says, "This Atman is self-evident. This Atman or Self is not established by proofs of the existence of the Self. It is not possible to deny this Atman, for it is the very essence of he who denies it. The Atman is the basis of all kinds of knowledge. The Self is within, the Self is without, the Self is before and the Self is behind. The Self is on the right hand, the Self is on the left, the Self is above and the Self is below". Satyam-Jnanam-Anantam-Anandam are not separate attributes. They form the very essence of Brahman. Brahman cannot be described, because description implies distinction. Brahman cannot be distinguished from any other than He. The objective world-the world of names and forms-has no independent existence. The Atman alone has real existence. The world is only Vyavaharika or phenomenal. the illusion of the snake will vanish. He was the expounder of the Advaita philosophy. He was a powerful magnet. calmness and firmness of his mind. For Sankara and his works. There is not one branch of knowledge which Sankara has left unexplored and which has not received the touch. Sankara is the foremost among the master-minds and the giant souls which Mother India has produced. Sankara preached Vivarta Vada. Just as the snake is superimposed on the rope. this world and this body are superimposed on Brahman or the Supreme Self. polish and finish of his superhuman intellect. Jnani and Bhakta. He was a Karma Yogin of no mean order.Sankara was the exponent of the Kevala Advaita philosophy. if you get a knowledge of Brahman. the illusion of the body and the world will vanish. the Jiva is identical with Brahman. Sankara was a giant metaphysician. The loftiness. a practical philosopher. His grasping and elucidating powers knew no bounds. . an infallible logician. Even so. this world is unreal. His teachings can be summed up in the following words: Brahma Satyam Jagat Mithya. a dynamic personality and a stupendous moral and spiritual force. He was a fully developed Yogi. we have a very high reverence. If you get a knowledge of the rope. his clearness of expression-all these make us revere the philosopher more and more. Jeevo Brahmaiva Na Aparah Brahman alone is real. His teachings will continue to live as long as the sun shines. the impartiality with which he deals with various questions. that of Sankaracharya will be found to be the most congenial and the most easy of acceptance to the modern mind. or the Sringeri Sharada Peetham. a gifted poet and a great religious reformer. Even the Western scholars of the present day pay their homage and respects to him.Sankara's scholarly erudition and his masterly way of exposition of intricate philosophical problems have won the admiration of all the philosophical schools of the world at the present moment. never in the history of any literature. Of all the ancient systems. or the Dvaraka Pitha. Sankara was an intellectual genius. the western matha. at Dwarka . an able propagandist. the Govardhana matha. the southern matha. a matchless preacher. Books written by Adi Shankaracharya Adi Shankara wrote commentaries on    Brahmasūtra Aitareya Upaniṣad (Rigveda) Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad (Śukla Yajurveda) . a profound philosopher. Perhaps. at Puri the Dakshināmnāya matha. at Shringeri the Paśchimāmnāya matha. a stupendous writer like him has been found. Maths established by Shankaracharya There were four mathas established by Ādi Śankara:     the Uttarāmnāya matha. or northern matha at Jyotir Math in the city of Jyotirmath the Pūrvāmnāya matha or eastern matha. Īśa Upaniṣad (Śukla Yajurveda)  Taittirīya Upaniṣad (Kṛṣṇa Yajurveda)  Śvetāśvatara Upaniṣad (Kṛṣṇa Yajurveda)  Kaṭha Upaniṣad (Kṛṣṇa Yajurveda)  Kena Upaniṣad (samaveda)  Chāndogya Upaniṣad (samaveda) [note 1]  Māṇḍūkya Upaniṣad (Atharvaveda) and Gauḍapāda Kārika  Muṇḍaka Upaniṣad (Atharvaveda)  Praśna Upaniṣad (Atharvaveda)  Bhagavadgīta (Mahabhārata)  Vishnu Sahasranama (Mahabhārata)  Sānatsujātiya (Mahabhārata)  Gāyatri Mantraṃ Prakaraṇa grantha[edit source | editbeta] Adi Shankara wrote the following treatises             Vivekacūḍāmaṇi (Crest-Jewel of Wisdom)[note 2] Upadeśasāhasri (A thousand teachings) Śataśloki Daśaśloki Ekaśloki Pañcīkaraṇa Ātma bodha Aparokṣānubhūti Sādhana Pañcakaṃ Nirvāṇa Ṣaṭkam Manīśa Pañcakaṃ . Ganesha and Subrahmanya[10]                 Ganesha Pancharatnam Annapurnashtakam Kalabhairavashtakam Dakshinamurthy Stotram Krishnashtakam Bhaja Govindaṃ. Vishnu. Devi.Yati Pañcakaṃ  Vākyasudha  Tattva bodha  Vākya vṛtti  Siddhānta Tattva Vindu  Nirguṇa Mānasa Pūja  Prasnottara Ratna Malika (The Gem-Garland of Questions and Answers) Stotra[edit source | editbeta] Adi Shankara composed many hymns on Shiva. also known as Mohamuḍgara Śivānandalahari Saundaryalahari Śrī Lakṣmīnṛsiṃha Karāvalamba Stotraṃ Śāradā Bhujangaṃ Kanakadhāra Stotraṃ Bhavāni Aṣṭakaṃ Śiva Mānasa Pūja Pandurangashtakam Subramanya Bhujangam .