Greetings friends! Today is Adi Sankaracharya Jayanti:2023 ๐๐๐
Significance of birth anniversary of Jagatguru, who established “Char Dham”.
For ages, the supreme Vedic knowledge about the indwelling self (Sakshi Chaitanya) and the identity of “Brahman” has been transmitted through an unbroken lineage of preceptors and disciples to the modern age. However, during the prevalence of Buddhism, the progress was temporarily arrested. In the 8th century AD, Sri Shankaracharya appeared and revived the Vedic religion, re-establishing it for future generations.
Founder of Advaita Vedanta, Sri Adi Shankaracharya was born in Kerala, India in the 8th century. He is known for his commentaries on the Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita, and the Brahma Sutras, which are the foundational texts of Hinduism. His teachings emphasized the unity of all existence and the non-dual nature of the ultimate reality, which he called Brahman. Shankaracharya travelled across India between the age of 16 and 32. It is believed that at the age of 32, he left this world.
ย Shri Adi Shankaracharya said: ” there Exists one Absolute Brahman, who is “Sat-Chit-Ananda” and homogeneous in nature.
Adi Shankaracharya established four Mathas in four directions, which are known as “Char Dham”.
Sringeri Sharada Matha:
Located in Sringeri, Karnataka, this matha is dedicated to the goddess Sharada, who is considered to be the patron goddess of learning and wisdom.
Dwaraka Sharada Matha:
Located in Dwaraka, Gujarat, this matha is dedicated to the goddess Saraswati, who is the goddess of knowledge and learning in Hinduism.
Govardhan Matha:
Located in Puri, Odisha, this matha is dedicated to Lord Jagannath and is also known as the Dwarka matha.
Jyotir Matha:
Located in the state of Uttarakhand, in the northern part of India, this matha is dedicated to the worship of Lord Shiva. It is believed to have been established by Shankaracharya in the 8th century AD.
Works of Sri Adi Shankaracharya:
Shankaracharya is known for his commentaries, treatises, and philosophical works. Some of his most important works include:
- Advaita Vedanta: This work is a commentary on the Brahma Sutras, which is one of the foundational texts of Hinduism. It explains the philosophy of Advaita Vedanta, which emphasizes the non-dual nature of ultimate reality.
- Brahma Sutras: This is one of the foundational texts of Hinduism, which contains aphorisms that summarize the teachings of the Upanishads. Shankaracharya wrote a commentary on this text, called the Advaita Vedanta, which explains the philosophy of non-dualism.
- Upanishads: These are a collection of texts that contain philosophical and spiritual teachings and are considered to be one of the core texts of Hinduism. Shankaracharya wrote commentaries on several of the major Upanishads, including the Katha Upanishad, the Chandogya Upanishad, and the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad.
- Bhagavad Gita: This is a Hindu scripture that contains a dialogue between the warrior Arjuna and his charioteer, Lord Krishna. It is considered to be one of the most important texts of Hinduism, and Shankaracharya wrote a commentary on it called the Gita Bhashya.
Lines from Bhagavad Geeta - Viveka Chudamani: This work is a treatise on the nature of the self and the ultimate reality. It explains the concept of maya, or illusion, and how it leads to the mistaken belief in a separate self.
- Upadesasahasri: This work is a philosophical dialogue between Shankaracharya and his disciples, in which he explains the nature of reality and the path to enlightenment.
- Bhaja Govindam: This is a devotional poem that emphasizes the importance of spiritual practice and detachment from material possessions. ๏ฟผย ย ย Listen Bhaja Govindam๐
- Soundarya Lahari: This work is a collection of hymns and verses that praise the goddess Shakti, who represents the creative and transformative power of the universe.
Listen first 10 shlokas of Soundarya Lahari: – sung by Dr. Anamika Pandey, Senior Public Health Expert,ย Lucknow. ๐
To learn chanting and explanation of “Saundarya Lahari”, Dr. Anamika can be approached through her mail ID: Anamika.pandey29@gmail.com
And many more: – Nirvana Shatakam:๐
