Adi Shankaracharya (788-820 AD):
- Why in the News? : Four panchaloha idols of Adi Shankaracharya, made by a team of artisans in Thanjavur district, was installed at Kedarnath, Badrinath and Uttaramanya Jyotirmath in Uttarakhand.
- Introduction : He was born in the village of Kalady, Kerala, in 788 CE. He attained samadhi at Kedarnath at the young age of 32. He wrote several important commentaries on the Vedas, Upanishads and Brahma Sutras.
- Advaita Vedanta : Adi Shankaracharya formulated the philosophy of ‘Advaita Vedanta’, whose basic principle is : ‘Brahma Satyam, Jagat Mithya, Jivo Brahmaiva Naparah’ (Brahma is the only truth, this world is false, and the being is actually Brahma).
- Establishment of four monasteries : He established four monasteries in the four corners of India to spread Hinduism and maintain unity -Badarinath (Jyotirmath) in the north, Sringeri in the south, Dwarka (Sharada Peetha) in the west and Puri (Govardhan Peethaj in the east.
- Revival Of Hinduism : At a time when the influence of Buddhism and Jainism was increasing, he reestablished Hinduism through debates and his philosophy.
- Major works : Some of his major works include Brahmasutra Bhashya, Bhagavad Gita Bhashya, Commentary on the Upanishads and Vivekachudamani.