SHANKARA

Shankara, or Shankaracharya, was one of the greatest philosopher-saints of India, and chief exponent of Advaita (nondualistic) Vedanta.  The dates assigned to him vary form the 6th to the 8th century A.D.

Shankara was born in western Malabar, South India.  At the age of eight, when he renounced the world, he was thoroughly conversant in Vedic literature.  During his brief life span of 32 years, he organized a system of monastic denominations which is still in existence today.

His literary output which is quite enormous includes commentaries on the Vedanta Sutras, on the principal Upanishads, and on the Gita.  Two major philosophical works, the Upadeshasahasri and the Vivekachudamani (the Crest Jewel of Discrimination), are attributed to him.  He wrote, as well, many poems, hymns, prayers, and minor works on Vedanta.

Shankara travelled across India and other parts of South Asia to propagate his philosophy through discourses and debates with other thinkers.  He founded four mathas (monasteries), which helped in the historical development, revival and spread of Advaita Vedanta.  Shankara is believed to be the organizer of the Dashanami monastic order and the founder of the Shanmata tradition of worship.

Advaita (nondualism) is often called a monistic system of thought.  The word "Advaita" essentially refers to the identity of the Self (Atman) and the Whole (Brahman.)  Advaita Vedanta holds that the one unchanging entity (Brahman) alone exists, and that changing entities, all forms in the material world, do not.  The ocean's waves have no existence separate from the ocean, he said.  A quote that succinctly summarizes his philosophy is: 

"Brahman is the only truth. The spatio-temporal world is an illusion, and there is ultimately no difference between Brahman and the individual Self (Atman)."