Adi Shankaracharya

Adi Shankara, also known as Adi Shankaracharya, was an 8th-century Indian Vedic scholar, monk, philosopher, and teacher (acharya) of Advaita Vedanta. While often considered the most important Indian philosopher, reliable information on his life is scarce, and the historical influence of his works has been questioned. The legendary Shankara was created in the 14th century, centuries after his death, deifying him as a ruler-renunciate who traveled India spreading his philosophy. Hagiographies from the 14th-17th centuries portray him as founding four monastic centers (mathas), organizing the Dashanami monastic order, and unifying the Shanmata tradition of worship. Tradition also credits him with reconciling various Hindu sects through the Panchayatna form of worship. Over 300 texts are attributed to him, but only a few, including commentaries on the Brahmasutras, ten principal Upanishads, and the Bhagavad Gita, are considered authentic. His works present a harmonizing reading of the shastras, focusing on liberating knowledge of the self as Atman-Brahman. Shankara's Advaita shows influences from Mahayana Buddhism, leading to accusations of him being a 'crypto-Buddhist,' which the Advaita tradition rejects due to fundamental differences in their views on Atman, Anatman, and Brahman.