hey...
A continuation of my previous blog.. wherein I started talking about Gurus. I had introduced my guru as the Shankaracharya of 2 maths... this is just a background to how the Shankaracharya tradition came to being. I know this would seem uninteresting to quite a few reading this... but it makes good awareness and a wonderful followup is ensured!
About Adi Shankaracharya:
Childhood of Adi ShankaracharyaAdi Shankaracharya was born as Shankara in around 788 AD in a Brahmin family in Kaladi village of Kerala. He was born to Sivaguru and Aryamba a number of years after their marriage. It is said that Aryamba had a vision of Lord Shiva, in which he promised her that He would incarnate Himself in the form of her first-born child. The life history of Adi Shankracharya tells us that he showed great intelligence right from his childhood. He mastered all the Vedas and the Vedanta in gurukul itself and could recite the epics and Puranas by heart.Adopting Sanyasa (Monastic Life)Adi Shankaracharya was attracted towards sanyasa right from his childhood. One day, while bathing in the Purna River, Shankaracharya was attacked by a crocodile. Seeing his mother's incapability to rescue him, he asked her to give him the permission to renounce the world. Left with no other option, she agreed to it. Shankaracharya recited the mantras of renunciation and immediately, the crocodile left him. Thus started the life of Shankara as an ascetic. He left Kerala and moved towards South India in search of a Guru.
Adi Sankaracharya Teachings:
The philosophy and teachings of Adi Sankaracharya were based on the Advaita Vedanta. He preached 'Non-Dualism'. It means that each and every person has a divine existence, which can be identified with the Supreme God. The mere thought that human being is finite with a name and form subject to earthly changes, is to be discarded. The bodies are diverse, but the soul of all the separate bodies is the same, the Divine One.
The Four Adi Shankaracharya Peethas:
Vedanta Jnana Peetha, Sringeri (South India)
Govardhana Peetha in Jagannath Puri (East India)
Kalika Peetha, Dwaraka (West India)
Jyotih Peetha, Badarikashrama (North India
Someone in the world has to lay the paths that people would travel. Those lucky to realise that this search in the world is the only search thats got any worth to it. Sages such as Shankaracharya showcase a focus point for devotees to center their energies on. In return, they also provide the force and zest with which to carry on their teachings and propogate the faith which sustains 80% of the people living on the planet. Believe me when I say that the rest 20% of them are omitted, not because they dont believe in God or are not inclined to sprituality, but stats say its because they have not had the pleasure or the blessing to have an illuminating presence in their life that steers them to acheiving the real goals of life.
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