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Revision as of 15:03, 4 August 2003 by 141.150.133.44 (talk)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Bhagwadpada Acharya Sankara (approximately 788-820 CE) was the most famous Advaitin philosopher, in fact the most famous Hindu. He vigorously opposed Buddhism, because it rejected the Vedas. He was born in Kaladi, a small village in Kerala, India.
At the time Hinduism had lost some of its appeal, because of the influence of Buddhism. Sankara stressed the importance of the Vedas and his work helped Hinduism regain strength and popularity.
His teachers include: Gaudapada and Govinda.
Although he had a short-lived lifespan, he had single handedly walked around India to restore the knowledge of the vedas and show once again their greatness. It is because of this man that a country almost entirely Buddhist became once again almost entirely Hindu, and it is credited to him whatever reminant of the Vedas we have left today.
Sankara's theology maintains that spiritual ignorance (Avidya) is caused by seeing the self (Atman where self is not. Discrimination needs to be developed in order to true from false and knowledge (jnana) from ignorance (avidya).
Books written by Sankara for certain are:
- The commentary Bhasya on the Brahma Sutra
- The commentary on the Brhadaranyaka Upanishad
- The commentary on the Taittiriya Upanishad
- The Thousand Teachings or Upadesasahasri
Books he probably wrote are:
- The commentary on Gaudapada's Karika to the Mandukya Upanishad
- The commentary on the Bhagavad Gita, though there is no scholarly agreement on this.
- A hymn to the Goddess, Saundaryalahari.