Shankaracharya (, , "Shankara-acharya") is a religious title used by the heads of amnaya monasteries called mathas in the Advaita Vedanta tradition of Hinduism. The title derives from Adi Shankara; teachers from the successive line of teachers retrospectively dated back to him are known as Shankaracharyas.
Etymology
The word Shankaracharya is composed of two parts, Shankara and Acharya. Acharya is a Sanskrit word meaning "teacher", so Shankaracharya means a "teacher in the tradition of Shankara".
Establishment of the tradition
Adi Shankara, the first Shankaracharya, set up four monasteries, known as Mathas or Peethams, in the North, South, East and West of India, to be headed by Self-realised men who would be known as Shankaracharyas. They would take on the role of teacher and could be consulted by anyone with sincere spiritual inquiries, and they would guide humanity in times of trouble and give solace. Apart from the four, another monastery, Kanchi Kamkoti Peetham in South India, is also believed to have been established by Adi Shankara. The table below gives an overview of the four main Shankaracharya Amnaya Mathas famously founded by Adi Shankara.
Further reading
- Mukhyananda, Swami (2006) Sri Shankaracharya: life and philosophy: An elucidative and reconciliatory interpretation, 4th ed.; ; Kolkata; Advaita Ashrama
- Esoteric Buddhism by A.P. Sinnett, pp 81
See also
- Adi Shankara
- Kalady, Kerala - Birthplace of Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya
- Govardhan Peetham (East), Puri, Odisha
- Dwarka Sharada Peetham (West), Dwarka, Gujarat
- Jyotirmaya Peetham (North), Joshimath, Uttarakhand
- Sringeri Sharada Peetham (South), Sringeri, Karnataka
- Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham, Kancheepuram, Tamil Nadu
- Sri Jayendra Saraswathi, Shankaracharya of Kanchi
- Swami Abhinava Vidya Tërtha, Shankaracharya of Sringeri
- Swami Bharati Tërtha, Shankaracharya of Sringeri
- Swami Bharatikrishna Tërtha, scholar; mathematician; first Sankaracharya to visit the West
- Swami Brahmananda Sarasvati, Srividya Siddh Sankaracharya of Jyotirmaya Pitha, Shankara Matha, Badrinath
- Swami Shantanand Saraswati, Shankaracharya of Jyotirmaya Pitha
- Swami Swarupananda Sarasvati, Shankaracharya of Jyotirmaya Pitha, Sankara Matha, Badrinath
- Swami Candrasekhara Bharati, Shankaracharya of Sringeri
- Swami Saccidananda Bharati, Shankaracharya of Sringeri
- Swami Sacchidananda Bharati, Shankaracharya of Sringeri
- Swami Sacchidananda Shivabhinava Ná¹Âusimha Bharati, Shankaracharya of Sringeri
- Swami Vidyaranya Tërtha, Shankaracharya of Sringeri
- Sri Sri Raghaveshwara Bharati, Jagadguru of Ramachandrapura Matha
References
External links