Sankara
(c. 788–820 CE), Brahman philosopher. Sankara (commonly called Sankaracarya) was born in Kaladi, Kerala, southern India, in about 788 CE. The most important of this philosopher's many works is the Brahmasutra Bhasya, a masterpiece of logical analysis and graceful Sanskritic style. It has acquired many commentaries by later authors. Sankara himself wrote commentaries on the principal Upanishads and on the Brahma Sutra and Bhagavad Gita. It was in these that he developed his doctrine of monism (advaita), his lasting contribution to Indian philosophies. He traveled all over India explaining the idea of monism, a metaphysical view that there is only one form of reality, called Brahman (not the same word as the Brahman, which denotes a member of the priestly castes). The apparent plurality of things and persons in the observable world is the result of cosmic ignorance (Maya), which hides the underlying unity of Brahman. All selves are basically identical, since in essence they are one with Brahman.
Although he died fairly young, the fruit of Sankara's missionary travels demonstrated that he was a great organizer, who established famous monasteries in India at Sringeri in Karnataka, Puri in Orissa, Dwaraka in Gujarat, and Badrinath in the Himalayan foothills. The influence of these religious centers has been immeasurable, and they are still flourishing. In the twentieth century, the Advaita School was revived as Vedantic Hinduism and developed a worldwide following.
Further Reading
Bhattacharya, Surendranath. (c. 1947) "The Philosophy of Sankara." In The Cultural Heritage of India. Sri Ramakrishna Centenary Memorial. Vol. 1. Calcutta, India: Sri Ramakrishna Centenary Committee, 549–575.
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