Adi Shankara

c. 700 – c. 750 · exact dates unknown^[1][2]

Philosophy & Thought

Fun Facts About Adi Shankara

• Adi Shankara, says a story found in every hagiography, was caught by a crocodile at age eight and begged his mother to let him become an ascetic. She agreed, and he was freed.^[1]
• Over 300 texts are attributed to Shankara, but most were likely written by admirers, pretenders or scholars with the same name.^[1]
• The Advaita tradition dates Shankara to the 5th century BCE, while scholars place him in the 8th century CE, more than a thousand years later.^[1]
• Shankara was relatively unknown during his lifetime. The legendary Shankara, a hero who traveled India defeating rivals in debate, was created in the 14th century, centuries after his death.^[1]
• The title Shankaracharya, used by the heads of certain monasteries in India, is derived from Shankara's name.^[1]
• Adi Shankara was alive at the same time as Charlemagne — their lives overlapped for about 2 years (748–c. 750).^[1][2][3][4]

Adi Shankara, also called Adi Shankaracharya, was an Indian Vedic scholar-monk, philosopher, and teacher (acharya) of Advaita Vedanta. He wrote influential commentaries on the Brahma sutras and other texts, and in recent times is often revered as the most important Indian philosopher. Reliable information on Shankara's actual life is scant, and the historical influence of his works on Hindu intellectual thought has been questioned. The historical Shankara was probably relatively unknown and Vaishnava-oriented and his true impact lies in the popular perception of him as a heroic religious leader who re-established traditional Hinduism.^[1]

Contemporaries

Li Bai

49 yr overlap

Charlemagne

2 yr overlap

Questions About Adi Shankara

When was Adi Shankara born?

Adi Shankara was born about 700 and died about 750. The exact dates are not known.

What was Adi Shankara known for?

Adi Shankara was known for: Hindu philosopher of Advaita Vedanta. Adi Shankara, also called Adi Shankaracharya, was an Indian Vedic scholar-monk, philosopher, and teacher (acharya) of Advaita Vedanta. He wrote influential commentaries on the Brahma sutras and other texts, and in recent times is often revered as the most important Indian philosopher. Reliable information on Shankara's actual life is scant, and the historical influence of his works on Hindu intellectual thought has been questioned. The historical Shankara was probably relatively unknown and Vaishnava-oriented and his true impact lies in the popular perception of him as a heroic religious leader who re-established traditional Hinduism.

Who was alive at the same time as Adi Shankara?

Adi Shankara's closest contemporary was Li Bai. Their lives overlapped for 49 years.