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Adi Shankara was an early medieval Indian philosopher and teacher, traditionally dated to the eighth century, who systematised the non-dualist school of Advaita Vedanta. According to tradition he travelled across India debating rival schools and founded monasteries that still exist today.
Biography
Young renunciant
According to traditional biographies, Shankara was born in Kalady, Kerala, and became a sannyasi (renunciant) as a boy, studying under the teacher Govinda Bhagavatpada on the banks of the Narmada. Much about his life comes from later hagiographies and is uncertain.
Advaita Vedanta
Shankara taught that the individual self (atman) and ultimate reality (Brahman) are one, and that the world of distinctions is a kind of illusion (maya) arising from ignorance. His commentaries on the principal Upanishads, the Brahma Sutras and the Bhagavad Gita became foundational texts of Hindu philosophy.
Debates and travels
Tradition says he travelled the length of India debating scholars of other schools, including the famous debate with Mandana Mishra, and helped revive Vedic thought.
Monasteries
He is credited with founding mathas (monasteries) at Sringeri, Dwarka, Puri and Jyotirmath, which are still led by Shankaracharyas. Tradition holds that he died young, at Kedarnath in the Himalayas.
Notable works
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Commentary on the Brahma Sutras Book
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Commentaries on the Upanishads Book
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Commentary on the Bhagavad Gita Book
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Vivekachudamani (attributed) Book
Did you know?
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1
Tradition says he died at Kedarnath aged about 32.
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2
The monasteries he is said to have founded are at India’s four corners.
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3
His exact dates are still debated by historians.
Connections
Frequently asked
Who is Adi Shankara?
Adi Shankara was an early medieval Indian philosopher and teacher, traditionally dated to the eighth century, who systematised the non-dualist school of Advaita Vedanta. According to tradition he travelled across India debating rival schools and founded monasteries that still exist today.
Where is Adi Shankara from?
Adi Shankara was born in Kalady, Kerala (traditional).
What is Adi Shankara known for?
Adi Shankara is best known for Advaita Vedanta; commentaries on the Upanishads, Brahma Sutras and Bhagavad Gita; founding monasteries across India.
References
- Adi Shankara — Wikipedia. Wikipedia. Retrieved 27 October 2026.
- Adi Shankara — Britannica. Encyclopaedia Britannica. Retrieved 27 October 2026.
- Adi Shankara — Hindi Wikipedia. Wikipedia (Hindi). Retrieved 27 October 2026.
- Adi Shankara (Q180967) — structured data. Wikidata. Retrieved 27 October 2026.
Includes material from the Wikipedia article “Adi Shankara”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. That text is available under the same licence. Learn more
External links
About this profile
- Researched by the TrackFame editorial team; reviewed by Sanjay Sokal under our editorial policy
- First published 27 October 2026
- Last updated
Cite this page
“Adi Shankara.” TrackFame, last updated 28 October 2026. https://trackfame.com/person/adi-shankara
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