Shankaracharya was born approximately 600 A.D. at a place named Kalandi near river Purna in the state of Kerala. There is a lot of confusion over his date of birth. Because such was the effect of Shankracharya on the Sanatana Dharam that there was a no. of saints with name Shankara after him. His father was a very learned and religious Brahmin named Shri Shivaguru and his mother was Subhadra. He was born on Shuklapanchami (fifth day of the brighter phase of the Moon) in the month of Vaishaka.
At the time of Shankar's birth, his parents had grown old. His father and mother had worshipped Lord Shiva with great devotion. An adage says that, pleased with their devotion, Lord Shiva blessed them with a boon and Himself took an incarnation as their son. So, the couple rightly named the baby as Shankar.
Shankar began to express his feelings in his mother tongue when he was only one year old. In his second year, he had byhearted the Puranas merely by listening to his mother.
His father passed away after accomplishing Shankar's Churakarm when he was only three years old. When he had reached the age of five, his Yogyopavitsanskar was carried out and then he was sent to a Gurukula for formal education. Within two years, he came back mastering all the subjects like all the four Vedas, Vedanta and the Vedangas. His teachers were surprised at his exceptional talent.
After finishing his education and mastering all the knowledge, Shankar expressed his desire to become an ascetic. But due to a mother's affection and love for her only child, Shankar was refused permission. Shankar was a great devotee of his mother. He did not want to become an ascetic causing pains to her heart. One day, he went along with his mother for a bath in a river. A crocodile caught hold of him. Finding her son in trouble, his mother started shouting in panic. Then, Shankar said to his mother that the crocodile would set him free if she gives her permission to become an ascetic. To save her son's life, his mother instantly gave him the permission.
In this way, he abandoned his home at a young age of eight. But before leaving her, he promised her that he would be present at the time of her death.
Shankar became a disciple of Swami Bhagwatpad who lived in the hermitage at the banks of the river Narmada. His Guru gave him the name of Bhagwatpujyapadacharya. Under the guidance of his Guru, Shankar mastered Yoga in a very short time. Pleased by his accomplishments, his teacher permitted him to go to Kashi and write annotation on Vedantas.
He arrived at Kashi. In a very short time, he became very famous and people accepted him as a teacher. His first disciple was Sanaadan who later on became famous as Padmacharya. While teaching his students and disciples, Shankar authored many scriptures.
One day, disguised as a Chandal, Lord Vishwanath appeared before him. When Shankaracharya recognized Him, Lord Shiva ordered him to annotate on Brahmasutra and engage himself in propagation of the Sanatan Dharma.
Later on, he travelled across the length and breadth of India and defeated many scholars in spiritual debates. He also established four Mathas(shrines) in the four corners of India for the protection and propogation of the Sanaatan Dharma.
When he arrived at Prayag, he met Kumarilbhatt who was in his dying moments. Kumarilbhatt advised him to go to Mahishmati in the district of Saharsa in Bihar and to have a debate with Mandan Mishra, a renowned scholar. In the debate, the wife of Mandan Mishra, Bharati acted as the mediator. The debate between Shankar and Mandan Mishra continued for many days and Mandan Mishra was finally defeated.
Bharati the wife of Mandan Mishra then challenged Shankar for a debate saying that the victory was not complete as she, as the better half of Mandan Mishra, had not been defeated. Shankar accepted her challenge and the religious debate began. But when Bharati changed her topic to Kamashastra (sexual science), Shankar demanded some time to answer those questions which Bharati accepted.
Shankaracharya left that place. On the way he saw a dead body of a king being carried to the cremation ground for the performance of the last rites. By his yogic powers, Shankaracharya translocated his soul in the body of the king and preserved his own body keeping it safely somewhere.
Shankaracharya's soul which was in the body of the king learnt the secrets of Kamashastra from the queen and then returned back to Bharati and defeated her. Mandan Mishra accepted his disciplehood. He was later on known as Sureshwaracharya. Shankaracharya established many Mathas and started giving sermons on the principles of the Upanishads.
Once a Kapaalik (a shaiva sect carrying human skull) requested him to give his head so that he could accomplish his Sadhana (spiritual practice). Shankaracharya generously agreed to his demand. During the state of Samadhi as the Kapaalik was about behead him, one of his disciples, Padmapada came to know about this in the state of his meditation, being informed by his deity, Narsimha. He arrived at the scene and killed the Kapaalik.
Shankaracharya had contributed in the construction of many temples. Because of his teachings, countless number of people followed the virtuous path after quitting their evil ways.
Shankaracharya considered devotion as the best means to attain self-knowledge. He himself was a great devotee. Many Shlokas also bear testimony to the fact that he was also an ardent devotee of Lord Krishna. He had made quotations of many Shlokas connected with Lord Shiva. He wrote many sacred books like Brahmasutra Bhashya, Upanishad(Ish , Ken, Katha,Prashna, Mundaka, Mandukya) Bhashya, Gita Bhashya, Vishnu Sahasranama Bhashya, Sanatsujatiya bhashya, Hastamalak Bhashya, Lalitatrishati Bhashya, Viveka Chudamani, Prabodh Sudhakar, Updesh Sahashri, Aprokshanubhuti, Satashloki, Dasha shloki, Sabvedant Siddhantsaar Sangraha, Vakya Sudha, Panchikaran, Prapanchasara, Atma Bodh, Manishapanchak Anandlahiri, Vividh stotra etc.
Shankaracharya's philosophies were of the highest quality. The philosophers of the world give respect to his philosophy.
The advent of Shankaracharya was at the crucial time when the Sanaatan religion was facing the fear of extinction from all sides. The Sanaatan religion owes a lot to Shankaracharya for its survival
