Sri Sri Jagadguru Shankaracharya Mahasamsthanam, Dakshinamanaya Sri Sharada Peetham, Sringeri



Dakshinamnaya Sri Sharada Peetham, Sringeri

Works of Sri Adi Shankaracharya


Sri Adi Shankaracharya is arguably the most important philosopher in the history of Advaita Vedanta. It is Shankaracharya’s interpretation of the source texts of Vedanta that lays the foundation for classical Advaita. He taught the universality of the Vedic religion and successfully rid it of the contradictions of its partisan adherents of different schools. He also synthesized the triple way of karma, bhakti and jnana assigning to each its proper and necessary place in the unitary method of achieving liberation from the ills of samsara.

All these stemmed from the philosophy of Advaita which he taught as the central truth of the Upanishads, the Bramhasutras and the Bhagavat Gita known as the Prasthanatraya of Indian  philosophy. He explained this at length lucidly and cogently in a language characterized as prasannagambhira in his commentaries on all three of them. That they have been surviving in the thoughts and utterances of men during the centuries that have elapsed since He wrote and that they have secured understanding appreciation even from people of alien faiths in lands far removed from ours is eloquent vindication of their truth and vitality.

A large number of (short) Advaita treatises, called Prakarana Granthas, are also attributed to Sankara. These works are often used to teach beginners. A large number of Stotras (hymns) are also attributed to Sankara. These range from the famous Bhaja Govindam hymn to the Dakshinamurti Stotram.

Apart from the aforementioned major works, Sri Adi Shankaracharya is also said to have written numerous other texts, like the Yogasutra Vivarana Bhashya and a commentary on the Adhyatma Patala of the Apastamba Dharmasutra,and commentaries on the Vishnu Sahasranama and Lalita Trishati. A Sankhya work called Jayamangala and a Nyaya work called Sthirasiddhi are also attributed to him.

 
  • To that which is born, death is indeed certain; and to that which is dead, birth is certain. Therefore, knowing this, you ought not to grieve over (this) inevitable. Bhagavan Sri Krishna on Significance of God
  • Daylight and darkness, dusk and dawn, winter and springtime come and go. Time plays and life ebbs away. But the current of desire never leaves. Jagadguru Sri Adi Shankara Bhagavatpada on Mohamudgara
  • Once you begin to feel the presence of God, a joy unknown to you ever before will begin to be felt. The thought of his ever- living presence with you will be a great solace to you. Jagadguru Sri Chandrashekhara Bharati Mahaswamigal on Significance of God
  • Tendencies develop, regardless of the characteristic of the action performed. Hence, he who wishes to lead a proper life will do well to avoid evil deeds and to repeatedly perform virtuous deeds. Jagadguru Sri Abhinava Vidyatirtha Mahaswamigal on Significance of God
  • To err is human. Accepting one’s error and correcting oneself is a mark of nobility. Humility is the primary path to achieving nobility. Jagadguru Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamigal on Significance of God's Names