Adi Shankaracharya’s birth anniversary to be celebrated as Philosopher’s Day?

The government is considering a proposal to observe May 11, birthday of Adi Sankaracharya, as National Philosophers’ Day, as per a media report.

As per a report in The Indian Express, a proposal by an NGO has been floated to mark the birth anniversary of ancient sage Adi Sankaracharya.

The NGO was floated by Navodayam, founded by senior RSS member P Parmeshvar, and Faith Foundation, linked to RSS members.

The idea was reportedly mooted at an event some time back, which had Minister of State for Culture Mahesh Sharma as the chief guest.

RSS joint general secretary Krishna Gopal (designated by the Sangh as its representative to communicate with the BJP) and All India Sah Prachar Pramukh J Nandkumar were also present at the event.

Sharma was quoted by the Daily as saying – “We have received the proposal to celebrate the birth anniversary of Adi Sankaracharya as National Philosophers’ Day. We are considering it.”

It is said that Adi Sankaracharya was born in Kaladi in 788 AD and the heart of his philosophy of Advaita Vedanta (non-dualism) was Tat Twam Asi or Thou Art That, the famous phrase from the Chhandogya Upanishad.

This perceives the Self (Atman) as the Absolute Reality (Brahman).

He is also famous for his theory of Maya and change, according to Sankara, was an illusion.

At the same time, it is believed that the Adi Shankaracharya conceived the idea of ‘Char Dham’.

It means four holy destinations of God in the four directions in Indai – Badrinath, Rameshwaram, Puri and Dwarka.