birth and life History
Date of Birth: 507 BC
Place of Birth: Kaladi, Kerala, India
Date of Death:
Place of Death: Kedarnath, Uttarakhand, India
Father: Sivaguru
Mother: Aryamba
Teacher/Guru: Govinda Bhagavatpada
Disciples: Padmapada, Totakacharya, Hasta Malaka, Sureshvara
Philosophy: Advaita Vedanta
Founder of: Dashanami Sampradaya, Advaita Vedanta
Place of Birth: Kaladi, Kerala, India
Date of Death:
Place of Death: Kedarnath, Uttarakhand, India
Father: Sivaguru
Mother: Aryamba
Teacher/Guru: Govinda Bhagavatpada
Disciples: Padmapada, Totakacharya, Hasta Malaka, Sureshvara
Philosophy: Advaita Vedanta
Founder of: Dashanami Sampradaya, Advaita Vedanta
Shankara, as he was known before becoming a great teacher, was born into a poor Brahmin family at Kaladi, present day Kerala, India. His parents, Sivaguru and Aryamba, offered their prayers to Lord Shiva, requesting the deity to bless them with a child. Their prayers were soon answered in the form of a baby boy. A few theories suggest that Aryamba had a dream in which Lord Shiva himself promised her that he would be taking birth as her child. Hence, many consider Shankara as a reincarnation of Shiva. Shankara was educated by his mother as he lost his father when he was just seven. Aryamba played a key role in teaching Vedas and Upanishads to a young Shankara.
There is a lot of confusion regarding the birth-date of Shankara as different sources have proposed several different dates. The most accepted birth-date places him as a scholar from the first half of the 8th century CE.
There is a lot of confusion regarding the birth-date of Shankara as different sources have proposed several different dates. The most accepted birth-date places him as a scholar from the first half of the 8th century CE.
