The most influential Hindu philosopher, Sri Adi Shankaracharya (788-820 CE), stood historically vegetating as the most commanding figure in its entirety. Unexplainably, he founded the substratum of the philosophy of Advaita Vedanta during his brief thirty-two years, revitalized Hinduism through a tough fight with Buddhism and Jainism, and established an enduring model of all known forms of institutional framework that influence Hindu thought to this day.

Life and Work of the Early Shankara

He was born at Kaladi, Kerala, in the family of a Namburi Brahmin. An orthodox tradition says that Shankara was an intellectual giant even in childhood, studying all the Vedas by age eight. When allowed by his mother, he renounced the world and became a sannyâsin (monk), undergoing the guidance of Govinda Bhagavatpâda, a direct disciple of Gaudapâda.  

In this situation of extreme need, when Buddhism had completely overwhelmed the Hindu mind and Jainism was rapidly taking the most fiercely hostile reaction against this malaise, he did undertake his peculiar digvijaya, going from one stage to another debating issues with conflicting parties about the philosophy in order to reestablish the authority of the Vedas and Upanishads.

 His Unyielding School of Philosophical Thought

What makes Shankara significant is his coherent exposition of the doctrine of Advaita Vedânta or non-dualism: "Real is that Certainty known as 'That,' while 'that thou seest' operates as delusory-like an appearance to be seen in a thing actually so!" On the basis of this principle, he advanced the following view:

 - Brahmajnâna is the Hindu's salvation and the only reality: Concerning this issue, Shankara writes, "Brahman is the cause of the creation, maintenance, and dissolution of the universe." This ultimate reality is formless, attributeless (nirguna), and transcends all dualities, according to the Main Sutra.

- The Principle of Mâyâ: This visible world is therefore not rightly real or substantial, but only apparently so; as Shankara pointed out in the Mandukya Upanishad (2:12), "Like the apparent silver in mother-of-pearls, the world appears to be real until the knowledge of Brahman arises." 

- Identity of the Atman with Brahm.çareerhayaaeee: Shankara equally quoted the mahâvâkya as Tat Tvamey Ti on chan., viii.7 where he seems successful in dealing with any question to this very end of unshakable intellectual stability whence one decides his further dispositions.

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