24
votes
Was Adi Shankaracharya a Shaiva or a Vaishnava? What were his views on Shiva and Vishnu?
Shankaras Advaita is called Kevala Advaita ie. Only Advaita; there is no duality at all and any duality that is perceived is just due to ignorance. Here are some features of Shankara's philosophy:
1) ...
- 48.2k
21
votes
Accepted
Help me to find out the verse : "Brahma satyam jagat mithya, jivo brahmaiva naparah"
Good question. Always quoted as Sankara, but no one gives the source text. It is from Sankara's Brahmajnanavalimala verse 20. It is available here
20. brahma satyam jaganmithyA jIvo brahmaiva ...
- 23.8k
17
votes
Do followers of dvaita really believe that advaitins are "deceitful demons"?
It is because they cite a specific verse from garuDa purANa which says maNiman demon reincarnated in kali yuga.
As per them the incarnation of vaayu in dwapara yuga was Bheem sena and the incarnation ...
- 19.1k
16
votes
Accepted
Was Adi Shankaracharya’s Parakaya Pravesha to learn Kamashastra Dharmic?
Renowned Advaitin Sri Vidyarana Swami had written a biography of Sri Adi Shankara. And this instance is also recorded in it.
Canto 9 of Madhaviya Shankara Digvijaya records this incident. Shankara ...
- 48.2k
15
votes
Accepted
What scriptures mention Shiva's Dakshinamurthi form?
Dakshinamurty form of Lord Shiva is described in Suta Samhita of Skanda Purana in Mochak Kathanam of Mukti Khanda. Here is the description of form:
गड़्गाधरं शिवं शान्तं लसत्केयूरमण्डितम् ।
सर्वा...
- 48.2k
15
votes
Accepted
Are there any other Puranas that predict Adi Shanakaracharya besides the Bhavishya Purana?
Yes, other Puranas do mention about prophecy of Adi Shankara. As per Kamakoti Site, there are references to Adi Shankara being Avatara of Lord Shiva in Kurma Purana, Markandeya Purana, Aditya Purana, ...
- 31.1k
15
votes
Accepted
Did Adi Shankaracharya really believe in Hari-Hara abheda?
If you clearly read full Vishnu Sahasranama Bhasya of Adi Shankara, then it is clearly seen that he holds Hari Hara Abheda. Some points which I also discuss in my answer here.
While commenting on the ...
- 48.2k
14
votes
K.S. Bhagavan's critique of Adi Shankara
In brief, the situation is:
A rationalist has analyzed a text written in C++ into English because both look similar. He has critisized C++ for "bad grammar". Certain extremists are behind his life ...
- 19.7k
14
votes
Which are the principle texts/scriptures of Advaita Vedanta?
One of the purest Advaitic texts is the Astavakra Samhita. This is the only book that Ramakrishna Paramahamsa kept in his room. Again, it is pure Advaita.
Another is the Pancadasi by Sri Vidyaranya ...
- 23.8k
14
votes
Accepted
What is the source for the famous conversation between Adi Shankara and Chandala
Conversation between Chandala (who is none other than Lord Shiva) and Adi Shankara can be found in Shankara Digvijaya (most famous biography of Adi Shankara) written by Madhavacharya (Vidyaranya
...
- 31.1k
14
votes
Is the "Bhaja Govindam" prayer attributed to Adi Sankara only a Bhakti text?
Bhaja Govindam stotra is attributed to Krishna or Vishnu.
The author of Bhaja Govindam stotra is Adi Shankaracharya. He also wrote commentary on Vishnu Sahasranama. He gave a detailed explanation of ...
- 25.7k
13
votes
Accepted
Why did Ramanujacharya & Adi Shankaracharya never refer to the Srimad Bhagavatam in their works?
There is a discussion about the date of the Bagavata Purana in the Introduction to the English translation by Swami Tapasyananda.
There was a view that attributed the authorship of the Bhagavata to
...
- 36.1k
13
votes
Who is Ishwar according to Advait Vedanta - Lord Shiva or Vishnu?
Pure Advaita considers forms of God as unreal. Thus it does not matter what name the unreal Ishvara is called.
Shankara considers Isvara or Brahman with attributes as ultimately unreal. He writes in ...
- 36.1k
12
votes
Accepted
What is the mystery of Hari Sankara Stotra composed by Adi Shankara?
Here, is that Stotra composed by Adi-Shankara. It has 11 verses and gives such double meanings that it can be used to praise Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu at the same time. It goes on praising 10 avatars ...
- 48.2k
12
votes
Accepted
How does Adishankaracharya Advaita explain concept of Avatar?
Adi Sankara taught that God incarnated. In his Introduction to his commentary on the Gita, Sankara says (Bhagavad Gita with the commentary of Sankaracarya, Swami Gambhirananda translator, pp 3-5):
...
- 23.8k
12
votes
Accepted
Why did Adi Sankaracharya compare the color of Ishwara's eyes to that of monkey's nates?
First of all, here is the Chandogya Upanishad verse in question:
tasya yathā kapyāsaṃ puṇḍarīkamevamakṣiṇī
tasyoditi nāma sa eṣa sarvebhyaḥ pāpmabhya udita
udeti ha vai sarvebhyaḥ pāpmabhyo ...
- 97.2k
12
votes
Accepted
What is the date of Adi Shankara, 8th century AD or 400 BC?
Summary: Adi Shankaracharya belonged to the 5th century BC only and this has been corroborated by various authentic records. As discussed here, the person dated to the 8th century is Abhinava Shankara....
- 10.9k
11
votes
Accepted
According to ShankarAchArya in Advaita, is the universe "unreal" or "unworthy"?
There is a common popular misconception in People that according to Advaita World doesn't exist at all. It is not true.
When we are deciding reality of things as per Advaita. Then, Advaita itself ...
- 48.2k
11
votes
Are Sri RamaKrishna's statements about attaining Brahman through Bhakti inline with Adi Shankara?
The single line answer is "Pure bhakthi and Pure Jnana are same".
If you try to study both gurus lives, you will understand that:
Sankaracharya is outwardly jnani but inside he is a pure bhaktha.
...
- 580
10
votes
Which are the principle texts/scriptures of Advaita Vedanta?
Apart from the works of Adi Sankara Bhagavatpada mentioned by Swami Vishwananda. I would like to say a few words. If you want to know about its philosophy like bird's view, there are many books ...
- 3,517
10
votes
Why is Sankaracharya accused as Pracchana Bauddha (crypto-buddhist) by many Vedantins?
It is very natural that Vaishnavas do not like Sankara's interpretation of Vedanta. You can read my answer to another question here:
Did Shankara reject some doctrines of Atman or Brahman in order to ...
- 36.1k
10
votes
From which scripture does Adi Shankara quote about Maheswara shaping name and forms of all beings from the words of Veda?
This quote with slight variation is present in Chapter 7, Purvabhaga of Kurma Purana.
अव्ययं च व्ययं चैव द्वयं स्थावरजङ्गमम्। तेषां ये यानि कर्माणि
प्राक् सृष्टेः प्रतिपेदिरे॥ ६४॥ तान्येव ते ...
- 31.1k
10
votes
Who is Ishwar according to Advait Vedanta - Lord Shiva or Vishnu?
What is Ishwara?
According to Sarva Vedanta Siddhanta Saara Sangraha (You can get Sanskti-Hindi version from Internet Archive).
verses 310-317 Ishvara
॥ १४ ॥ ईश्वरः॥
मायोपहितचैतन्यं साभासं ...
- 26k
10
votes
Accepted
Who are the pseudo-advaitins referred to by Shringeri Acharya? Does Adi Shankara state characteristics of true advaitins?
Thanks to Rickross and Partha for their answers. You are not wrong. But this question is significant even in Advaita circles and deserves a level of detail which neither have covered.
Advaita, during ...
- 2,394
10
votes
Is it true that Adi SankarAcharaya cursed Hindus of Kerala?
As per Sringeri official site, Abridged Madhaviya Shankara Digvijayam, part-4, Shankaracharya visits her mother when she is sick, and then he gives her knowledge of supreme brahman, after listening ...
- 7,247
9
votes
How long did Adi Shankaracharya live?
Quoting from here ,
Shankara’s dates
Modern scholarship is agreed on dates in the 8th century C.E., though
it has proved impossible to reach agreement on Shankara’s precise
dates of birth ...
- 111k
9
votes
Accepted
What scriptures describe Brahma's son Sanatkumara being reborn as Shiva's son Kartikeya?
The 37th Chapter of the Mahatmya Kanda of the Tripura Rahasya details the story of Sanatkumara incarnating as Kartikeya.
Lord Dattatreya relates the story of Lord Muruga to Parashurama, listening to ...
- 6,240
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible