Adi Sankara Jayanthi

Adi Sankara Jayanthi is observed as birth anniversary of Indian Guru and philosopher Adi Sankara. Adi Sankara was born in Kalady which is situated in Kerala during 788 C.E. Sankaracharya is believed to be an incarnation of Lord Shiva. Sankaracharya was born when Hinduism as a religion was in chaos and decaying. He re-established the Vedic tradition with his excellent commentaries on Brahma sutras, Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita.

Adi Sankaracharya Jayanti is observed on Panchami Tithi during Shukla Paksha of Vaishakha month and currently falls between April and May.

Significance of Adi Sankara Jayanthi

Adi Sankara Jayanthi is regarded as Philosopher’s Day and teachings of Adi Sankaracharya’s principles are conducted at Adi Sankaracharya matts. Adi Sankara’s teachings were mainly based on Advaita (Non-dualism) – the unity of Brahman and the soul. The philosophy of Sankaracharya is within the reach of even the layman. Vedanta is not the only aspect of philosophy he has preached to the world. He encourages the worship of various forms of the Lord and promoted Bhakti. He worked untiringly for the welfare of mankind which marks him out as a veritable, dynamic Karma Yogi. Superstitions and corrupt practices melted away in no time. The form of Hinduism which is practiced today is influenced by Sankaracharya’s teachings. Sri Sankara assigned a Veda for each center, making sure each would sustain and propagate that particular Veda. Puri had Rig Veda, Sringeri had Yajur Veda, Dwaraka had Sama Veda, and Badrinath had Atharvana Veda. In addition he composed hymns on Lord Shiva, Vishnu, Ganesha, Subrahmanya, Sharada, Saraswathi, Lakshmi and Narasimha. His hymns nourish devotional feelings in people. His most famous literary work is the Bhaja Govindam.

Spiritual Significance of Adi Sankara Jayanthi            

We celebrate Adi Sankaracharya’s birthday to pay our salutations, gratitude, and respect to him and the purity of the Knowledge. “Religion is realization” is the bold assertion of Adi Sankaracharya. Adi Sankara Jayanthi is a great occasion for people to chant Adi Sankaracharya Stotras, meditate, study his great works and realize the principles of Advaita Vedanta. Brahman (the Absolute) is alone real. This world is unreal and the individual soul is non-different from Brahman. This is the essence of his philosophy. Sri Sankaracharya showed how a man should live. The life should shine forth with pious qualities like knowledge, devotion and self-control. He also emphasizes the importance of one having a Guru. He says, “Any person who realizes ‘I am That Brahman’ through the unparalleled mercy and glance of the Sadguru, loses all feelings of doubt and with his mind free from illusion, attains liberation even while living in the body”. This shows how much devotion and respect he has towards his Guru.