Adi Sankaracharya Advaita Philosophy

Bhagavan Sankara was the first acharya to write commentary on all the major Upanishads, Srimad Bhagavatgita and on Vyasa Sutras called Brahmasutram. His deliberations on every sutram goes well with his commentary on the relevant upanishad Mantras. Other commentators have concentrated only on the sutras independently, that too as a refutation for Sankara’s Sutra Bhashyam. Sri Adi Sankara as a young boy, became a renunciate after traditionally studying all the Vedic literatures. He traveled for thousands of miles from his place to find his guru who was in meditation for a long time. His guru Sri Govind Bhagavadpada was the disciple of Sri Gowdapada who was a teacher par excellence well known for his Karika on the Mandukyopanishad. Under him he learnt the techniques of properly interpreting the Sastras with a view to gain the absolute. Before writing commentaries on Brahmasutram, he elaborately commented upon eleven main upanishads carefully selected from eleven different sakhas and also upon Bhagavadgita which gives the essence of the Upanishad teachings. We can see consistency in his commentaries only. He has written so many Prakarana Granthas on different topics associated with the Upanishadic teachings. Devotional songs rendered by him are also very popular.