Adi Shankaracharya

Shankaracharya, born in the early 8th century CE in Kerala, India, stands as a towering figure in the annals of Indian philosophy. Revered as a prodigious thinker and spiritual reformer, he is best known for consolidating the doctrine of Advaita Vedanta, an intricate school of thought that expounds on the non-dualistic nature of the universe. According to this philosophy, the individual soul ('Atman') and the universal soul ('Brahman') are one and the same.

Through his rigorous travels, debates, and discourses, Shankaracharya revived the Vedic tradition, countering the growing influence of Buddhism and Jainism of his time. His commentaries on the Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, and Brahma Sutras provide deep insights into the essence of life, the universe, and the pursuit of self-realization.

A glimpse into the profound depth of his thought can be captured through some of his notable quotes:

"Awake, arise! Find those great souls who can teach you the truth and, once you have found them, receive the teachings of the ultimate truth from them with all your heart."

"Brahma Satyam Jagat Mithya, Jivo Brahmaiva Naparah" — "Brahman is the only truth, the world is unreal, and there is ultimately no difference between Brahman and individual soul."

"In this world, there is no purifier as great as knowledge."