Article By: Holistic Life Mentor Dr. Badri Narayanan. Ph:95000 64319.

Adi Shankaracharya was born in Kaladi villege of Kerala, in 509 B.C. on Vaishakha Sukla Panchami on Arudra natchatra Sunday. His father’s name was Shivaguru and mother’s name was Sati Aryamba. He was a Nambudaripad Brahmin by caste. This year Adi Shankaracharya Jayanthi is celebrated on May 2(Friday). His thread ceremony took place at the age of 5 years. Taking his mother’s blessings, he left home to take a life of Sannyasa, initiated by Shree Govindapadacharya in a hermitage in Badrikashram (Badrinath) in the Himalayas.
From the age of 5 to 8 years, Acharya Shankara learnt the Vedas, Vedanga, Dharma Shastra, Purana, Itihasa and Buddagama etc. According to Sanatana Dharma and Shiva Purana, Hindus call Adi Shankaracharya as reincarnation of Bhagavan Shiva. Sankara proceeded to Kashi where he wrote commentaries on the Gita, the Upanishads and the Brahma Sutras, when he was only sixteen years old. Sankara’s philosophical conquests are unique in the world. He had his triumphant tour all over India. Met all schools of thought and convinced them by arguments and established the supremacy of Sanata Dharma.
The word “Advaita” essentially refers to the identity of the Self (Atman) and the Whole (Brahman). He wrote, “Ekameva Adviteeyam Brahma” (The absolute is one alone, not two). There may be many stalks of sugarcane, but the juice from all of them has the same sweetness. There are many beings, but their breath is the same. Nations are many, but the Earth is one. In this manner, Sankara proclaimed to the world that it is unity that underlines the apparent diversity.