482 В.С.-477 В.С.

Adi Sankara was a great philosopher, a child prodigy who mastered the Vedas at the age of eight, was an expert in all branches of knowledge by twelve and had written commentaries on the Vedanta by the age of sixteen. In his short life of thirty-two years, he propounded the Advaita philosophy, according to which the Brahmin – the Supreme – and the man are of one essence. He believed that the world with all its distractions is maya and that people should strive to go beyond and become one with the supreme Spirit. This philosophy won him many followers and has also been considered responsible for the revival of Hinduism in that period.

He is believed to have been born to a Kerala Namboodiri couple by the Grace of God in Kaaladi.

Sivaguru and Aryamba, though devout and well-to-do, were childless. Finally, they went to Thrissur and prayed to the presiding deity there. Pleased with their devotion, God offered them a choice of one son who may live for a short time, but will be a great teacher, or many dull-witted children. The couple opted for the former and were blessed with Sankara.

When he was sixteen, it is believed that a crocodile caught his leg while he was bathing in the river and released him only when his mother promised to allow him to become a sanyasi. Thus began Sankara’s journey into the world of spiritual knowledge.

After much travelling and exchange of ideas with several leading gurus of the day. Sankaracharya is said to have established four spiritual centres in the four corners of the country Sringeri, Dwaraka, Puri and Uttarakhand. It is believed that the Shri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham was established by Sri Adi Sankara in the year 482 B.C. He retired to Kanchi, the Southern Mokshapuri, towards the end of his earthly career and shook off his mortal coils in that sacred city. He initiated a very young boy into the ascetic order, nominated him as his successor in his Kanchi Mutt, and placed him under the care of Sri Suresvara, the most aged and the most erudite of his disciples. Sri Sankara Bhagavatpada attained Videha Mukti in his 32nd year – Cyclic year Raktakshi, Adhika Rishabha Maasa, Sukla Ekadasi – Kali 2625 (477 B.C.). Over the years, Kanchi has experienced an unbroken line of 70 Acharyas (spiritual leaders).