Dictionary of Meaning
<<Back
Please select a letter:
A |
B |
C |
D |
E |
F |
G |
H |
I |
J |
K |
L |
M |
N |
O |
P |
Q |
R |
S |
T |
U |
V |
W |
X |
Y |
Z |
0-9
Click here for Shopping
Shankaracharya
*** Shopping-Tip: Shankaracharya
{{disambig}}
'''Shankaracharya''', (''ÅšankarÄ?charya'' in standard transliteration) is a commonly used name and title of
Adi Shankara, or Sankara of Kaladi, an influential theologian of
Hinduism. He was given the name ''Åšankara'' at birth, and ''Ä?charya'' is a title, meaning 'very learned'.
Because they claim succession from
Adi Shankara, '''Shankaracharya''' is used as a title of the head of a
matha (typically four are recognized), a type of Hindu religious order or monastery. Originally, four '''mathas''' are supposed to have been established in four places in
India, by
Adi Shankara. These four orders are;
* the ''Uttaramnaya matha'', or northern matha at
Joshimath
* the ''Purvamnaya matha'' or eastern matha, the
Govardhana matha, at
Puri, Orissa Puri
* the ''Dakshinamnaya matha'', or the
Sringeri Sharada Peetham, the southern matha, at
Shringeri
* the ''Paschimamnaya matha'', or the
Dwaraka Pitha, the western matha, at
Dwarka .
* In addition, the heads of other orders, including particularly that of the
Kanchi matha, are also often referred to as Shankaracharya.
