Shankara Bhagavathpaada was a renowned Indian philosopher who accomplished much in his short life. He became a sanyaasi at age 8, a scholar at 12, and wrote his famous commentaries on the Prasthaanathraya texts at 16. He established four monasteries across India to revive Vedic culture and spread his philosophy of nondualism. Through his writings for different intellectual levels and reforms to rituals, he influenced many spiritual traditions and was exemplary in living according to the paths of karma, jnana, and bhakti yoga.

1. LITERARY WORKS OF
SHANKARA BHAGAVATHPAADA
BIG AND SMALL

5. Great accomplishments
• Sanyaasi at 8 years of age, Scholar at 12 years of age, wrote
Prasthaanathraya bhaashya at 16 years of age, and walked all
over Bhaaratha till 32 years of age.
• Established 4 hermitages in the 4 directions of Bhaaratha
(Badari, Dwaarakaa, Puri, Shrngeri), and thus caused the revival
of vedic culture, and modified voidism to monism.
• Wrote 3 types of treatises – Bhaashya for the uththama
adhikaari, Prakarana for the madhyama adhikaari, Sthothra for
the manda adhikaari.
• Reformed the rituals by introducing the Panchaayathana form of
worship (Ganesha, Soorya, Vishnu, Shiva, Devi), and paved the
way for the forthcoming vedic spiritual traditions.
• Was a perfect blend of Karmayoga, Jnaanayoga, Bhakthiyoga in
all respects, and lived upto his name.