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Q1. Where can I find the best book on Shankaracharya?
Adi Shankaracharya is a revered saint (Acharya) in India who developed Advaita Vedanta philosophy. There are various books written on the life and teachings of Shankaracharya. Exotic India has a great collection of books on this topic written by different authors. One of our best-seller books is “आदि शंकराचार्य: Adi Shankaracharya” by Jairam Mishra. In this book, the author has mentioned the life, philosophy, and spiritual practices of Adi Shankaracharya in detail. You can also check out such inspirational and philosophical books on our website.
Q2. Which book was written by Shankaracharya?
Although there are so many books written by Adi Shankaracharya, a Vedic scholar and saint, some of the key ones are: Saundarya Lahari, Bhaja Govindam, Aparoshanubhuti, and Atma Bodha. He has also written commentaries on Srimad Bhagavad Gita, Brahma Stotra, and ten principal Upanishads (Brihadaranyak Upanishad, Chandogya Upanishad, Aitareya Upanishad, Taittiriya Upanishad, Kena Upanishad, Isha Upanishad, Katha Upanishad, Mundaka Upanishad, Prashna Upanishad, and Mandukya Upanishad. The Hindi translation of all these books is available at Exotic India.
Q3. What is unique about Adi Shankaracharya?
Adi Shankaracharya, one of the prime saints in Hinduism or Sanatana Dharma, was born in a village in Kerala state of India. He is known for his commentaries on Brahma Sutra, Bhagavad Gita, and the ten principal Upanishads. Adi Shankaracharya proposed the Advaita (non-dualism) Vedanta philosophy in which he elaborately explained the positions of Atman (soul) and Brahman (the Absolute Truth). According to Shankara, Brahman alone is the reality while the material world is the illusory expansion of Brahman. Adi Shankaracharya is especially highly esteemed in the Vaishnava sect for his poetry (Stotra) on the glories of Krishna and Vishnu.
Q4. Which is the best book(s) to completely analyze Adi Shankaracharya?
Shri Adi Shankaracharya was a great Vedic scholar and a bold preacher of the Advaita Vedanta philosophy. He enlightened thousands of people with the knowledge of the Upanishads and preached about Atman and Brahman. The Advaita (non-dualism) is a vast subject matter, which Shankara presented in his various books. His main aim was to convince people to devotion to God and achieve liberation from the cycle of repeated birth and death. The life and teachings of Adi Shankaracharya in detail can be studied from the book “आदि शंकराचार्य: Adi Shankaracharya” by Sanjay Dubey.
Q5. What are two books written by Shankaracharya?
Adi Shankaracharya has written numerous books on Vedanta philosophy elucidating the concept of Advaita or the non-dual relationship between Atman and Brahman. He wrote several commentaries and treatises called Prakarana Granthas. However, his two main works are “Upadeshasahasri” and “Bhaja Govindam”. Upadeshasahasri (A thousand teachings) is a Sanskrit text that elaborately describes the nature of Atman and Brahman and the way to achieve Moksha (liberation). Bhaja Govindam is a Sanskrit devotional poem dedicated to Lord Krishna (Govind). In this poetry, Adi Shankaracharya has stressed Bhakti or devotional service to be the ultimate path of liberation. The verses of this poem praise Lord Krishna as the Supreme Lord.
Q6. What are some valuable teachings of Adi Shankaracharya?
It is believed that Adi Shankaracharya, an 8th-century saint, mastered the Vedic scriptures at the age of eight. After taking up the renounced order of life (Sanyas), he preached about the Advaita philosophy and taught his disciples about Atman and Brahman. His main teaching was that there is an oneness of Jiva (living entity) and Brahman (the Absolute Truth). Only Brahman is the reality while everything else is an illusory energy of Brahman. When the Jiva is liberated from the cycle of repeated births and deaths, it unites with Brahman.
Q7. How many books are written by Adi Shankaracharya?
Adi Shankaracharya has written several books in which he has presented the philosophy of Advaita Vedanta; Atman (the soul) and Brahman (the Absolute Truth) are non-different. He has also written commentaries on Srimad Bhagavad Gita, Brahma Sutra (known as Brahmasutrabhasya), and ten principal Upanishads. One of his most important non-commentatorial works is Upadesasahasri (A thousand teachings). These books were originally written in Sanskrit. However, many authors and spiritualists following the Advaita Vedanta have come up with authentic translations and commentaries on Shankara’s books.
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