Context
Recently, Prime Minister Modi unveiled a 12-foot statue of Adi Shankaracharya at Kedarnath (Uttarakhand), where the he is believed to have attained samadhi at the age of 32.
Adi Shankaracharya’s Statue at Kedarnath
- Adi Shankaracharya’s Statue at Kedarnath weighs around 35 tonnes.
- The statue construction had begun in 2019 under the guidance of architect Arun Yogiraj from Mysuru.
- It is made using chlorite schist.
- Chlorite schist is a rock popular for withstanding rain, sunshine, and harsh weather.
Who was Adi Shankaracharya?
- Adi Shankaracharya, commonly known as Adi Shankara, was born on 11th May 788 AD, at Kaladi near Kochi, Kerala.
- He took Samadhi at the age of 33, at Kedar tirth.
- Generally considered as an eighth-century religious teacher, he was a devotee of Shiva.
- He propounded the Doctrine of Advaita (Monism) and wrote many commentaries on the Vedic canon (Upanishads, Brahma Sutras and Bhagavad Gita) in Sanskrit.
- Major Work done by him
- Brahmasutrabhasya (Bhashya or commentary on the Brahma Sutra)
- Bhajagovinda Stotra
- Nirvana Shatakam
- Prakaran Granths
Other important contributions
- He was responsible for reviving Hinduism in India to a great extent when Buddhism was gaining popularity.
- He was Established four Mathas in the four corners of India at
- Badrinath for Atharva Veda
- Puri for Rig Veda
- Dwaraka for Sama Veda
- Sringeri for Yajur Veda
- These were the centres to elucidate the essence of Advaita philosophy.
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