Shri Adhi Shankara BhagavatpadaAcharya 2015 Jayanthi Celebrations

Sri Adhi Shankara also known as Shankara Bhagavatpadaacharya is the greatest Hindu Saint and Indian Philosopher who consolidated the doctrine of Advaita Vedanta and a Saviour of Vedic Dharma. It is believed that Adi Sankaracharya is an incarnation of Lord Shiva who took the avatar to teach and guide the Hindu Religion. According to Sringeni Shakthi Peetam, Sri Adhi Sankhara Jayanthi is being celebrated on the day of Shukla Panchami in the month of Vaishaka(April/May) in every year.

In this year 2015, Jagadguru Sri Adi Shankaracharya Jayanati will be celebrated on the date April 23, 2015(Thursday) as per Hindu calendar.

Jagadguru Shri Adi Shankaracharya:

• Shri Adi Shankara was born in 788 A.D. in a village of KALADI(in Malayalam "KaladI" means "Footprint") which is located in east of the periyar river in Ernakulam district, Kerala. His parents were Sivaguru and Aryamba.

• As a child , Shankara showed remarkable scholarship, mastering four Vedas by the age of eight. Shankara travelled towards North India in search of Guru. On the banks of Narmada river, he met GOVINDA BHAGAVATPADA, the discipline of Gaudapada at Omkareshwar, Madhyapradesh.

• Sri Adi Shankara's teachings were mainly based on Advaita(Non dualism) or the unity of Brahmin and the Soul. The great saint spread the importance of Advaita Vedanta across the country.

• Adi Shankara composed number of hymes. Manisha Panchakam, Baja Govindam, Bhashyas on the Bhrahma Sutras, the Upanishads and the Bhagvad Gita, Prakarana Granthas, Lakshmi Narsimha Stotra, Shivanandalahari and many more. Among them BAJA GOVINDAM and SHIVANANDALAHARI are the most popular compositions.

• Towards the end of his life, Adi Shankara travelled to the Himalayan area of Kedarnath-Badrinath and attained Videha Mukti(freedom from embodiment) in 820 A.D. Sri Adi Shankaracharya was only 32 years old at the time of this death. 
• There is a Samadhi Mandir of Adi Shankara behind Kearnath Mandir, Uttaranchal State, India.

Amnaya Peethams(Sanatana Dharma Peethas):

With great foresight, Sri Adi Shankaracharya established four Amnaya Peetams in 4 directions of India.

Name of the Amnaya Peetham	Location Address	Direction
Sri Jyotish Peetham	Badrinath, Uttarakanda	Uttaramnaya(North)
Shri Govardhan Peetham	Jagannath, Puri, Orissa	Poorvamnaya(East)
Shri Sharada Peetham	Sringeri, Karnataka	Dakshinamnaya(South)
Shri Sharada Peetham	Dwaraka, Jamnagar, Gujarat	Paschimamnaya(West)