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The Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh recently revealed a 108-feet tall statue of Adi Shankaracharya, an ancient Vedic scholar and teacher from the 8th century, in Omkareshwar.

Facts About:

• Adi Shankaracharya, also known as Shankara, was an ancient Indian philosopher and theologian who lived around the 8th century CE.
• Birthplace: He was born in Kalady, a village in what is now Kerala.

His Philosophical Contributions:

• His most famous achievement was his role in developing and spreading Advaita Vedanta, a school of Hindu philosophy that emphasizes non-duality.
• He brought together the ideas of 'Advaita Vedanta' and explained the core concepts of the Upanishads.
• Shankaracharya's significant work involved uniting six sub-sects known as 'Shanmata,' which translates to 'six religions.' This concept recognized six supreme deities, all part of one divine power.
• He also established the 'Dashanami Sampradaya,' which promotes a monastic way of life.
• While he strongly believed in ancient Hinduism, he criticized the 'Mimamsa school of Hinduism,' which focused primarily on rituals.
• Founding of Four Mathas: He founded four important monastic centers in India, each associated with one of the cardinal directions:

                Sringeri in the south

                Dwarka in the west

                Puri in the east, and

                Badrinath in the north.