The Path to Becoming a Shankaracharya: Understanding Hinduism’s Highest Spiritual Office
At the ongoing Magh Mela in Prayagraj, where millions gather at the Triveni Sangam for a sacred dip, a controversy has emerged involving Swami Avimukteshwaranand. The Mela administration recently questioned his legitimacy as the Shankaracharya of the Jyotish Peeth, issuing a notice that asked him to clarify his claim to this revered title. This dispute has sparked widespread curiosity about the nature of the Shankaracharya position in Hinduism, the legacy of Adi Shankaracharya, and the rigorous process by which one attains this supreme spiritual rank.
Who Was Adi Shankaracharya?
Adi Shankaracharya is regarded as an incarnation of Lord Shiva. He established the institution of the Shankaracharya within Sanatan Dharma by founding four monastic seats across India. His contributions to the growth of Indian spiritual traditions, the propagation of Vedic knowledge, and the revival of Hindu philosophy are unparalleled. A proponent of Advaita Vedanta, he was a master of Sanskrit, a profound commentator on the Upanishads, and a reformer of Sanatan Dharma.
According to the Hindu calendar, Adi Shankaracharya was born in the 8th century on the fifth day of the bright fortnight of the month of Vaishakha. His birthplace was the village of Kaladi in Kerala, where he was born into a Nambudiri Brahmin family. His father was named Shivaguru, and his mother was Aryamba, both deeply learned in religious scriptures. His childhood name was Shankara, and he later became known as Adi Guru Shankaracharya.
Legend holds that he mastered Malayalam, his native language, by the age of three or four. By the tender age of eight, he had already attained proficiency in all four Vedas and committed them to memory. At just twelve years old, he was fully versed in every sacred text. He relinquished his physical body at the age of thirty-two, yet within that brief span, he established four monastic centers in the four cardinal directions—what are now known as the four sacred abodes (Char Dham). He traveled across India three times. He founded the Govardhan Peeth in Puri, Odisha; the Shringeri Sharada Peeth in Rameswaram; the Sharada Peeth in Dwarka, Gujarat; and the Jyotir Math in Badrinath, Uttarakhand. At the age of thirty-two, he entered into his final samadhi in the Himalayas.
How Is a Shankaracharya Selected?
After founding the four monasteries, Adi Shankaracharya appointed his disciples as heads of each seat before departing for Kedarnath, where he took samadhi. Since then, the tradition of Shankaracharyas has continued unbroken from these four centers. The selection process for a Shankaracharya is long and highly intricate.
To be eligible for this title, a candidate must be born into a Brahmin family and must have taken the vow of sannyasa (renunciation). For a sannyasi to become a Shankaracharya, key steps include renouncing household life, undergoing tonsure (head shaving), performing pindadan (ancestral offerings), and wearing rudraksha beads. The individual must also be a master of all four Vedas and the six Vedangas (auxiliary sciences), and must be pure in body and mind.
Achieving the title of Shankaracharya requires the unanimous consent of the heads of the Shankaracharya institutions, the Acharya Mahamandaleshwars (senior monastic leaders), and a council of esteemed saints. Additionally, the approval of the Kashi Vidwat Parishad (the assembly of scholars in Varanasi) is mandatory. Only after securing all these endorsements can a person be adorned with this prestigious office.
The selection process for a Shankaracharya of any one of the four monasteries begins with consultation among the heads of the other monasteries. These leaders identify a single qualified and learned candidate. This proposal is then presented to the Acharya Mahamandaleshwars, who examine the candidate’s knowledge of the Vedas, scriptures, and overall merit. If deemed worthy, the candidate is brought before an assembly of respected saints.
In this assembly, the candidate must undergo a rigorous examination that tests their wisdom, philosophical understanding, and spiritual depth. Success in this test leads to a presentation before the Kashi Vidwat Parishad. This esteemed body conducts the final evaluation of the candidate’s qualifications and, upon satisfaction, bestows the title of Shankaracharya.
How Many Shankaracharyas Are There?
Adi Shankaracharya traveled extensively throughout India, engaging in philosophical debates with great scholars. To promote the principles of Advaita Vedanta, uphold dharma, and strengthen Indian culture and philosophy, he established four monastic seats. He appointed a head for each seat, granting each the title of Shankaracharya. These four seats are: Jyotir Math in the north (Badrinath), Govardhan Peeth in the east (Puri, Odisha), Shringeri Sharada Peeth in the south (Karnataka), and Dwarka Peeth in the west (Gujarat). The heads of these four monasteries are the only individuals who hold the title of Shankaracharya. Thus, there are a total of four Shankaracharyas at any given time.
Why Do Shankaracharyas Carry a Staff?
All Shankaracharyas of the four monasteries carry a distinctive staff known as a danda. This staff is received at the time of initiation by their guru. It is considered a symbol of Lord Vishnu. The danda is the identifying mark of a Dandi Sannyasi—a renunciant who observes celibacy, renounces all material pleasures, and bears the responsibility of protecting and spreading dharma.
The danda is made from a specific type of bamboo that has knots. A piece of white or saffron cloth is tied to it, which is used for filtering water. Dandi Sannyasis perform ritual bathing and offerings to this staff every day.
There are several types of dandas, each symbolizing a different mantra:
- Six-knot danda: Symbolizes the Sudarshan mantra.
- Eight-knot danda: Represents the Narayan mantra.
- Ten-knot danda: Signifies the Gopal mantra.
- Twelve-knot danda: Stands for the Vasudev mantra.
- Fourteen-knot danda: Embodies the Anant mantra.
