Page:The Advaita philosophy of Śaṅkara.pdf/1



It is more important to understand what Śaṅkara taught, than to determine when he lived. Leaving, therefore, the question of Śaṅkara's date to abler hands, I content myself with the simple attempt of explaining, so far as I can, his philosophy and doctrines. Some of our principal guides for a thorough elucidation of the subject are the Pañchadaśî, the Upadeśasahasrî, the Advaita — Svârâjya — and Naishkarmya-siddhis, the Vedântasâra, the Vedânta-Paribhâshâ, the Chitsukhî and the many minor poems of Śaṅkara and of his followers. But some of these are highly overburdened with the growth of later technicalities, and do not afford us full scope for studying Śaṅkara in his original simple light. These, and all works bearing on the Vedânta, are based upon, what are called the Prasthânatraya — the Brahmasûtras, the Bhagavadgîtâ, the Upanishads. Every philosopher, to be called an âchârya, the founder of a religion, has to comment upon these three, and to explain them in conformity with his philosophy, and without contradicting one another. Śaṅkara, Vallabha, Râmânuja, Mâdhva, and almost all founders of religions have done so. As Saṁskṛita began to be displaced by the Prâkṛitas, several religious interpreters interposed themselves between these masters and the public, and taught the old religion under a new name. Among these may