Shankaracharya, (IAST: Śaṅkarācārya, Shankara acharya) is a commonly used title of heads of mathas in the Advaita Vedanta tradition. The title derives from Adi Shankara, a 9th century CE reformer of Hinduism. He is honored as Jagadguru, a title that was used earlier only to Lord Krishna. The popular view among historians is that there were four mathas established by Ādi Śankara:
Sri Adi Shankara established a fifth math in Kanchipuram, with jurisdiction over the four mathas and that Sankaracharya ascended a sarvagna-pitha at Kanchipuram and he died in Kanchi.
Like other religions and sects, some rivalry exists between some groups who claim to have been initiated into the Shankaracharya Order.
The existence of such multiple mathas occurs because a Guru/or descendant of the shankaracharya lineage could have had many disciples. This could have resulted in the branching out of the parent institution. It is also possible that a Guru might have died without naming a successor, leading to the formation of rival groups.
Jyotirmath and Govardhan matha have a broken lineage and were later revived.
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The original Shankaracharya was born in the year 788 A.D in Kaladi, Ernakulam, Kerala, of a poor brahmin couple, Shivagur and Aryamba. He was given the name Shankara, which is one of the popular titles for the great God, Shiva. Tradition holds that Shankara was born due the blessing of Lord Shiva. His father Shivagur was a priest in a Shiva temple. His father died when Sankara was only 3 years old. At the age of 8, Shankara left his house to seek a Guru after taking his mother's blessings. He promised his mother that he would return for her cremation ceremony when she died. Shankara exhibited extrordinary intelligence in his boyhood, mastering all the then-current theologies and philosophies by the age of 17. Travelling to Bhrugu Kutch, a part of Gujarat state on the bank of river Narmada, he found the great saint Patanjali ( "Govindpad") as his Guru.
Once, he chanted "Jalakarshan" mantra to save villages from over flooded Narmada by putting a pot at the entrance of his Guru's cave. After this incidence his Guru sent him to Kashi Vishvanath temple explaining the gist of all Veda and its principles. Following his mentor's words he went there and taught students like Vishnusharma and Totakacharya. He created saga of "Chandal" and "Manisha Panchak". At a very young age of 11 he started towards Badrinath as a savior for Badrinath temple which was frequently attacked by Chinese emperors.
The Shankaracharya tradition is described in Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's commentary on Verse 2, Chapter 4 of the Bhagavad-Gita.[1]