Adi Shankara bibliography

Adi Shankara, a Hindu philosopher of the Advaita Vedanta school, wrote a large body of works[1] which are central to the Advaita Vedanta interpretation of the Prasthanatrayi, the canonical texts consisting of the Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita and the Brahma Sutras. His works deal with logically establishing the doctrine of Advaita Vedanta.

Overview

Methodology

Shankara formulates the doctrine of Advaita Vedanta by validating his arguments on the basis of quotations from the Vedas and other Hindu scriptures.

A large portion of his works is polemical in nature. He directs his polemics mostly against the Sankhya, Bauddha, Jaina, Vaisheshika and other non-vedantic Hindu philosophies.

Authorship

Many works thought to be of his authorship are debated and questioned as to their authorship today, including two of his best-known and important works, the Vivekacūḍāmaṇi[2][3] and the Māṇḍūkya Upaniṣad Bhāṣya.[4] Other scholars [5] say that Shankaracharya's authorship of the commentaries on the Brahman Sutra, the ten principal Upanishads as well as the Bhagavad Gita are beyond doubt.

Classification

Traditionally, his works are classified under

The commentaries serve to provide a consistent interpretation of the scriptural texts from the perspective of Advaita Vedanta. The philosophical treatises provide various methodologies to the student to understand the doctrine. The devotional hymns are rich in poetry and piety, serving to highlight the helplessness of the devotee and the glory of the deity. A partial list of his works is given below.

Bhāṣya

Adi Shankara wrote Bhāṣya (commentaries) on

Prakaraṇa grantha

Adi Shankara wrote the following treatises

Stotra

Adi Shankara composed many hymns on Shiva, Vishnu, Devi, Ganesha and Subrahmanya[10]

Editions

A lot of editions of the works of Adi Shankara are available. A few of them are given below:[11]

Collections of Works

Brahmasutra Bhashya

Bhagavadgita Bhashya

Upadeshasahasri

Vivekachudamani

Panchikarana

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ The authorshop of Shankara of this Bhasya is disputed.[4] Nakamura concludes that Shankara was not the author, for several reasons.[6] Shankara understood Buddhist thought, while the author of the commentary shows misunderstandings of Buddhist thought.[6] The commentary uses the terms vijnapti and vjnaptimatra, which is "a uniquely Buddhist usage",[7] and does not appear in Shankara's commentary on the Brahma-sutras.[8] The two commentaries also quote different Upanishads.[9] Nevertheless, Nakamura also concludes: "Although the commentary to the Madukya is not actually by sankara, it may be assumed that there is nothing drastically wrong in using it as a source when discussing early Vedanta philosophy".[6]
  2. ↑ The authenticity of the "Vivekachudamani", a well-known work ascribed to Shankara, is doubtful,[2][3] though it is "so closely interwoven into the spiritual heritage of Shankara that any analysis of his perspective which fails to consider [this work] would be incomplete".[2]

References

  1. ↑ "Works of Adi Shankara". Archived from the original on 18 June 2006. Retrieved June 26, 2006.
  2. 1 2 3 Shah-Kazemi 2006, p. 4.
  3. 1 2 Singh 2004, p. 1315.
  4. 1 2 Nakamura 2004, p. 262-265.
  5. ↑ Isayeva 1993, p. 94.
  6. 1 2 3 Nakamura 2004, p. 263.
  7. ↑ Nakamura 2004, p. 263-264.
  8. ↑ Nakamura 2004, p. 264.
  9. ↑ Nakamura 2004, p. 265.
  10. ↑ "Slokas". Archived from the original on 15 June 2006. Retrieved June 26, 2006.
  11. ↑ Vidyasankar, S. "A Select Bibliography". Archived from the original on 15 June 2006. Retrieved June 26, 2006.

Sources

  • Nakamura, Hajime (2004), A History of Early Vedanta Philosophy. Part Two, Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Private Limited 
  • Shah-Kazemi, Reza (2006), Paths to Transcendence: According to Shankara, Ibn Arabi & Meister Eckhart, World Wisdom 
  • Singh, N.; Barauh, B. (2004), Encyclopaedic Dictionary of Pali Literature, Volume 1, Global Vision Publishing Ho 
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