Adi Shankaracharya statue at Omkareshwar

Adi Shankaracharya was the 8th-century Indian philosopher who revived Advaita Vedanta.

Adi Shankaracharya statue at Omkareshwar

What’s in today’s article?

  • Why in news?
  • Adi Shankaracharya
  • Who was Adi Shankaracharya?
  • Mandhata island
  • News Summary: Adi Shankaracharya statue at Omkareshwar
  • How was the project conceptualised?
  • What are the features of the project?
  • What are the other projects?

 

Why in news?

  • Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister unveiled the 108-foot-tall ‘Statue of Oneness’ of Adi Shankaracharya at Omkareshwar.
    • The statue depicts Shankaracharya as a 12-year-old child when he is said to have visited Omkareshwar.
  • Omkareshwar is the temple town located on the Mandhata island of Khandwa district.
    • It will form an important tourism circuit, along with Ujjain, Maheshwar and Mandu religious towns.

 

Who was Adi Shankaracharya?

  • About
    • Adi Shankara, who is believed to have lived between 788 and 820 AD, was born in Kerela’s Kaladi, situated on the bank of the Periyar River.
    • He became a sanyasin at an early age and left his Brahmin household, where he is said to have made his way to Omkareshwar.
    • Here, he studied under his guru Govinda Bhagavatpada.
  • Proponent of Advaita Vedanta
    • Adi Shankaracharya became a proponent of Advaita Vedanta, challenging prevailing philosophical traditions – including Buddhism and Jainism.
      • Advaita Vedanta is a school of Hindu philosophy that teaches non-duality, or the absence of separation between the subject and object.
  • Notable works of Adi Shankaracharya
    • He is said to have authored 116 works. The most notable among them are:
    • Commentaries (Bhashyas)
      • Brahma Sutras Bhashya – Shankaracharya wrote commentaries on the Brahma Sutras, also known as the Vedanta Sutras, which are foundational texts for the Vedanta school of philosophy.
      • Upanishad Bhashyas – He wrote commentaries on several major Upanishads, including the Isa Upanishad, Katha Upanishad, and Chandogya Upanishad, among others.
      • Bhagavad Gita Bhashya – Shankaracharya provided a commentary on the Bhagavad Gita, one of the most important texts in Hindu philosophy.
    • Prakarana Granthas (Introductory Texts):
      • Vivekachudamani: This work explores the concept of discrimination between the eternal and the non-eternal and is considered one of Shankaracharya’s masterpieces.
      • Upadeshasahasri: It consists of a thousand verses and offers teachings on Advaita Vedanta.
      • Atma Bodha: A concise treatise on self-realization, it outlines the path to understanding the true nature of the self.
    • Stotras (Devotional Hymns):
      • Nirvana Shatakam: Also known as Atma Shatakam, this hymn delineates the realization of the self as distinct from the body and mind.
      • Bhaja Govindam: A devotional composition emphasizing the importance of devotion and spiritual practice in one’s life.
    • Commentaries on Sanatana Dharma:
      • Dakshinamurti Stotra: A hymn to Lord Dakshinamurti, it explains the significance of the guru in one’s spiritual journey.
    • Travel and Teachings:
      • Shankaracharya is also known for his extensive travels across India to engage in philosophical debates and establish monastic centers (mathas) in various parts of the country.
      • These mathas continue to propagate Advaita Vedanta teachings to this day.

 

Mandhata island

  • The Mandhata island, nestled on the Narmada River, is home to two of the 12 Jyotirlingas: Omkareshwara (located on the south side of the island) and Amareshwara.
    • The area is close to Mahakaleshwara Jyotirlinga at Ujjain, located 110 km to the northwest.
  • The island is dotted with Shaivite, Vaisnavite, and Jain temples dating back to the 14th and 18th centuries.

 

News Summary: Adi Shankaracharya statue at Omkareshwar

How was the project conceptualised?

  • In February 2017, CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced the construction of a 108-foot-tall Adi Shankaracharya statue, a Shankar Museum, and the Acharya Shankar International Institute of Advaita Vedanta.
  • The metal for building the statue was collected from people across more than 23,000 grama panchayats.
  • Larsen and Toubro was awarded an Engineering Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contract to construct the Statue of Oneness.
  • The Statue of Oneness is intended to endure for more than 500 years, while the museum building is designed to have a service life of 100 years.

 

What are the features of the project?

  • The multi-metal Adi Shankaracharya statue is installed atop Mandhata Parvat hill, facing southwards towards the Narmada River.
  • This statue stands atop a 54-feet pedestal, supported by a 27-feet lotus petal base which is made of red stone.
  • The idol weighs 100 tons and has been installed on a 75-foot-high platform.
  • It is made up of bronze that contains 88% copper, 4% zinc and 8% tin and its internal structure is made up of high-quality steel.
  • At the base of the statue is the Shankar Stambh, which features wooden domes and stone pillars with carvings depicting 32 stories related to Acharya Shankar.

 

What are the other projects?

  • Ekatma Dham will include the Advaita Lok museum.
    • The Ekatma Dham will feature a mosaic of architectural styles, including Nagara, Dravidian, Oriya, Maru-Gurjara, Hoysala, North Indian-Himalayan, and Kerala styles.
  • Acharya Shankar International Institute of Advaita Vedanta is being built to promote the study and understanding of Advaita Vedanta.

 


Q1) What is Advaita Vedanta?

Advaita Vedanta is a school of Hindu philosophy that teaches non-duality, or the absence of separation between the subject and object.

 

Q2) Where does Narmada River originate?

The Narmada River originates from the Amarkantak Plateau in Madhya Pradesh, India.

 


Source: Madhya Pradesh CM unveils Adi Shankaracharya statue at Omkareshwar: Its story, significance | Sankaracharya.org

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