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