Shankaracharya

Shankaracharya referred to a title and the associated office of spiritual leaders and abbots in India.

Shankaracharya is head of one of the four great Shankaracharya Order, whose tradition to Adi Shankara ( approximately 788-820 ), the great innovator of the Vedic tradition of Sanatana Dharma, goes back.

Adi Shankara called, even Shankaracharya ( "Master Shankara " ), had four main disciples, Padma - Pada, Hasta - Malaka, Vartika - Kara and Trotaka, each of which is a monastery ( Matha ) in the north ( Jyotir Math), South ( Puri ), East ( Sringeri ) and west ( Dwaraka ) of India founded. Their successors in office, have the title Shankaracharya, still preserve the tradition and knowledge of Shankara.

Also known spiritual masters of modern times come from the traditions of Shankaracharya Mathas, as Ramakrishna ( Puri Math) or Maharishi Mahesh Yogi ( Jyotir Math).