APPENDIX NO - I 

ADVAITHA SCHOOL

Coming to Sankara, it is said that no name is better known in the history of Brahmanic Philosophy than that of Sankara, and no doctrine is so familiar and exercised greater influence than his Monism - Advaita. The names of some of the Vedic seers, may perhaps confound layman, but not Sankara's. He is a household name and his Philosophy is very familiar, though explanation eludes grasp. Now about his time. He was born in the 9th century AD, when Hinduism was in the doldrums due to abuse of power by the vested interests; and in consequence Saktaism, Jainism and Buddhism established their supremacy. Sankara, by his extra ordinary intellectual brilliance and persuasive tongue backed by the mastery of Vedic lore scored victory over the then religions, and proved the superiority of Hinduism through his systamatised Advaitha Philosophy. The sanskrit word Advaitha means non-dualism. According to it, only the ultimate Reality has actual existence and all the phenomenal existence is Maya or illusion. If simplified, it means, Brahman is the only Reality in the Universe. And the human soul is identical with Brahman only. He based his Philosophy on three entities - "I" "Mine" and "God". Terminology though underwent many changes with the advent of some more similar Acharyas, who founded their schools its cardinal principles remained same. For 'I' other terms such as Atma, Jivatma, Chetana, Anu, Jiva, Pasu etc. were used; they all but stand for SOUL. For 'Mine' prakrit, matter, material, object etc., were used. And finally for God, the third entity terms like the Absolute, Brahman, Pati, the Supreme were used.
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