Arrival of Shankaracharya in Garhwal, Uttarakhand in Asian Medieval History Period

History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar) - Part 119

   Early Medieval   Asian History of Katyuri Imperialism of Kartikeyapur in Kumaon, Garhwal and Haridwar (Uttarakhand, India) -30

          (Early Asian Medieval History of Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar, Doti Nepal (Uttarakhand, India))

                          (Early Asian Medieval History (740-1100 AD)

                                              By: Bhishma Kukreti

                                            Jagadguru   Adi Shankaracharya 

                Shankaracharya was born in 788AD in Kalti, Kerala, South India. Shankaracharya left his body in 820 AD In Kedarnath. His father name was Shivguru Nambudari and mother’s name was Vishistha or Sati.  His father expired in his childhood. Shankaracharya became ascetic in childhood. He was so brilliant that at the age of 12, he started promoting Vedanta. Shankar is famous for his philosophy of Adwaitvad.

          Shankar is also famous for writing comments on Geeta and other Sankhya philosophy.  

           Shankaracharya established four major Maths (Dham) in India –Jagannath Dhampuri (East), Dwarikadham, Rameshwardham and Badrikashram for Hindu reforming.

     Rivalry among Religious Sects in Shankaracharya Period of in Asian Medieval History Era   

                  There was rivalry among various religious sects in India for centuries. Buddhism grew with speed in Maurya period. However, later on the decline in Buddhism also started. The Kings used to be major patrons of any religious sect.  There was tradition of building temples or worshipping places where other sect’s temples are built by all sects.  Building temples nearby temples of other sect is as today, brands put hoardings nearer by rival brand hording. At the time of Shankaracharya, Buddhism was on decline. Shankaracharya reformed Hindu or Sanatan sects.  

                     Arrival by Shankaracharya in Uttarakhand

               After establishing three Dhams or Maths in Kanyakumari, Jagannath and Dwarika, Shankaracharya came to Rishikesh. He heard in Rishikesh that the priests of Badrikashram threw Vishnu sculpture at Alaknanda River bank into Narad Kund because of fear from Tibetan looters. Shankaracharya came to Badrikashram, Shankaracharya brought back Vishnu  sculpture in Khandit avstha(broken state) and he reestablished the Vishnu sculpture in Badrikashram temple.

       In Shrinagar Garhwal, Shankaracharya came to know that there is animal sacrifice tradition at Shri Yantra (Sacred Instrument) Thau place (Today-Shriyantra Tapu). Shankaracharya stopped the animal sacrifice at Shriyantra Thau.

          There is Vyas cave near Badrikashram (above Mana village). Shankar wrote commentaries on Brahmasutra, Geeta and major Upnishads in Vyas Gufa.

  After finishing commentaries, Shankar came to Gangotri. It is said that he met Vyasa there and Vyasa was pleased to see commentaries.

  At later stage of his life, Shankar came to Kedar Mountain. Shankar left his body at Kedarashram or Kedarnath. A hill shrine between Gangotri and Kedarnath is called ‘Shankar Shikhar’.

                            Ritual Tradition in Badrikashram

          Badrikashram or commonly called Badrinath was a famous and most auspicious, sacred place in Mahabharata era too. The epic Mahabharata was edited long before Gupta Period. There are sizable descriptions of Badrikashram in Mahabharata.  There is mention of rituals in the sacred place or temple.  The Dev Prayag inscriptions and Harshacharit suggest that there were regular rituals in Badrikashram temple. The pilgrims from all corners of India used to visit Badrikashram.  There is no mention of Badrikashram in Paurav inscriptions but there is mention of Badrikashram in Katyuri inscriptions. That shows that the Tibetan looters used to loot the jewels etc from the temple. Yashovarman pushed back Tibetan invaders and Katyuris too protected Badrikashram from Tibetan invasion.

            According to local folk sayings and other sources as Baldev Upadhyaya , Shankaracharya reestablished ritual system in Badrikashram temple. Shankaracharya also established ritual system in Jyotirmath (Joshimath) and Pandukeshwar.

 It is said that Shankaracharya established images of Nar, Narayan, Ganesh Shiva, and Shakti in the Badrinath temple and Jyotirmath.

       Trotkacharya Shishya Parampara or Priest System for Ritual Performance in Badrikashram

            Shankaracharya established certain norms for ritual performances and worshipping practices in Badrinath, Pandukeshwar and Joshimath.

         Shankaracharya handed over the ritual practices management of Badrikashram temple to his disciple Totakacharya. From Shankaracharya to 1220 AD, the disciples of Totakacharya were the priests of Badrinath temple and Jyotirmath.

तोटको विजय : कुमारो गरुड़ ध्वज :I
विन्ध्यो विशालो बकुलो वामन : सुन्दरोअरुण :II
श्री निवास : सुखानन्दो विद्यानंद : शिवो गिरी :I
 विद्याधरो  गुणानन्दों  नारायण : उमापति :II
एते ज्योतिर्मठाधीस : आचार्याश्चिर्जीवन :  

 The Totakacharya disciple priests were as follows

1-Totakacharya (820 or around)

2-Vijaya Acharya

3- Krishna Acharya

4-Kumar Acharya

5- Garuddhwaja Acharya

6-Vindhya Acharya

7-Vishal Acharya

8-Vakul Acharya

9-Vaman Acharya

10-Sundararun

11-Shri Nivas Acharya

12- Sukhanand Acharya

13- Viadyanand Acharya

14-Shiv Acharya

15-Giri Acharya

16-Vidyadhar Acharya

17- Gunanand Acharya

18- Narayan Acharya

19- Umapati Acharya (2120 AD)

 Rawal as priests came in scene quite late.

          Shankaracharya accelerated Religious Tourism in Uttarakhand  

               Due to reestablishing Badrikashram, Kedarnath and Gangotri Dham, Shankaracharya brought back the religious tourism with bang in Uttarakhand.

 Shankaracharya also wrote simple Prarthaneyen /prayers for many deities and goddesses.

Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti -bckukreti@gmail.com 11/8/2013

(The History of Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar write up is aimed for general readers)

                           

History of Garhwal – Kumaon-Haridwar (Uttarakhand) to be continued… Part -120

Early Asian Medieval History of Katyuri Dynasty in Kumaon, Garhwal and Haridwar (Uttarakhand, India) to be continued…31

        (Oriental Early Medieval History (740-1100 AD to be continued…)

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Notes on Coming of Shankaracharya in Garhwal, Uttarakhand in Asian Medieval History Period; Arrival of Shankaracharya in Garhwal, Uttarakhand in Asian Medieval History Period of Himalaya; Arrival of Shankaracharya in Garhwal, Uttarakhand in Asian Middle Age  History Period of Central Himalaya ; Arrival of Shankaracharya in Garhwal, Uttarakhand in Asian Medieval History Period of North India; Arrival of Shankaracharya in Garhwal, Uttarakhand in Asian Medieval History Period of India; Arrival of Shankaracharya in Garhwal, Uttarakhand in Asian Medieval History Period of Indian subcontinent ; Arrival of Shankaracharya in Garhwal, Uttarakhand in Asian Middle Age  History Period of SAARC countries; Arrival of Shankaracharya in Garhwal, Uttarakhand in Asian Medieval History Period