A History of Sanskrit Literature c18.34

c18.34

The doctrines of the Vedānta are laid down in the *Brahma-sūtras* of Bādarāyaṇa. This text-book, the meaning of which is not intelligible without the aid of a commentary, was expounded in his *bhāshya* by the famous Vedāntist philosopher ÇANKARA, whose name is intimately connected with the revival of Brahmanism. He was born in 788 A.D., became an ascetic in 820, and probably lived to an advanced age. There is every likelihood that his expositions agree in all essentials with the meaning of the *Brahma-sūtras*. The full elaboration of the doctrine of *Māyā*, or cosmic illusion, is, however, due to him. An excellent epitome of the teachings of the Vedānta, as set forth by Çankara, is the *Vedānta-sāra* of Sadānanda Yogīndra. Its author departs from Çankara's views only in a few particulars, which show an admixture of Sāṅkhya doctrine.