[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Reference works](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference) › [Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975) › c9.1155 # Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c9.1155 Purāṇic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Purāṇic Literature c9.1155 - **Language:** English ### [c9.1155](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c9.1155) 2) Birth. The name of Śaṅkara's father was Śivaguru and that of his mother Āryāmbā. This nambūdiri couple had no issues for a long time. So they went to Trśśivaperūr (Trichur) to worship Śiva in the famous Śiva temple there. The idol in that temple is known as Vṛṣacaleśvara and Vaṭakkunnātha also. Ere long Lord Śiva blessed them with a son. The belief is still held that, pleased with the prayer of Śivaguru and Āryāmbā Śiva himself was born as their son. The child began exhibiting extraordinary intellectual powers. At the age of five the boy Śaṅkara was invested with the sacred thread. By the time he was eight years old he had earned deep erudition in the Vedas, Śāstras, Purāṇas, epics (itihāsas) etc. His father was no more by then and on the mother devolved the duty of bringing the child up. - [Previous: c9.1154](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c9.1154) - [Next: c9.1156](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c9.1156) - [Up: c9](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c9) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c9.1155](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c9.1155) · Pramāṇa