Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c9.1176

c9.1176

The Śiva, Viṣṇu and Devī temples and other Hindu religious institutions to be found in India today very eloquently proclaim the achievements and unique reputation of Śaṅkara. It is traditionally believed that Śaṅkara brought five liṅgas from Kailāsa and installed them in the five great temples. Muktiliṅga in Kedāra, Paraliṅga in the Nīlakaṇṭha temple in Nepal, Mokṣa liṅga at Cidambaram, Bhogaliṅga in Śṛṅgeri and Yogaliṅga in Kāñcī are the five liṅgas installed by Śaṅkara. The ‘five-in-one’ method of worship was also propounded by him. According to this system Āditya, Ambikā, Viṣṇu, Gaṇanātha and Maheśvara are conjointly worshipped, special importance being given by the worshipper to his special deity. Śaṅkara appointed one disciple of his each in each of the maṭhas as its head and these maṭhas play the most important role in the maintenance and propagation of the Advaita philosophy. The heads of these maṭhas during various periods have been reputed Vedāntists and noble souls. Jyotirmaṭha in Badarikāśrama, Govardhana pīṭha in Jaganāthapuri, Śāradā pīṭha in Śṛṅgeri and Kāmaṭipīṭha in Kāñcī are the most important of the Śrī Śaṅkara pīṭhas. Having thus completed his philosophic mission or object in life Śaṅkara entered mahāsamādhi at the age of thirty-two. Some scholars believe that he disappeared in a cave at Kedāra while certain others hold the view that he ascended the Sarvajñapīṭha (the omniscient state) at Kāñcī and spent his closing days there.