According to the Indian tradition Shankaracharya was an incarnation of Lord Shiva. This great acharya is universally recognized as a profound philosopher. In his short span of life of thirty-two years he made unique contribution to Indian philosophy and to the humanity as well. He strived for reforming the social order of the country and at the same time revitalized metaphysical thoughts. His writings are unparalleled and of immense significance. There is a beautiful verse in Sanskrit which says, "My salutations to Shankaracharya, the treasure house of Shruti, Smriti and Purana, who is full of compassion, the benefactor of the whole humanity."

Shankaracharya with his extraordinary intelligence changed the entire pattern of thinking in the history of Indian philosophy. It is admitted without any contradiction and doubt that there is no ambiguity in his extensive writing. His writings have both, profundity of thought and clarity of expression, a rare combination to be found in philosophical writings. Moreover Shankara is regarded as the true exponent of Vaidika Sanatana Dharma which is a universal faith and not only a Sectarian Religion. In true sense he is a philosopher, a poet, a logician, a devotee, a social reformer and a mystic- a unique personality. Shankaracharya spread the message that man is essentially divine. To spread the glory of the Vedas he wandered all the four corners of India. He was moved and his heart was bleeding as he could see that man was unaware of the invaluable mine of bliss in himself and he could not realise his divinity. According to Shankaracharya, the Brahman, the Absolute is not merely a matter of intellectual curiosity; it is a matter of experience. The absolute Brahman Nirguna becomes Saguna for the worshipper. Then alone with his finite mind the devotee can comprehend Him, love Him and is able to have the Sakshatkara- the realization and experience. The means are bhakti and control over body and mind. The method of bhakti may vary but the reward remains the same. The liberated soul expresses his love in the service of human beings. For a realized soul the whole universe including himself is Brahman. This teaching of Shankara has influenced the medieval Christian saints, Sufies, modern thinkers like Spinoza, Schopenhauer and Aldus Huxley. The modern scientific discoveries in the atomic field have shown that mass is nothing but a form of energy.

The philosophy of Shankaracharya is based on logic hence it is completely rational. He presents the truths of the Upanishads in a thoroughly logical framework. His logic and reasoning are unique and unparalleled. In this respect he is surely second to none amongst the thinkers of India. No wonder, he is held in high esteem all over the world. His commentaries on Upanishads, Brahmasutra, Bhagavadgita are extraordinary; especially the commentary on the Brahmasutra is unique in many respects. Many Prakaranagranthas such as Vivekachudamani, Upadesha sahasri, Atmabodha etc. and a number of hymns are ascribed to him. His works reveal that he was not only a very good commentator, logician, philosopher, but also a poet of high rank and a sincere and humble devotee.

Advaita Vedanta has been closely associated with Shankaracharya. The Advaita Vedanta of Shankaracharya is held in high esteem. It attracts the attention of the intellectuals of the world in such a manner that it can be inferred that this system has the prospects of becoming the philosophy of the whole intelligentsia.

There are many perennial problems which the philosophers of the world try to deal with but the main thrust is on the enquiry of the nature of the Ultimate Reality, the nature of the individual self and the nature of the world. These are called Brahman, Jiva and Jagat in Indian philosophy.

Shankaracharya has offered exact and accurate answers to these questions which can be summarized in a verse which says, "I will tell you in half the verse, what thousands of compositions have said. Brahman is the Reality. The world is mithya. The individual self is verily nothing else but Brahman".

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