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Date of Ādi Śaňkarācārya – Facts, Fiction and Frauds

K. Chandra Hariƒƒƒƒ

• Gururatnamālika gives Śaňkara’s date as: Tisye prayātyanalaśevatibānanetreƒƒƒƒbde nandanedinamanāvudagdhvabhāji I

Rādheƒƒƒƒditeruduvinirgatamastralagneƒƒƒƒsyāhūtavan śivaguruh sa ca śaňkareti II

According to this verse Śaňkara was born in Dhanur lagna and Punarvasu naksatra, in

the month of Vaiśākha during Uttarāyana when 2593 years of Kaliyuga had elapsed,

which corresponds to BC 508. Scholars have deciphered other details such as

śukỊapańcami and sunday also from this verse and have considered this as very

authentic information quoted by Ātmabōdha, 58th Ācārya of Kāmakōt i Pītha in his

commentary Sus amā on the Gururatnamālika.

Jinavijaya, a Jaina work likewise gives the date of Kumārila Bhatta as the year 2077 of

the Yudhist ira era that corresponds to 557 BC. Same work gives Śaňkara’s demise in

the year 2157 Yudhist ira era or 477 BC.

Brhat Śaňkaravijaya of Citsukācārya gives the detailed horoscope itself for the date

falling in 2631 of Yudhist ira era [508 BC] and accordingly the lagna is Kataka and the

planets Sun, Venus, Jupiter, Mars and Saturn were in exaltation signs. Authors A.

Nataraja Iyer and S. Lakshminarasimha Śāstri who produced the work The Traditional

Age of Śrī Śaňkarācārya and the Mat�hs have stated the given planetary positions as

true for the year 509 BC.

Citsukācārya is described as the lifelong companion and disciple of Sankara and as

such we have no reason to doubt the information he has recorded.

Veracity of the horoscope given Citsukācārya’s work

Whether the information credited to Citsukācārya is original or an interpolation of the

later years is a million $ question. Whatever may be the case, the planetary positions

given in the 32nd Prakarana of Brhat Śaňkaravijaya do not belong to either 509 or 508

BC or in the neighborhood:

ƒ chandra_hari18@yahoo.com This article is an extract from the book “Hindu Zodiac & Ancient Astronomy”

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Planets

λ: BC 508 New moon

of 19th March 17:11

Caitrādi

22.04.508 BC 12:00 UT

Vaiśākha śukỊa pańcami Sunday

λ: BC509 New moon of

30th March 03:35 Caitrādi

03.05.509 BC 12:00 UT

Vaiśākha śukỊa Pańcami

Wednesday

Sun 352°53' 25°41' 03°14' 36°25'

Moon 352°53' 83°34' 03°14' 93°48'

Mars 28°31' 50°50' 238°20' 240°33'

Mercury 334°08' 06°50' 356°50’ 14°40'

Jupiter 247°22' 246°49' 213°34' 209°30'

Venus 313°18' 353°23' 19°25' 61°31'

Saturn 335°54' 339°47' 325°28' 328°39'

These tropical planetary longitudes clearly indicate that the horoscope data referred

above is a spurious one. Ayanāmśa for the Mūlādhāra Cakra will be 100.25 and neither

of the planets will be exalted on the above dates. But T.S. Nārāyana Śāstry had claimed

in his work ‘The Age of Śaňkara’ that the planetary data is correct according to

astronomical computations: “We have ascertained from two of the greatest astrologers

of South India that this particular combination of the planetary bodies did actually occur

on Vaiśākha (Mes�a) ŚukỊapańcami of the year Nandana in 2593 of the Kaliyuga,

corresponding to 509 BC”.

‘The Age of Śaňkara’ by T.S. Nārāyana Śāstry

o Controversy on Ādi Śaňkara’s date received much popularity among the gullible public

with the publication of a Sanskrit work entitled by ‘Vimarśa’ by Rājarājeśvara

Śaňkarācārya Svāmi of the Dvāraka Mutt in 1898 and ‘The Age of Śaňkara’ by T.S.

Nārāyana Śāstry in 1916. In a detailed review of the latter work, T.S. Kuppanna Śāstry

has described both the works as fiction and evidences and authorities quoted as

fabrication: To cite a few notable observations:

o “Another mistake of the concoctors that exposes them is giving Nandana as the year of

birth in both the Śaňkara-vijayas, while actually it must be Dhātā for 509 BC according

to the astronomical Samhitās and Siddhāntas. They have got it by counting backwards

one year of the Jovian cycle for each solar year and arriving at Nandana for 2593 Kali,

on the mistaken practice now current in south of India….”

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o Narāyana Śāstry’s reference ‘Jinavijaya’ could not be located by TSK Śāstry in

Jinaratnakośa, a bibliography of known Jain works or in Aufrecht’s Catalogus

Catalogorum and in the one he could locate the information quoted by Nārāyana Śāstry

is untraceable. The situation inspired an erudite scholar like TSK Śāstry to comment in

bitter terms: “The author must have invented the name and concocted the quotations as

there-from, thinking that evidence from a rival faith’s work would be more convincing…”

o TSK Śāstry has discussed in detail the issue of a copperplate inscription that the

Śaňkarācārya of Dvārakāpītham had quoted in his work as authority for the date. Net

conclusion of his analysis is that the copperplate inscription and the works such as

Brhat Śaňkaravijaya, Prācīna Śaňkaravijaya, Jinavijaya etc are all fabrications of recent

times and are not genuine historical records.

True historical pointers to the issue

� According to the report of the Chinese traveler I-T’sing who was in India between 673

and 695 AD, Bhartrhari died in 651 – 652 AD. I-T’sing makes no mention of Śaňkara.

� Kalhana’s Rājataraňgini places Bhavabhūti who was a disciple of Kumārila Bhat t a in the

year 733 AD as a contemporary of Kashmiri king LaỊitāditya.

� These two records place Śaňkara’s birth in 8th century AD, provided there was only one

personality by the name Kumārila Bhatt a, whom Śaňkara is said to have visited.

� A number of floating verses place Śankara’s advent during 788 – 820 AD, with birth in

the year “Vibhava”, which according to TSK Śāstry is an erroneous back computation

made for Kali 3889.

� Horoscope having Sun, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn exalted in Kendras, as recorded in

Mādhavīya Śaňkaravijaya1 places the birth in 805 AD as found out by Pichu Aiyer,

Cochin State Astrologer.

� According to the legends prevailing in Kerala, the beginning of the Kollam era is

associated with Śaňkara’s meeting with the king Rājaśekhara in 825 AD.

(contd...)

1 Mādhavīya, II.71, quoted by TSK Śāstry: Collected Papers, p.368

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Planetary positions that match with the legendary horoscope Date: Tuesday, 8th April, 805 AD, 1200 LMT, at 10N00, 77E00 [Ayanāmśa for Mūlādhāra Cakra = 07057’]

Planets Tropical λ Sidereal λ Rāsi

Sun 22001’ 14005’ Mesa

Moon 86054’ 78058’ Mithuna

Mars 305028’ 297032’ Makara

Mercury 38057’ 31001’ Vr sabha

Jupiter 113029’ 105033’ Kat aka

Venus 63030’ 55034’ Vr sabha

Saturn 197007’ 189011’ Tulā

Rāhu 192051’ 184055’ Tulā

Ketu 12051’ 04055’ Mesa

Chart is

Sun Śikhi

Merc. Ven.

Moon

Rāśi

Lag. Jup.

Mars

Sat. Rāhu

Tithi is Sast hi on 8th noon but it will be Pańcami on 7th at noon (Moon = 64024’). On 7th

evening Ārdra or α - Orionis rose at 1941 while Moonrise was at 1951 – so it was

possible by observation to ascertain that Ārdra naksatra prevailed for the next 24 hours.

If we strictly adhere to the tithi as Pańcami, the naks atra has to be Mr gaśiras on 7th.

Going by the Kerala tradition the naksatra is given more importance and hence the birth

date can be taken as 8th April. This date agrees not only with the legendary horoscope

but also with historical details. Further, it becomes apparent that this date formed the

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basic reference for those who have concocted history and horoscopes in the name of

Śaňkara for 509 BC. The manipulative process was as follows:

Fraud Committed – Invention of 509 BC

Sidereal period of Mars, Jupiter and Saturn were respectively 1.88081, 11.861775

and 29.45665 years and their product rounds up to 657 years. 805 AD – [2×××× 657] =

- 509 or Kali 3907 – 1314 = Kali 2593 accompanied by a little more of jugglery to

provide other details formed the basis of Nārāyan�a Śāstri’s theory.

This concoction did not succeed as the true positions of Sun, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn

failed to recur at intervals of the mean period of 657 years and hence scholars like TSK

Śāstry could expose the truth by computing the planetary positions of 509 BC.

Svāmi Sakhyānanda on Śaňkarācārya

In his work ‘Ārsbhāratapārambaryam’ Śri Sakhyānanda Svāmi introduces three

Śankaracāryas whose profiles have become merged in the legends about Ādi

Śaňkarācārya:

� Ādi Śaňkarācārya of 508 BC, which we have found as a concoction by some people

� Śaňkarendra or Abhinava Śaňkara, 37th Ācārya of Kāmakōti Pīt ha, Kali 3889 or AD

788, Vaiśākha ŚukỊadaśami, born at Cidambaram

� Kāladi Śaňkarācārya born in 805 AD, in Śatatāraka (Catayam) naksatram about

whom an inscription can be found in Tirunelveli district

Date: 30th March 805 AD: 1200 LMT at 10N00, 77E00 [JD(TDT) = 2015172.81544]

Planets Tropical λ Sidereal λ

Sun 13016’ 05019’

Moon 318046’ 310049’

Mars 299006’ 291009’

Mercury 21029’ 13032’

Jupiter 112057’ 105000’

Venus 57015’ 49018’

Saturn 197048’ 189051’

Rāhu 192051’ 184054’

Śikhi 12051’ 04054’

Ayanāmśa used: 07057’

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Horoscope for Midday

Sun Ket Mer

Ven

Lag Sun Ket

Sun Mar Rā

Moo

Rāśi

Lag. Jup.

Navāmśa

Mar

Jup Daśāmśa

Mar.

Moo

Moo

Mer Ven

Sat Rāh

Sat

Jup Rāh

Ven

Lag Moo

Tithi is Krsn paksa ekādaśi and naksatra is Catayam or Śatatāraka. This horoscope

amply reflects Śaňkara’s genius as well as his life as a scholar and Parivrājaka. Rāhu’s

period at birth was 12 years 04 months and 23 days. As the horoscope is Madhyāyu he

had his exit in 860 AD at the age of 55 in the major period of Mercury and sub-period of

ill-placed Moon. Lagna is on Pus ya at 94018’.

Evidence of the Chronogram: “Ācāryavāgabhedya” = 1434160

(Kalidinam )

“Ācāryavāgabhedya” is the chronogram that marks the beginning of Kollam Era and the

meeting of King Rājaśekhara with Śaňkara in AD 825. For the sunrise on Friday, 25th

August 825 AD, 0550 LMT [10N00, 77E00], the planetary positions are: [JD (TDT) =

2022625.55692245]

Planets Tropical λ Siddhāntic λ

Sun 155018’ 150015’

Moon 252042’ 247039’

Mars 183033’ 178030’

Mercury 177050’ 172047’

Jupiter 30043’ 25040’

Venus 182023’ 177020’

Saturn 88034’ 83031’

Rāhu 158017’ 153014’

Śikhi 338017’ 333014’

Siddhāntic Ayanāmśa used: 05003’

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It is apparent from the above data that Kollam Era had its beginning with the solar

ingress into Kanyā rāśi on Mūla naksatra. [True ayanāmśa = 08013’ is not used here as

the Kollam era had its beginning as per Siddhāntic astronomy].

What is most surprising is that none of the Saňkaravijayas give Kali 3906 [805 AD] as

the year of birth of any of the Śaňkarācāryas. On the other hand Kali 3889 or AD 788

that is generally accepted as the year of birth of Śaňkara (whom some scholars have

chosen to describe as Abhinava Śaňkara) does not tally with the legendary horoscope

in any manner. Reference to Śaňkara as “Kālatī Śaňkarācārya born on Śatatāraka”

in the Tirunelveli inscription, rules out the possibility that he was born in

Vaiśākha ŚukỊadaśami of 788 AD.

Conclusion

Sidereal period of Mars, Jupiter and Saturn were respectively 1.88081, 11.861775

and 29.45665 years and their product rounds up to 657 years. 805 AD – [2×××× 657] =

- 509 or Kali 3907 – 1314 = Kali 2593 accompanied by a little more of jugglery to

provide other details formed the basis of Nārāyan�a Śāstri’s theory.

This concoction did not succeed as the true positions of Sun, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn

failed to recur at intervals of the mean period of 657 years and hence scholars like TSK

Śāstry could expose the truth by computing the planetary positions of 509 BC.

Invention of 509 BC as the epoch of Sankaracharya is a fraud and it point towards

the unscrupulous dimensions of concoction in respect of Indian Chronology and

history.