Adi Sankaracharya

Adi Sankaracharya was born in the year 805 (AD) and is regarded as one of the greatest philosophers, mystic and poet of all times. His parents were Shivaguru and Shivataarakaa (also known as Aryamba). Sankaracharya's father died at an early age and he was brought up by his mother. Sankaracharya was very intelligent and learned the Vedas at a very early age.Adi Shankaracharya was born during the time when Hinduism was divided into various sects and the ritualistic practice had taken a predominance over actual philosophical practice. Shankara, in his indisputable style, set out on a difficult mission to change the outlook of the country and its people by revamping the vast Hindu literature into a simplified and easy to understand form. He reinterpreted the Brahma Sutra, Upanishads and the Geeta. Shankara wrote on almost all major vedic literature, including Upanishhads, Brahma-suutra and the Gita.
In a short life-span of thirty-two years, Sankaracharya travelled all over India, establishing monasteries, reforming worship procedures in temples, writing philosophical treatises, debating with leaders of other religious traditions and instructing students who flocked to him for spiritual guidance.
Sankaracharya attained maha samadhi at the age of 32 in the year 837 AD.