Adi Sankaracharya Jayanti is observed on the Panchami Tithi (5th day) during sukla paksha (waxing of moon) in the month of Vaisakha (April – May). Adi Sankaracharya, who brought out Sanatana Dharma, from the clutches of rituals, is also considered as an incarnation of Lord Shiva by many people.
One of India’s greatest philosopher and saint, Sankaracharya arrived on the scene when there was complete destruction of truth, culture and morality. There was utter chaos and confusion and Sankaracharya set the house in order with his peaceful message of Vedanta. Shankara was born to a humble Nambudri Brahmin couple in Kaladi (in the present day Kerala) in 788CE. His parents, Shivaguru and Aryamba, who were a childless couple, had prayed to Lord Shiva to bless them with a child. Soon, they had a baby boy who went on to become a great teacher. Shankara became the disciple of Govinda Bhagavathpada, under whose guidance he learnt about the Vedas and the six Vedangas. Govinda also guided Shankara to preach the tenets of advaita Vedanta. It is said that Lord Vishnu visited Shankara at Badrinath and asked him to make a statue of the deity in Alaknanda River. In the present time, the temple is popular as Badrinarayan Temple. Shankaracharya left his body at the young age of 32 in 820 CE at Kedarnath, which lies in the present day Uttarakhand.
Adi Sankaracharya explained and reinterpreted Hindu scriptures like the Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, and the primary principles of Brahma Sutras. He travelled to various nations in order to revive Hinduism. He established four monasteries (Matha) in four corners of India — Sringeri in the South, Badrinath in the North, Puri in the East, and Dwaraka in the West. The Jayanti day is celebrated with enthusiasm at Shankaracharya Mathas (monasteries) around the country. Havan, puja, and satsang are organized at Mathas like Shringeri Sharadha Peetham in Karnataka, Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham in Tamilnadu, etc.