Date of Ādi Śaňkarācārya – Facts, Fiction and Frauds

K. Chandra Hariƒ
• Gururatnamālika gives Śaňkara’s date as:

Tisye prayātyanalaśevatibānanetreƒ
ƒbde nandanedinamanāvudagdhvabhāji I
Rādheƒ ƒditeruduvinirgatamastralagneƒƒsyāhūtavan śivaguruh sa ca śaňkareti II

According to this verse Śaňkara was born in Dhanur lagna and Punarvasu naksatra, 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 Pītha 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 Yudhistira era that corresponds to 557 BC. Same work gives Śaňkara’s demise in
the year 2157 Yudhistira era or 477 BC.
Brhat Śaňkaravijaya of Citsukācārya gives the detailed horoscope itself for the date
falling in 2631 of Yudhistira era [508 BC] and accordingly the lagna is Kataka 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 Maths 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 Prakarana 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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 λ: BC 508 22.04.508 BC 03.05.509 BC
λ: BC509
New moon 12:00 UT 12:00 UT
th New moon of
Planets of 19 March Vaiśākha śukỊa Vaiśākha śukỊa
30th March 03:35
17:11 pańcami Pańcami
Caitrādi
Caitrādi Sunday 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. Ayanāmśa for the Mūlādhāra Cakra will be 100.25 and neither
of the planets will be exalted on the above dates. But T.S. Nārāyana 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 (Mesa) ŚukỊapańcami of the year Nandana in 2593 of the Kaliyuga,
corresponding to 509 BC”.

‘The Age of Śaňkara’ by T.S. Nārāyana 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.
Nārāyana Śāstry in 1916. In a detailed review of the latter work, T.S. Kuppanna 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 Samhitās 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 Narāyana 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 Nārāyana 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 Dvārakāpītham 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, Bhartrhari died in 651 – 652 AD. I-T’sing makes no mention of Śaňkara.

Kalhana’s Rājataraňgini 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 Bhatt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
[Ayanāmśa for Mūlādhāra Cakra = 07057’]

Planets Tropical λ Sidereal λ Rāsi

Sun 22001’ 14005’ Mesa

Moon 86054’ 78058’ Mithuna

Mars 305028’ 297032’ Makara

Mercury 38057’ 31001’ Vrsabha

Jupiter 113029’ 105033’ Kataka

Venus 63030’ 55034’ Vrsabha

Saturn 197007’ 189011’ Tulā

Rāhu 192051’ 184055’ Tulā

Ketu 12051’ 04055’ Mesa

Chart is
Sun Merc.
Moon
Śikhi Ven.
Lag.
Jup.
Mars Rāśi
Sat.
Rāhu

Tithi is Sast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 naksatra 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 naksatra 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 Nārāyana 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 ‘Ārsbhāratapārambaryam’ 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 Cidambaram

Kāladi Śaňkarācārya born in 805 AD, in Śatatāraka (Catayam) naksatram 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 Lag Sun

Ket Ven Sun Mar
Mer Ket Rā
Lag. Jup
Moo Jup. Mar
Rāśi Navāmśa Daśāmśa Mer
Mar. Moo Moo Ven
Sat Jup Lag
Rāh Sat Rāh Ven Moo

Tithi is Krsnpaksa ekādaśi and naksatra 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 naksatra. [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 “Kālatī 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 Nārāyana 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.