Adi Sankara as brilliant poet

Many composers and singers have given musical expression to the saint’s prolific literary creations

As we celebrate Adi Sankara’s jayanthi this month, it is an opportune moment to look at the saint’s marvellous and prolific literary creations. We have to thank a large number of music composers, singers and recording organisations without whose help these compositions may not have reached our homes. In his short life of 33 years, lived about 13 centuries ago, Adi Sankara mastered Sanskrit, researched the Vedas and Upanishads, wrote commentaries on them, developed a deep understanding of sanatana dharma, developed its essence, and communicated it in the form of his own distilled literature. He preached to a growing band of disciples, established mutts across India, and connected with tens of thousands of people through his wide travels. His scholarly profile and contributions are immense, and a small part of that gargantuan effort are the songs he wrote.