‘Adi Shankaracharya: Hinduism’s Greatest Thinker’, in Chandigarh
Former diplomat, Rajya Sabha MP and author, Pavan K. Varma’s latest book, ‘Adi Shankaracharya: Hinduism’s Greatest Thinker’ was launched by Shri V.P Singh Badnore, Honourable Governor of Punjab and Administrator of U.T., Chandigarh, at Punjab Raj Bhawan, on Wednesday.
The book ‘Adi Shankaracharya: Hinduism’s Greatest Thinker’ is a well-researched account of the life and times of the child-saint Adi Shankaracharya, who travelled across India to set up of monasteries or mathas, even while giving a form and structure to Hinduism. The book includes a select anthology of Shankaracharya’s seminal writing; and most importantly, examines the startling endorsement that contemporary science is giving to his ideas today. It reminds readers about the remarkable philosophical underpinning of Hinduism, making it one of the most vibrant religions in the world.
Also in attendance were luminaries including
About Book: Jagad Guru Adi Shankaracharya (788–820 CE) was born in Kerala and died in Kedarnath, traversing the length of India in his search for the ultimate truth. In a short life of thirty-two years, Shankaracharya not only revived Hinduism, but also created the organisational structure for its perpetuation through the mathas he established in Sringeri, Dwaraka, Puri and Joshimatha.
Written by noted writer-diplomat Pavan K. Varma, Adi Shankaracharya: Hinduism’s Greatest Thinker chronicles the journey of a seer who gave Hinduism a definite form, and also propounded the Advaita philosophy. Most importantly, Adi Shankara’s sheer audacity and thought in establishing significant scientific principles, which even modern science endorsed centuries later, is magnificently documented by the author.
Highly readable, including a select anthology of Shankaracharya’s seminal writing, this book is a must-read for people across the ideological spectrum. The reason being that it reminds readers for the first time ever what truly is the remarkable philosophical underpinning of Hinduism, making it one of the most vibrant religions in the world.
About Pavan K Varma: Pavan K. Varma is a writer-diplomat and now in politics, where he was till recently an MP in the Rajya Sabha, and earlier Advisor to the Chief Minister of Bihar. Author of over a dozen bestselling books including, Ghalib: The Man, The Times; The Great Indian Middle Class; The Book of Krishna; Being Indian; Becoming Indian; and Chanakya’s New Manifesto, he has been Ambassador in several countries, Director of The Nehru Centre in London, Official Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, and Press Secretary to the President of India.
Pavan K. Varma was conferred an Honorary Doctoral Degree for his contribution to the fields of diplomacy, literature, culture and aesthetics by the University of Indianapolis in 2005. He lives in Delhi.
