Govindapada | |
|---|---|
 Gaudapadacharya, the guru of Govinda Bhagavadpada, the grand guru ofAdi Shankara and the first historical proponent ofAdvaita Vedanta, also believed to be the founder ofShri Gaudapadacharya Math | |
| Religious life | |
| Religion | Hinduism |
Govinda Bhagavatpada (IASTGovinda Bhagavatpāda) was theguru of the Hindu philosopherAdi Shankara.[1] He is one of the prominent gurus of theGaud Saraswat Brahmin community. He is mentioned in all the traditional accounts (Shankara Vijayams) as the teacher of Adi Shankara. He was the disciple ofGaudapada (IASTGauḍapāda).[2] He is mentioned in the first verse of Adi Shankara's prakaraṇa grantha (treatise)Viveka Chudamani. He is named afterGaudapada in theGuru Parampara (lineage) of Sringeri Sharada Peetham.[2] He is considered to be an incarnation ofShesha.
As per the Madhavīya Shankaravijaya, after leavingKalady, Adi Shankara reached the banks of the riverNarmada where he met Govinda Bhagavatpada atOmkareshwar. The Madhavīya Shankaravijaya states that Adi Shankara once calmed a flood from theRiver Narmada by placing his kamanḍalu (water pot) in the path of the raging water, thus saving hisguru Govinda Bhagavatpada who was immersed inSamādhi in a cave nearby. The cave is still maintained in Omkareshwar below the famous Shiva temple. Govinda Bhagavatpada is said to have asked Adi Shankara who he was. Adi Shankara then replied with a verse (which are known asAtma Shatkam orNirvana Shatkam) composed extempore, that brought out clearly theAdvaita philosophy in regard to the Self. Shankara was then initiated as Govinda Bhagavatapada's disciple,[1] thus formally enteringsanyasa.
Adi Shankara was then commissioned by his Guru to write aBhashya (commentary) on theBrahma Sutra and spread the Advaita philosophy far and wide.Gaudapadacharya was the guru of Govinda Bhagavatpada.