Q. Adi Shankaracharya is associated with the establishment of four mathas (monastic centers) in different parts of India. Which one of the following is the collective name for these mathas?
Explanation – Adi Shankaracharya, an 8th-century Indian philosopher and theologian, established four mathas (monastic centers) in different parts of India to promote the teachings of Advaita Vedanta. These four mathas are collectively known as the Dashanami Sampradaya or the order of Dashanami monks.
The four mathas established by Adi Shankaracharya are: 1. Dwaraka Matha in Dwarka, Gujarat, 2. Jyotirmath in Joshimath, Uttarakhand, 3. Govardhana Matha in Puri, Odisha, 4. Sharada Peeth in Sringeri, Karnataka
Each matha is responsible for a specific region of India and is headed by a Shankaracharya, who is considered to be the spiritual leader of the matha. The mathas play an important role in preserving and propagating the teachings of Advaita Vedanta, and they continue to be centers of learning and spirituality in India.
Source: Forum IAS
