This is the first complete translation in prose of one of the traditional biographies of Shankaracharya. In his valuable introduction Swami Tapasyananda discusses the dearth of data on Shankara?s life which makes a biography along modern lines impossible and necessitates dependence on the traditional lives. This biography written by Vidyaranya conveys the power of Shankara?s personality and the brilliance of his achievements, particularly in the fully reported philosophical debates with his opponents.
I do not want to get material life, do not want the sense-life, but something higher. That is renunciation. Then, by the power of meditation, undo the mischief that has been done.
-Swami Vivekananda