This book dwells upon the life and times of JAGADGURU ADI SHANKARACHARYA with emphasis on his journeys to various important pilgrim centers, undertaken by him for the revival of Sanatana Dharma and cultural ethics of Bharatvarsha (India). It is being published at a time when the modern world is engulphed in mindless war and erosion of human values.

Adi Shankara passionately propagated the upnishadic message of ADVAITA philosophy of oneness of all living phenomena and wrote brilliant commentaries (Bhashyas) on scriptures e.g., Bhagwadgita, Brahmasutra, and Upnishads. During his travels to pilgrim centres like Varanasi, Dwarka, Srinagar (Kashmir), Kamakhaya etc. he held "Shastrarths" (Debates) with eminent contemporary scholars of those centres.

During his arduous journeys, he undertook the task of revival of Sanatan Dharma at such a tumultuous time when Buddhism and Jainism had become dominant religions, relegating the Sanatana Dharma to margin. All these aspects and unprecedented achievements of Adi Shankara have been adequately covered in this book, which will prove to be quite inspiring for the readers, particularly the younger generation of India.

Adi Shankaracharya established four main religious centres in the four corners of India with the aim of reviving Sanatana Dharma. These four Peethas are Badrikashram Jotish Peetha (Joshimath) in the north, Rameshwaram Sharada Peetha in the south, Dwarka Sharada Peetha in the west, and Jagannatha Puri Peetha in the east. Besides revival of Sanatana Dharma, Adi Shankaracharya immensely contributed to the enrichment of India's culture and its spiritual traditions. All this and much more happened during his very short life span of only thirty two years.

The author, Om Prakash Pareek, a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, also happens to be a writer, poet, magazine editor, and climate activist.

As a social worker and activist, Shri Pareek had been the Organizing Secretary of DELHI STUDY GROUP (a think tank of Delhi during 1978-1986) under the stewardship of Late Virendra Aggarwal, a well-known economist and intellectual of Delhi. He has been the editor of two house journals published by two apex bodies (AITWA & AIMTC) of road transport industry. He is also an active member of the core-group of NOIDA's premier NGO 'Noida Lok Munch' (NLM). Besides, he was also executive editor of the house journal of NLM, called 'Sajag Sathi'. His well-researched book titled 'Climate Change-A Call for Action' has been held as a path breaking publication calling for urgent drastic measures for mitigation of climate change crisis.

The advent of Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya coincided with a period when Sanatana Dharma, a religion based on the Vedas and the Upanisads, was in a state of decline in India. King Ashoka and his successors had adopted Buddhism as their personal faith, and this had a direct impact on the followers of Sanatana Dharma. However, even though some scholars may be of this opinion, but I would like to clarify that the propagation of Buddhism by King Ashoka and his successors should not be regarded as the sole reason for the decline of Sanatana Dharma. There were several other factors as well that contributed to this. The fact is that while a vast majority of the population, including the rulers and most of their subjects, had accepted Buddhism, it is also true that Sanatana Dharma was plagued by undue ritualism, superstition, casteism, and so on during the rise of Buddhism. This was also one of the causes why several people turned away from Sanatana Dharma, and adopted Buddhism, which was thought to be more simple and straightforward, with its emphasis on non-violence, charity, and liberation from sorrow, and as well as the rejection of elaborate rituals. Shankara took up the task of rejuvinating Sanatana Dharma, which was in a state of imminent decline, and he set out on a quest for religious revivalan initiative that remains unmatched in the history of the subcontinent till today. Shankara possessed an unparalleled personality, and his religious journeys were unique because it aimed to revive Sanatana Dharma and culture of Bharat i.e. India.

It is a well-known fact that, in order to fulfill his objective, Shankara relied on dialogue and discussion (shastrarth), and he used this approach, along with the scriptural tradition, to communicate the core teachings of Vedanta, primarily the doctrine of non-dualism (Advaita). During the course of his travels, Shankara came in contact with innumerable people, including kings, the common folk, wise men, religious leaders, and eminent scholars. All of them were impressed by Shankara's wisdom and deep knowledge of ancient scriptures and philosophy. Wherever he went, he left an everlasting impression of his scholarly knowledge.

Shankara was basically a saint, who had adopted the path of knowledge (jnana maarg). He proclaimed knowledge as the true path for liberation, sacrifice, and dispassion that were the main pillars of his religious quest. It is quite likely that Shankara was endowed with divine powers and energies, so one wonders as to how would it have been possible for an individual to accomplish so much in such a short life? It is believed that he had the blessings of Lord Shiva, and in fact, to this day, his devotees regard him as an incarnation of Lord Shiva.

Shankara travelled and worked in the vast and fragmented domain of Bharatvarsha that stretched from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, from Dwarka to Jagannatha Puri and beyond. The cultural and religious unity of the land was lacking during Shankaracharya's time. Therefore, at a time when Buddhism, Jainism, and many other religious sects were spreading all across the country, Shankara used the vehicle of Vedanta-based Sanatana Dharma to unite them in a single thread to establish religious and cultural unity of Bharat. Shankara wasn't just an outstanding scholar, but also a reformer, visionary, humanitarian, and an able administrator. For instance, as a skilled administrator, Shankara formulated the organisational structure, as well as the rites and rituals of worship in all the four places where he had established the four Peethas for learning and study of Sanatana Dharma. Shankara also undertook the most arduous journeys to the four main pilgrimage sites ('Chaar Dhaam-Badrinath, Kedarnath, Yamunotri, and Gangotri), and there he appointed priests and sevaks and also made arrangements for the regular performance of Puja and related rites and rituals. Before the arrival of Shankara, such arrangements did not exist. In this way, Shankara carried out the significant task of elevating Sanatana Dharma and its cultural traditions in all the four corners of the country.

According to an anecdote when Shankara reached Jagannatha Puri, he was shocked to find that the temple of Lord Jagannatha did not have any idol. He came to know through his divine vision that this idol had, for a long time, been buried close to a riverbank near Sonpur. He contacted the king of Sonpur, had the idol excavated and brought to Puri, and asked the then ruler of Puri, King Gajapati to install and consecrate the idol with due ceremony in the Jagannatha Temple. The ruler of Puri fulfilled Shankara's wish, and had the idol re-installed in the temple. After this, Shankara set up the 'Mukti Mandapa Sabha', which comprised of Puri's reputed scholars, and they were entrusted with the task of ensuring the regular performance of rites and rituals of worship in the Puri Temple. The king requested Shankaracharya to be the first President of the Sabha. It is interesting to note that this tradition continues to this day, and hence, the Shankaracharya of Puri Dhaam is invariably the nominated President of this Sabha. In addition to this, there is a Management Committee, which is entrusted with the task managing the temple, and successive kings of Puri have traditionally headed this Committee to this day, with the Chief Commissioner of Puri as its secretary. The responsibility of the management of the temple lies with them. Thus, the Mukti Mandap Sabha oversees the rites, rituals, and ceremonies in the Puri Temple that is dedicated to Lord Jagannatha, Devi Subhadra, and Balram.

Apart from being a great visionary, Shankara was also a great Sanskrit poet and scholar. His well-known poetic renditions include Saundarya Lahari, Bhaja Govindam, Narmadastakam, Kanakadharastotram, and so on. His famous commentaries include, the Prasthana Trayi Gīta Bhasya, Upanisads, and Brahmasūtra.

Shankara was the most ardent exponent of the philosophy of non-dualism (Advaita), and possibly the first visionary to put forward a universally acceptable and straightforward interpretation of this philosophy. According to him, all beings (gross and subtle) are pervaded by one consciousness (Brahman). This knowledge of the omnipresence of consciousness was superior in comparison to the other prevailing points of view. This can be understood as the core principle of the philosophy of non-dualism (Advaita). Shankara considered the whole world to be an illusion (maya) or a dream. He said, "Brahma satyam jagat mithya" (Brahman or Consciousness is the one true reality, and the perceived world is an illusion).