Adi Shankaracharya: The Statue of Unity and Oneness in Madhya Pradesh Stands Tall
A magnificent 108-feet-tall statue of Adi Shankaracharya was unveiled in Madhya Pradesh on September 21, symbolizing the unity and oneness of India. The statue represents the profound message of Advaita Vedanta, as propagated by the revered reformist-philosopher himself.
Commissioned as the Icon of Unity and Oneness, this remarkable sculpture at Omkareshwar holds a unique significance. The initial portrait of Adi Shankaracharya was created by renowned artist Vasudev Kamath from Sholapur in 2018. The statue gained further prominence through the Ekatma Yatra, a series of massive public rallies and processions, covering approximately 23,000 gram panchayats across the state. It garnered immense participation from the community, making it a shining example of public-private collaboration.
In a conversation with senior editor and columnist Vithal C Nadkarni, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan reflected upon the remarkable accomplishments of Adi Shankaracharya, highlighting his deep-rooted connection with the state. Chouhan emphasized that Shankaracharya not only unified the diverse land of Bharat-varsha through his celebrated philosophy of Advaita Siddhanta, but also established four strategic spiritual mathas or monasteries in the four corners of India.
Chouhan further praised Shankaracharya’s enduring philosophy, stating that the revered master, even as a child prodigy, embarked on foot throughout the country to promote unity. He brought together various sects, enabling the worship of multiple deities on a single platform. As a result, he is hailed as the “Shanmata-Sthapanacharya,” the Unifier of Six Creeds. Shankaracharya’s profound works, including extensive commentaries on the Upanishads, the Brahma Sutras, and the Bhagavad Gita, as well as his mellifluous verses dedicated to deities, continue to remain authoritative classics to this day.
During Shankaracharya’s time in the 9th century, six main sects existed, centered around the worship of the Mother Goddess and four other deities—Surya, Vishnu, Shiva, and Ganesh. The sixth cult revered Skanda-Kartikeya, also known as Subrahmanya or Shanmukha, who is predominantly worshipped in Tamil Nadu and other parts of South India, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia, and Mauritius. In just 32 years, Shankaracharya accomplished the unification and harmonization of these sects.
Today, Adi Shankara is revered across India as the very incarnation of Lord Shiva, known as the “Great Teacher” or Dakshinamurti.
Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, the first vice-president of India, wrote about the cultural tensions among sects during Adi Shankaracharya’s time. Radhakrishnan emphasized the need for a genius who could bridge the divide and synthesize the warring sects based on truth—a role expertly fulfilled by Shankaracharya.
The profound impact of Shankaracharya’s work endures to this day. In his magnum opus “History of Dharmashastras,” Mahamohopadhyaya PV Kane, honored with the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award, observes that while the worship of these five deities persists, their arrangement varies depending on the worshipper’s preferences.
Adi Shankaracharya’s legacy as a peacemaker and unifier of sects stands as a shining testament to the power of unity in India. The monumental statue in Madhya Pradesh serves as a proud symbol of that eternal message.
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