[Query] In the monthly Stotra group here at Minnesota, there was discussion whether Shankaracharya Maharaj is an Avtar of Shivji. What is the reason for this belief?
akhaNDAnandasarvasvamahaHkhaNDendushekharam |
jIyAttadaupaniShadam sacchitsukhamumAsakham ||
From various ancient and medieval works based on purANa, itihAsa, Agama and tantra, references to the incarnation of Lord Dakshinamurti as Adi Shankara can be seen. The following are some pramANas quoted by biographers such as Anandagiri, Vidyaranya, Chitsukha etc.
Kurma Purana, Adhyaya 27:
kariShyatyavatArANi sha~Nkaro nIlalohitaH |
shrautasmArtapratiShThArtham bhaktAnAm hitakAmyayA ||
upadekShyati tacchAyam shiShyANAm brahmasaMj~nitam |
sarvavedAntasAram yatsarvasmAcChAstradarshanAt ||
Markandeya Purana, Uttara Bhaga, Adhyaya 7:
shAlivAharAj~nashcha shake ShoDashavatsare |
gate shambhurmahAdevaH sha~NkarAchAryanAmataH ||
bhUloke sa~ncharan viprAn pAlayishyati sAdaraH |
shivaM viShNuM gaNapatiM sUryam devIm cha bhairavam ||
brahmANamindramagniM cha yamaM nirR^itimeva cha |
varuNam vAyudevam cha kuberam bhUmipa~nchakam ||
navagrahAn kamadevam viShvaksenaM cha gAruDam |
ityAdikAMshcha devAMshcha pratyekaM pUjayanti ye ||
tAMshcha vedoktamArgeNa sthApayiShyati pUrvavat |
kumatAn nAshayitvA cha ShaNmatAn sthApayiShyati ||
sa vyAsasUtrabhAShyaM cha kariShyati na saMshayaH |
pa~nchagauDakasaMj~nAshcha pa~nchadrAviDasaMj~nakAn |
brAhmaNAMshcha pR^itakkR^itvA pAlayiShyati medinIm ||
Aditya Purana:
vyAkurvan vyAsasUtrANi shruterarthaM yathochivAn |
sa evArthaH shrutergrAhya sha~NkaraH sa hi sha~NkaraH ||
Shiva/Linga Purana:
chaturbhiH saha shiShyaistu sha~NkarovatariShyati ||
hara hara sha~Nkara