The Influence of Sankaracharya on Swami Vivekananda's Philosophy

Abstract

The philosophical lineage of modern Indian thought owes much to the intellectual bridge between Śrī Ādi Śaṅkarācārya and Swami Vivekananda. Śaṅkara, the preeminent exponent of Advaita Vedānta, articulated a vision of non-dualism that emphasized the identity of the individual self (Ātman) with the ultimate reality (Brahman), rejecting ritualism and affirming knowledge as the path to liberation. Swami Vivekananda, emerging in the late nineteenth century, inherited this Advaitic foundation yet transformed it into a pragmatic philosophy suited to the modern world. While Śaṅkara highlighted metaphysical inquiry and renunciation, Vivekananda extended the doctrine of non-duality into social service, religious universalism, and national regeneration. His principle of “Practical Vedānta” reinterpreted Śaṅkara’s transcendental non-dualism into a philosophy of action, stressing that spiritual realization must manifest in service to humanity. This paper critically explores the continuities and divergences between Śaṅkarācārya and Swami Vivekananda, demonstrating how the former provided the metaphysical groundwork while the latter infused it with dynamism, inclusivity, and global relevance. The study concludes that Vivekananda’s reinterpretation of Śaṅkara’s Advaita was not a departure but a creative evolution that enabled Vedānta to address the spiritual and socio-political challenges of modernity.