Adi Shankara, an avatar of Shiv, was born in Kerala and went on a spiritual mission. He met his guru, Govind Bhagavadpada, and claimed to be the Self. Shankara later expressed his transcended state in 'Nirvana Satakam'. He formulated Advaita philosophy, which asserts one reality is the Self, not the body, mind, or intellect. Realizing one's divine nature and consciousness leads to spiritual fulfillment.
