The Brahma Suthra of Sri Vyasa Maharishi are the basis of Vedanthic philosophy, widely followed by all Hindus. The teachings of other Dharsanas, Agamas and traditions of Smartha Sampradaya, Saiva, Vaishnava and Saktha systems also contributed to the teachings of many commentators and the daily practice of religion. Several great Acharyas or teachers have written commentaries and interpretations of Hindu philosophy based on the Sruthis. We have the systems of Sankara, Bhaskara, Ramanuja, Madhva, Vishnuswami, Nimbarka, Vallabha, Chaithanya and the northern and Southern schools of Saivism including Meykandar's Saiva Siddhantha. Among them, Kevala Adhvaitha by Sri Sankara, Visishta-Advaitha by Sri Ramanuja and Dvaitha by Sri Madhva are commentaries on Brahma Suthras of Sri Vyasa and are the most popular. Sankara's teachings closely follow the traditions of Smarthas. The first systematic exponent of Advaitha is Gaudapaada, who is said to have lived in the eightth century AD. His pupil Govinda later became the teacher for Sankara. [Some Hindu historians and scholars claim Sankara lived in the sixth century BC]

The Adhvaitha system of Sri Sankara was developed as a commentary on Vyasa Maharishi's Brahma Suthra and the Vedhantha Philosophy, contributing to the vast majority of Smartha, Saiva and Saktha followers and closely following their traditions with some features of rituals, modifying the Mimamsa system. The Advaitha taught by Sankara is a rigorous, absolute one. Whatever is, is Brahman. It is absolutely homogenous by Itself. "Brahman, the Absolute, alone is real; this world is unreal; and the Jiva or individual soul is non-different from Brahman." The Atman is self evident. The atman is the basis of all knowledge. Brahman is not an object, as It is Adrishya, beyond the reach of our vision. Sankara's Supreme Brahman is Nirguna, formless, without attributes, without special characteristics, immutable and eternal. It is impersonal. It becomes a personal God or Saguna Brahman only through Its association with Maya. They are not two opposite entities.