गौड़पाद कारिका
The Brahma-Sutra, ishaadi 11 Upanishads and Srimad Bhagawad gita are called 'Prasthana-traya' of Vedanta Darshan on which almost every great Acharya has commented. The Mandukya-Karika or the Gaudpada-Karika also known as the Agama-Shastra is the first available systematic treatise on Advaita Vedanta. There can be no doubt that Gaudpada' s philosophy is essentially based on the Upanishads, particularly on the Mandukya, the Brhadaranyaka, and the Chhandogya. Probably he has also drawn upon the Brahma-Sutra and the Srimad Bhagawad Gita. There can also be no doubt that Gaudpada is much influenced by Mahayana Buddhism--by Sunyavada and Vijnnanvada. In fact it can be correctly stated that Gaudpada represents the best that is in Nagarjuna and Vasubandhu. Tradition says that Gaudpada was the teacher of Govindpada who was the teacher of Adi Shankaracharya. Adi Shankaracharya himself most respectfully salutes Gaudpada as his 'grand-teacher who is the respected (teacher) of his r