 There are several different dates ascribed to Śaṅkara. Early scholars placed him from 788–820 CE. Nakamura (1983: 48–88) argues for an earlier date of 700–750 CE, and discusses the various dating theories at length. Potter (1981: 14–15, 116–119) places him from the late seventh to early eighth centuries CE due to the dating of a contemporaneous Advaitin named Maṇḍanamiśra (see Thrasher 1979 on Maṇḍanamiśra’s dating). There are no dependable historical records of Śaṅkara’s life beyond his written works which provide few biographical clues. Scholars are also not clear about his religious identity. According to the Advaita Vedānta tradition itself, he was Śaiva (a devotee of the deity Śiva); but several scholars believe he was Vaiṣṇava, a devotee of the deity Viṣṇu (see Clark 2006: 159–170 for an overview of these theories). Hagiographical accounts of his life, the Śaṅkaravijayas (Conquests of Śaṅkara), were composed several centuries after his death. They describe him as being born in Kalāḍi, located in modern day Kerala. He became a renouncer at a young age, left his family to pursue liberation, and spent his life travelling around the sub-continent while teaching his pupils, engaging in philosophical debate, and composing his works. He supposedly died at the young age of thirty-two. (See Bader 2000 for a discussion of Śaṅkara’s life according to his hagiographies).