By the end of the 19th century, Hindu thought and philosophy had acquired several obscurities and inconsistencies and faced a challenge from other heterodox sects and Buddhism. Born in Kerala, Shankaracharya arrived on the religious scene around this time. As a boy, he was instructed in the religious life by his father and made to practice the prevalentrituals. His father's death, however, compelled him to think deeply about life and death, the body and the soul. With his mother's approval, Shankaracharya decided to lead a life of austerity. Donning the robes of the renouncer he set out on a journey in the quest of Truth, a journey which would take him across the sub-continent. Shankaracharya furthered the school of Vedantic thought and propagated the Advaita (Monism) philosophy, eventually leading to the establishment of the four famous learning centres in the far corners of India.