Shankaracharya, (Śankarācharya in standard transliteration) is a commonly used name and title of Adi Shankara, or Sankara of Kaladi, an influential theologian of Hinduism. He was given the name Śankara at birth, and ācharya is a title, meaning 'very learned'.

Because they claim succession from Adi Shankara, Shankaracharya is used as a title of the head of a matha (typically four are recognized), a type of Hindu religious order or monastery. Originally, four mathas are supposed to have been established in four places in India, by Adi Shankara. These four orders are;

• the Uttaramnaya matha, or northern matha at Joshimath
• the Purvamnaya matha or eastern matha, the Govardhana matha, at Puri
• the Dakshinamnaya matha, or the Sringeri Sharada Peetham, the southern matha, at Shringeri
• the Paschimamnaya matha, or the Dwaraka Pitha, the western matha, at Dwarka .

• In addition, There is also the Sarvagnya peetha or the Kanchi matha.