Amnaya comprises Vedas, family or national customs and received doctrines. In the sense of Vedas, it indicates the entire sacred lore of the four Vedas (Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atharva), and the related disciplines of traditional study (Brahmanas, Aranyakas, Upanishads). In this sense it is a source and authority of dharma. In the meaning of “usage and customs”, it is equivalent to the word sampradaya (conventions). In the sense of received doctrine and advice, it is taken to mean Vedanta philosophy and the religious temple traditions. In this sense, the four institutions established by Shankaracharya (dated from 6 th century BCE to 8 th century CE) are very significant. Shankaracharya, the monistic interpreter of the philosophy of Upanishads, desired that knowledge should be made available to seekers in all corners of ancient India. He established four pithas under the stewardship of his four disciples. These four main institutions are called the Caturamnayapitha. The four Amnaya P