Mandana Mishra, an adherent of Advaita philosophy who lived between 750 and 800 CE, advocated the Shabda Advaita perspective in his renowned work, Brahma Siddhi. According to Mandana Mishra, Brahman, characterized as Advaita or devoid of a second entity, is synonymous with consciousness. This consciousness, he asserts, manifests as the power of speech, inherently composed of Shabda, denoting sound or vibration. Consequently, Mandana Mishra posits that Brahman inherently embodies the essence of 'Shabda' or speech.
While Mandana Mishra draws upon compelling arguments,
influenced by the insights of Bhartrhari, a 5th-century philosopher associated
with the school of grammar, subsequent Advaitins diverge from his viewpoint.
Later proponents of Advaita do not align themselves with Mandana Mishra's
perspectives, despite the strength of his arguments as presented in accordance
with the Shabda Advaita philosophy.