Sankaracharya was a prominent Hindu philosopher and theologian who lived in the 8th century CE. He sought to integrate the different religious cults in India through his philosophy of Advaita Vedanta, which emphasized the oneness of all existence.

Sankaracharya believed that the ultimate reality was Brahman, which was the same as the inner self (Atman) of every individual. He argued that the different gods and goddesses worshiped in various religious cults were just different expressions of this ultimate reality.

Sankaracharya sought to integrate the different religious cults by showing that they were all ultimately seeking the same truth, even if they had different ways of expressing it. He argued that the various Hindu deities were different manifestations of the same ultimate reality, and that the various gods and goddesses worshiped by different religious communities were also ultimately expressions of the same ultimate reality.

Through his teachings and writings, Sankaracharya sought to bridge the differences between the various religious communities and create a common ground of understanding. He encouraged dialogue and discussion between different religious traditions, and sought to create a sense of unity and shared purpose.

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Impact : 

He challenged the dominance of Buddhism and Jainism in India and reasserted the authority of the Vedas.
He established four monastic centers (mathas) in different regions of India to propagate his teachings and train disciples.
He composed hymns, poems, and texts that are widely revered by Hindus for their devotional and philosophical value.
He influenced many later thinkers, such as Ramanuja, Madhva, Vivekananda, Gandhi, Radhakrishnan, etc.

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Historians have presented different interpretations for the above statement. S. Radhakrishnan has said both to be complementary to achieve liberation. Whereas AL Basham argued that both are 2 different expressions underlying the same religious truth.