The important thing was that all these argumentations were not confined to hermitages or monasteries or to a handful of disciples, but acquired a larger momentum and popularity that permeated to people at large who, even if not involved in the finer metaphysical nuances, were more than aware of the broad contours. The depth, robustness of argument, courage of conviction, and sanction to dissent and, where necessary, synthesise, is what made the philosophical canvas leading up to Shankara different.
