How was it possible for Sri Sankaracharya to have devotion to Sakara Brahman when he was an Advaitin and his philosophical treatises prove that he believed in the nameless and formless One?

It is because Jnana and Bhakti are essentially the same! Look at the various Stotras that
he has composed. They indicate clearly that he had developed devotion to a very high degree.
Atmanivedan or self-surrender leads to Jnana; and Jnana is synonymous with Para Bhakti.
People nowadays condemn Bhakti and think that it is inferior to Jnana Yoga. They have
no understanding of Bhakti. They think that they can jump at once to Jnana Yoga Sadhana.
They have really no faith in God. They just acquire some intellectual conception of God. This
does not serve them. Jnana Yoga without the necessary preparation is of no use.

From "May I answer that" by Swami Sivananda (1987-1963). More Informations on Swami Sivananda: on the Website of Divine Life Society, Photographs of Swami Sivananda, German Pages on Swami Sivananda

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How was it possible for Sri Sankaracharya to have devotion to Sakara Brahman when he was an Advaitin and his philosophical treatises prove that he believed in the nameless and formless One?

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