Totakacharya
Encyclopedia
Note the misspelling of the title
Trotakacharya (IAST
) (c. 8th century CE
) was a disciple of Adi Shankara
, the Advaita philosopher
. He was made the first Jagadguru (head) of the Jyotirmatha Peetham
, the northern matha
founded by Adi Shankara near Badrinath. He founded a matha by name Vadakke Matham in Thrissur, Kerala.
, Adi Shankara, though he did not appear bright to the other disciples. One day, Giri was washing his Guru's clothes, when Adi Shankara sat down to begin a lesson on Advaita Vedanta. He however did not start the lesson saying he was waiting for Giri to come back from his chores and singing lessons. At this, Padmapada pointed to a wall and said that it would be the same if Adi Shankara taught to this dumb object as he taught to Giri. Now, Adi Shankara wanted to reward Giri for his loyalty and devotion. Thus he mentally granted Giri the complete knowledge of all the śāstras (sciences). The enlightened Giri composed extempore the Totakashtakam, a Sanskrit
poem in the toţaka metre, in praise of the Guru Adi Shankara. Thus the dumb disciple Giri became Totakacharya.
ashta) verses (shloka
s) composes by Totaka.
Transliterated Lyrics of Toţakāşţakam
Thodakashtakam
By
Ananda Giri (Thodagacharya)
Disciple of Adhi Sankara
Translated by
P.R.Ramachander
Vidhithakhila sasthra sudha Jaladhe
Mahithopanishath kadithartha nidhe,
Hrudaye kalaye vimalam charanam,
Bhava Sankara desiga may saranam. 1
I praise and seek the protection of Sankara,
Who is the ocean of nectar of our great holy books,
And who is like the Treasure
Of the essence of the great Upanishads,
And I meditate on his clear holy feet in my heart.
Karuna varunalaya palaya mama,
Bhava sagara dukha vidhua mridham,
Rachayakhila darsana Thathwa vidham,
Bhava Sankara desiga may saranam. 2
I praise and seek the protection of Sankara,
Who is the great ocean of mercy,
And seek protection for me , who has suffered deep sorrow,
In the ocean of day to day life,
And also request to make me,
Know all the schools of our philosophy.
Bhavatha janatha suhitha bhavitha,
Nija bodha vicharana charumathe,
Kalayeshwara jeeva viveka vidham,
Bhava Sankara desiga may saranam. 3
I praise and seek the protection of Sankara,
Because of whom the world has a pleasant life,
Oh great soul who can teach the great knowledge,
Make me understand the knowledge of the soul.
Bhava eva bhavanihi may nitharam,
Samajayatha chethasi kauthukitha,
Mama vaaraya moha maha jaladhim,
Bhava Sankara desiga may saranam. 4
I praise and seek the protection of Sankara,
When I understood it is him,
I became ecstasic with happiness,
And requested, please dry the ocean of passion in me.
Sukruthe adhikruthe bahudha bhavatha,
Bhavitha sama darshana lalasatha,
Athi deenamimam paripalaya maam,
Bhava Sankara desiga may saranam. 5
I praise and seek the protection of Sankara,
When the good deeds accumulate and become more,
Like you, my mind would see everything as equal,
Please give protection to this very lowly me.
Jagathi avithum kalitha kruthayo,
Vicharanthi mahaa maha saschalatha,
Ahimmsurivathra vibhasi pura,
Bhava Sankara desiga may saranam. 6
I praise and seek the protection of Sankara,
Those who are born to protect this world,
And who are like a burning flame,
Roam everywhere without any one’s knowledge,
But you shine before me like the Sun God
Guru pungava pungava kethana they,
Samayamayatham nahi ko api sudhi,
Saranagatha vathsala Thathwa nidhe,
Bhava Sankara desiga may saranam. 7
I praise and seek the protection of Sankara,
Who is the teacher among teachers
Who does not have any equal,
Who is the treasure house of Philosophy
And who is merciful to those who seek his blessings.
Vidhitha na maya visadhaika kala,
Na cha kinchana kanchanamasthi guro,
Dhruthameva videhi krupaam sahajam,
Bhava Sankara desiga may saranam. 8
I praise and seek the protection of Sankara,
And request him to shower his natural grace fast on me,
Who does not possess expertise in any branch,
And who does not even a small piece of wealth(gold?)
Trotakacharya (IAST
IAST
The International Alphabet of Sanskrit Transliteration is a transliteration scheme that allows a lossless romanization of Indic scripts as employed by the Sanskrit language.-Popularity:...
) (c. 8th century CE
Common Era
Common Era ,abbreviated as CE, is an alternative designation for the calendar era originally introduced by Dionysius Exiguus in the 6th century, traditionally identified with Anno Domini .Dates before the year 1 CE are indicated by the usage of BCE, short for Before the Common Era Common Era...
) was a disciple of Adi Shankara
Adi Shankara
Adi Shankara Adi Shankara Adi Shankara (IAST: pronounced , (Sanskrit: , ) (788 CE - 820 CE), also known as ' and ' was an Indian philosopher from Kalady of present day Kerala who consolidated the doctrine of advaita vedānta...
, the Advaita philosopher
Hindu philosophy
Hindu philosophy is divided into six schools of thought, or , which accept the Vedas as supreme revealed scriptures. Three other schools do not accept the Vedas as authoritative...
. He was made the first Jagadguru (head) of the Jyotirmatha Peetham
Jyotirmath
Jyotirmath , also called Jyotir Math and Joshimath , is a city and a municipal board in Chamoli District in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. It is home to one of the four cardinal pīthas established by Adi Shankara.-Demographics:...
, the northern matha
Matha
A matha ) is a term for monastic and similar religious establishments of Hinduism and Jainism. A matha is usually more formal, hierarchical, and rule-based than an ashram.-Advaita Mathas:...
founded by Adi Shankara near Badrinath. He founded a matha by name Vadakke Matham in Thrissur, Kerala.
Meeting Adi Shankara
The states that when Adi Shankara was at Sringeri, he met a boy named Giri. Adi Shankara accepted the boy as his disciple. Giri was a hard-working and loyal servant of his GuruGuru
A guru is one who is regarded as having great knowledge, wisdom, and authority in a certain area, and who uses it to guide others . Other forms of manifestation of this principle can include parents, school teachers, non-human objects and even one's own intellectual discipline, if the...
, Adi Shankara, though he did not appear bright to the other disciples. One day, Giri was washing his Guru's clothes, when Adi Shankara sat down to begin a lesson on Advaita Vedanta. He however did not start the lesson saying he was waiting for Giri to come back from his chores and singing lessons. At this, Padmapada pointed to a wall and said that it would be the same if Adi Shankara taught to this dumb object as he taught to Giri. Now, Adi Shankara wanted to reward Giri for his loyalty and devotion. Thus he mentally granted Giri the complete knowledge of all the śāstras (sciences). The enlightened Giri composed extempore the Totakashtakam, a Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
poem in the toţaka metre, in praise of the Guru Adi Shankara. Thus the dumb disciple Giri became Totakacharya.
Works
- Śrutisārasamuddharaņa — Published edition: Edited with a commentary titled Girisambhutaratna, by Swami Vidyananda Giri, Sri Kailash Ashrama, Rishikesh, 1972
- Toţakāşţakam
Totakashtakam
The Totakashtakam was composed by Giri in praise of his Guru Adi Shankara. Literally, it means a rhyme of eight (SanskritSanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
ashta) verses (shloka
Shloka
A ' is a category of verse line developed from the Vedic Anuṣṭubh. It is the basis for Indian Epic verse, and may be considered the Indian verse form par excellence, occurring, as it does, far more frequently than any other meter in classical Sanskrit poetry. The Mahabharata and Ramayana, for...
s) composes by Totaka.
Transliterated Lyrics of Toţakāşţakam
Thodakashtakam
By
Ananda Giri (Thodagacharya)
Disciple of Adhi Sankara
Translated by
P.R.Ramachander
Vidhithakhila sasthra sudha Jaladhe
Mahithopanishath kadithartha nidhe,
Hrudaye kalaye vimalam charanam,
Bhava Sankara desiga may saranam. 1
I praise and seek the protection of Sankara,
Who is the ocean of nectar of our great holy books,
And who is like the Treasure
Of the essence of the great Upanishads,
And I meditate on his clear holy feet in my heart.
Karuna varunalaya palaya mama,
Bhava sagara dukha vidhua mridham,
Rachayakhila darsana Thathwa vidham,
Bhava Sankara desiga may saranam. 2
I praise and seek the protection of Sankara,
Who is the great ocean of mercy,
And seek protection for me , who has suffered deep sorrow,
In the ocean of day to day life,
And also request to make me,
Know all the schools of our philosophy.
Bhavatha janatha suhitha bhavitha,
Nija bodha vicharana charumathe,
Kalayeshwara jeeva viveka vidham,
Bhava Sankara desiga may saranam. 3
I praise and seek the protection of Sankara,
Because of whom the world has a pleasant life,
Oh great soul who can teach the great knowledge,
Make me understand the knowledge of the soul.
Bhava eva bhavanihi may nitharam,
Samajayatha chethasi kauthukitha,
Mama vaaraya moha maha jaladhim,
Bhava Sankara desiga may saranam. 4
I praise and seek the protection of Sankara,
When I understood it is him,
I became ecstasic with happiness,
And requested, please dry the ocean of passion in me.
Sukruthe adhikruthe bahudha bhavatha,
Bhavitha sama darshana lalasatha,
Athi deenamimam paripalaya maam,
Bhava Sankara desiga may saranam. 5
I praise and seek the protection of Sankara,
When the good deeds accumulate and become more,
Like you, my mind would see everything as equal,
Please give protection to this very lowly me.
Jagathi avithum kalitha kruthayo,
Vicharanthi mahaa maha saschalatha,
Ahimmsurivathra vibhasi pura,
Bhava Sankara desiga may saranam. 6
I praise and seek the protection of Sankara,
Those who are born to protect this world,
And who are like a burning flame,
Roam everywhere without any one’s knowledge,
But you shine before me like the Sun God
Guru pungava pungava kethana they,
Samayamayatham nahi ko api sudhi,
Saranagatha vathsala Thathwa nidhe,
Bhava Sankara desiga may saranam. 7
I praise and seek the protection of Sankara,
Who is the teacher among teachers
Who does not have any equal,
Who is the treasure house of Philosophy
And who is merciful to those who seek his blessings.
Vidhitha na maya visadhaika kala,
Na cha kinchana kanchanamasthi guro,
Dhruthameva videhi krupaam sahajam,
Bhava Sankara desiga may saranam. 8
I praise and seek the protection of Sankara,
And request him to shower his natural grace fast on me,
Who does not possess expertise in any branch,
And who does not even a small piece of wealth(gold?)