Post by subadra on Mar 21, 2013 16:42:26 GMT 5.5
Totakacharya was a disciple of Adi Shankara,. He was made the first Jagadguru (head) of the Jyotirmatha Peetham, the northern matha founded by Adi Shankara near Badrinath.
The Mādhavīya Śankaravijayam 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 Guru, 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. At this, another shishya, 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. The enlightened Giri composed extempore the Totakashtakam , a Sanskrit poem in the toţaka metre, in praise of the Guru Adi Shankara. Totakashtakam literally means 8 slokas rendered in toţaka metre.
With Guru Kripa, thus the “ dumb “ disciple Giri became Totakacharya.
Here are those eight verses with meaning in English as compiled from a few web sites.
विदिताखिलशास्त्रसुधाजलधे
महितोपनिषत् कथितार्थनिधे |
हृदये कलये विमलं चरणं
भव शंकर देशिक मे शरणम् ||१||
viditAkhilasAstrasudhAjaladhE
mahitOpanishat kathitArthanidhE |
hridayE kalayE vimalam charaNam
bhava sankara dEsika mE saraNam || (1)
Oh, Thou, the knower of the entire ocean of milk of scriptures, He
Who teaches the truths found in the great treasure chest of the
Upanishads ! I meditate on Thy faultless feet. Be Thou my refuge,
Oh, Master Sankara.
करुणावरुणालय पालय मां
भवसागरदुःखविदूनहृदम् |
रचयाखिलदर्शनतत्त्वविदं
भव शंकर देशिक मे शरणम् ||२||
karuNAvaruNAlaya pAlaya mAm
bhavasAgara dukhkha vidUnahridam |
rachayAkhiladarsanatattvavidam
bhava sankara dEsika mE saraNam || (2)
Oh, Thou Ocean of compassion ! Save me whose heart is tormented
by the misery of the sea of birth. Make me understand the truths of
all schools of philosophy ! Be Thou my refuge, Master Sankara !
भवता जनता सुहिता भविता
निजबोधविचारण चारुमते |
कलयेश्वरजीवविवेकविदं
भव शंकर देशिक मे शरणम् ||३||
bhavatA janatA suhitA bhavitA
nijabOdhavichAraNa chArumatE |
kalyEsvara jIvavivEkavidam
bhava sankara dEsika mE saraNam || (3)
By Thee the masses have been made happy, Oh, Thou of noble
intellect, skilled in the quest of Self-Knowledge ! Enable me to
understand the wisdom relating to God and the Soul. Be Thou my
refuge, Oh, Master Sankara!
भव एव भवानिति मे नितरां
समजायत चेतसि कौतुकिता |
मम वारय मोहमहाजलधिं
भव शंकर देशिक मे शरणं ||४||
bhava Eva bhavA niti mE nitarAm
samajAyata chEtasi kowtukitA |
mama vAraya mOhamahAjaladhim
bhava sankara dEsika mE saranam || (4)
Knowing that Thou art verily the Supreme Lord, overwhelming
bliss arises in my heart. Protect me from the vast ocean of delusion.
Be Thou my refuge, Oh, Master Sankara
सुकृते | अधिकृते बहुधा भवतो
भविता समदर्शनलालसता |
अतिदीनमिमं परिपालय मां
भव शंकर देशिक मे शरणम् ||५||
sukritE(a)dhikritE bahudhA bhavatO
bhavitA samadarsanalAlasatA |
atidInamimam paripAlaya mAm
bhava sankara dEsika mE saraNam || (5)
Desire for the insight in unity through Thy Grace will grow only
when virtuous deeds are in abundance - and in all directions.
Protect this extremely helpless person. Be Thou my refuge,
Master Sankara !
जगतीमवितुं कलिताकृतयो
विचरन्ति महामहसश्छलतः |
अहिमांशुरिवात्र विभासि गुरो
भव शंकर देशिक मे शरणम् ||६||
jagatImavitum kalitAkritayO
vicharanti mahAmahasachalata: |
ahimAmsurivAtra vibhAsi gurO
bhavasankara dEsika mE saraNam || (6)
Oh Teacher ! For the purpose of saving the world the Great Ones
take various forms and wander in disguise. Of these great Ones,
You shine like the sun ! Be Thou my refuge, Oh, Master Sankara!
गुरुपुंगव पुंगवकेतन ते
समतामयतां नहि को | अपि सुधीः |
शरणागतवत्सल तत्त्वनिधे
भव शंकर देशिक मे शरणम् ||७||
guru pungava pungava kEtanatE
samatAmayatAm nahi kOpi sudhIhi |
saraNAgatavatsala tattvanidhE
bhavasankara dEsikamE saraNam || (7)
Oh, Best of Teachers ! Supreme Lord Who has the sacred bull as
His banner ! None of the wise Ones is equal to Thee! Thou are
compassionate to those who take refuge in Thee! Thou treasure
chest of Truth! Be Thou my refuge, Oh, Master Sankara!
विदिता न मया विशदैककला
न च किंचन काञ्चनमस्ति गुरो |
द्रुतमेव विधेहि कृपां सहजां
भव शंकर देशिक मे शरणम् ||८||
viditA na mayA visadaikakalA
na cha kinchana kAnchana masti gurO |
drutamEva vidhEhi krupAm sahajAm
bhava sankara dEsika mE saraNam || (8)
I do not understand correctly even a single "branch of knowledge".
I do not possess even the least bit of wealth, Oh Teacher, quickly
bestow on me Thy Grace. Be Thou my refuge, Oh, Master Sankara!
JAYA JAYA SANKARA
HARA HARA SANKARA
The Mādhavīya Śankaravijayam 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 Guru, 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. At this, another shishya, 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. The enlightened Giri composed extempore the Totakashtakam , a Sanskrit poem in the toţaka metre, in praise of the Guru Adi Shankara. Totakashtakam literally means 8 slokas rendered in toţaka metre.
With Guru Kripa, thus the “ dumb “ disciple Giri became Totakacharya.
Here are those eight verses with meaning in English as compiled from a few web sites.
विदिताखिलशास्त्रसुधाजलधे
महितोपनिषत् कथितार्थनिधे |
हृदये कलये विमलं चरणं
भव शंकर देशिक मे शरणम् ||१||
viditAkhilasAstrasudhAjaladhE
mahitOpanishat kathitArthanidhE |
hridayE kalayE vimalam charaNam
bhava sankara dEsika mE saraNam || (1)
Oh, Thou, the knower of the entire ocean of milk of scriptures, He
Who teaches the truths found in the great treasure chest of the
Upanishads ! I meditate on Thy faultless feet. Be Thou my refuge,
Oh, Master Sankara.
करुणावरुणालय पालय मां
भवसागरदुःखविदूनहृदम् |
रचयाखिलदर्शनतत्त्वविदं
भव शंकर देशिक मे शरणम् ||२||
karuNAvaruNAlaya pAlaya mAm
bhavasAgara dukhkha vidUnahridam |
rachayAkhiladarsanatattvavidam
bhava sankara dEsika mE saraNam || (2)
Oh, Thou Ocean of compassion ! Save me whose heart is tormented
by the misery of the sea of birth. Make me understand the truths of
all schools of philosophy ! Be Thou my refuge, Master Sankara !
भवता जनता सुहिता भविता
निजबोधविचारण चारुमते |
कलयेश्वरजीवविवेकविदं
भव शंकर देशिक मे शरणम् ||३||
bhavatA janatA suhitA bhavitA
nijabOdhavichAraNa chArumatE |
kalyEsvara jIvavivEkavidam
bhava sankara dEsika mE saraNam || (3)
By Thee the masses have been made happy, Oh, Thou of noble
intellect, skilled in the quest of Self-Knowledge ! Enable me to
understand the wisdom relating to God and the Soul. Be Thou my
refuge, Oh, Master Sankara!
भव एव भवानिति मे नितरां
समजायत चेतसि कौतुकिता |
मम वारय मोहमहाजलधिं
भव शंकर देशिक मे शरणं ||४||
bhava Eva bhavA niti mE nitarAm
samajAyata chEtasi kowtukitA |
mama vAraya mOhamahAjaladhim
bhava sankara dEsika mE saranam || (4)
Knowing that Thou art verily the Supreme Lord, overwhelming
bliss arises in my heart. Protect me from the vast ocean of delusion.
Be Thou my refuge, Oh, Master Sankara
सुकृते | अधिकृते बहुधा भवतो
भविता समदर्शनलालसता |
अतिदीनमिमं परिपालय मां
भव शंकर देशिक मे शरणम् ||५||
sukritE(a)dhikritE bahudhA bhavatO
bhavitA samadarsanalAlasatA |
atidInamimam paripAlaya mAm
bhava sankara dEsika mE saraNam || (5)
Desire for the insight in unity through Thy Grace will grow only
when virtuous deeds are in abundance - and in all directions.
Protect this extremely helpless person. Be Thou my refuge,
Master Sankara !
जगतीमवितुं कलिताकृतयो
विचरन्ति महामहसश्छलतः |
अहिमांशुरिवात्र विभासि गुरो
भव शंकर देशिक मे शरणम् ||६||
jagatImavitum kalitAkritayO
vicharanti mahAmahasachalata: |
ahimAmsurivAtra vibhAsi gurO
bhavasankara dEsika mE saraNam || (6)
Oh Teacher ! For the purpose of saving the world the Great Ones
take various forms and wander in disguise. Of these great Ones,
You shine like the sun ! Be Thou my refuge, Oh, Master Sankara!
गुरुपुंगव पुंगवकेतन ते
समतामयतां नहि को | अपि सुधीः |
शरणागतवत्सल तत्त्वनिधे
भव शंकर देशिक मे शरणम् ||७||
guru pungava pungava kEtanatE
samatAmayatAm nahi kOpi sudhIhi |
saraNAgatavatsala tattvanidhE
bhavasankara dEsikamE saraNam || (7)
Oh, Best of Teachers ! Supreme Lord Who has the sacred bull as
His banner ! None of the wise Ones is equal to Thee! Thou are
compassionate to those who take refuge in Thee! Thou treasure
chest of Truth! Be Thou my refuge, Oh, Master Sankara!
विदिता न मया विशदैककला
न च किंचन काञ्चनमस्ति गुरो |
द्रुतमेव विधेहि कृपां सहजां
भव शंकर देशिक मे शरणम् ||८||
viditA na mayA visadaikakalA
na cha kinchana kAnchana masti gurO |
drutamEva vidhEhi krupAm sahajAm
bhava sankara dEsika mE saraNam || (8)
I do not understand correctly even a single "branch of knowledge".
I do not possess even the least bit of wealth, Oh Teacher, quickly
bestow on me Thy Grace. Be Thou my refuge, Oh, Master Sankara!
JAYA JAYA SANKARA
HARA HARA SANKARA