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.

वववववववववववववववववववववववव
ववववववववववव वववववववववववव |
ववववव वववव ववववव वववव
वव वववव ववववव वव ववववव ||व||
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.

वववववववववववव वववव ववव

वववववववववववववववववववव |
वववववववववववववववववववववव
वव वववव ववववव वव ववववव ||व||
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 !

वववव वववव वववववव ववववव

वववववववववववव ववववववव |
वववववववववववववववववववं
वव वववव ववववव वव ववववव ||व||

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!
वव वव ववववववव वव वववववव
वववववव ववववव वववववववव |
वव वववव ववववववववववव
वव वववव ववववव वव वववव ||व||

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
वववववव | ववववववव ववववव वववव
ववववव ववववववववववववव |
वववववववववव ववववववव ववव
वव वववव ववववव वव ववववव ||व||
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 !
वववववववववव वववववववववव
वववववववव वववववववववववव |
ववववववववववववववव वववववव वववव
वव वववव ववववव वव ववववव ||व||
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!
ववववववववव ववववववववव वव
ववववववववव ववव वव | ववव ववववव |
ववववववववववव वववववववववव
वव वववव ववववव वव ववववव ||व||
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!
वववववव व ववव ववववववववव
व व ववववव ववववववववववव वववव |
वववववववव वववववव ववववव ववववव
वव वववव ववववव वव ववववव ||व||
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