Totakaashhtakam तोटकाष्टकं Adi Shankaraachaarya

Totakaashhtakam तोटकाष्टकं

Here is an article containing the toTakaashhTakam, eight verses composed in honor of Adi Shankaraachaarya. 

शंकरं शंकराचार्यं केशवं बादरायणम् । 
सूत्रभाष्यकृतौ वन्दे भगवन्तौ पुनः पुनः॥

I offer obeisances again and again to shrii Veda Vyaasa, the author of the Brahma suutras, who is none other than Lord VishNu, and shrii Shankaraachaarya, the commentator on those suutras, who is none other than Lord Shiva.


नारायणं पद्मभुवं वसिष्ठं शक्तिं च तत्पुत्रपराशरं च । 
व्यासं शुकं गौडपदं महान्तं गोविन्दयोगीन्द्रमथास्य शिष्यम्॥
श्री शंकराचार्यमथास्य पद्मपादं च हस्तामलकं च शिष्यम् । 
तं तोटकं वातिर्ककारमन्यानस्मद्गुरून् संततमानतो । अस्मि 

These two verses honor the advaita paramparaa . The names mentioned here, in order, are 1) Shriiman naaraayaNa, 2) Brahmaa, 3) VasishhTha, 4) Shakti, 5) Paraashara, 6) Vyaasa, 7) Shuka, 8) GauDapaada, 9) Govindapaada, 10) Shrii (Adi) Shankaraachaarya, and his four disciples, 11) Padmapaada, 12) Hastaamalaka, 13) toTaka, and 14) Sureshvara, and other Gurus.


विदिताखिलशास्त्रसुधाजलधे महितोपनिषत् कथितार्थनिधे । 
हृदये कलये विमलं चरणं भव शंकर देशिक मे शरणम्॥१॥

O knower of the nectar-ocean of the scriptures, the expounder of the knowledge of the great upanishadic treasure! I meditate on Your pure lotus feet in my heart . O Preceptor Shankara, be my refuge.


करुणावरुणालय पालय मां भवसागरदुःखविदूनहृदम् । 
रचयाखिलदर्शनतत्त्वविदं भव शंकर देशिक मे शरणम्॥२॥

Save me whose heart is afflicted by the misery of the ocean of births, O (You who are) the ocean of compassion! (By Your grace) make me the knower of the truths of all the systems of philosophy . O Preceptor Shankara, be my refuge.


भवता जनता सुहिता भविता निजबोधविचारण चारुमते । 
कलयेश्वरजीवविवेकविदं भव शंकर देशिक मे शरणम्॥३॥

The people have found happiness due to You, who have the intellect adept in
the inquiry into Self-knowledge . Make me understand the knowledge of God
and the soul . O Preceptor Shankara, be my refuge.


भव एव भवानिति मे नितरां समजायत चेतसि कौतुकिता । 
मम वारय मोहमहाजलधिं भव शंकर देशिक मे शरणं॥४॥

You are Lord Shiva Himself . Knowing this my mind is filled with an abundance of joy . Put an end to my sea of delusion . O Preceptor Shankara, be my refuge.


सुकृते . अधिकृते बहुधा भवतो भविता समदर्शनलालसता । 
अतिदीनमिमं परिपालय मां भव शंकर देशिक मे शरणम्॥५॥

Only after numerous virtuous deeds have been performed in many ways, does a keen desire for the experience of Brahman through You arise. Protect (me who am) extremely helpless . O Preceptor Shankara, be my refuge.


जगतीमवितुं कलिताकृतयो विचरन्ति महामहसश्छलतः । 
अहिमांशुरिवात्र विभासि गुरो भव शंकर देशिक मे शरणम्॥६॥

For the sake of saving the world, (Your) great (disciples) wander assuming various forms and guises . O Guru, You shine like the sun (among them). O Preceptor Shankara, be my refuge.


गुरुपुंगव पुंगवकेतन ते समतामयतां नहि को . अपि सुधीः । 
शरणागतवत्सल तत्त्वनिधे भव शंकर देशिक मे शरणम्॥७॥

O Best among the Gurus! The Lord whose flag bears the emblem of the bull! You have no equal among the wise . You who are affectionate to those who seek refuge! The treasure of truth! O Preceptor Shankara, be my refuge.


विदिता न मया विशदैककला न च किंचन काञ्चनमस्ति गुरो । 
द्रुतमेव विधेहि कृपां सहजां भव शंकर देशिक मे शरणम्॥८॥

I have neither understood even one branch of knowledge clearly, nor do I possess any wealth, O Guru . Quickly bestow on me the compassion which is
natural to You . O Preceptor Shankara, be my refuge.

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Guru Stotram (गुरु स्तोत्रम्) - Prayer to Divine Teacher

Guru Stotram (गुरु स्तोत्रम्)

ब्रह्मानन्दं परमसुखदं केवलं ज्ञानमूर्तिं द्वन्द्वातीतं गगनसदृशं तत्वमस्यादिलक्ष्यम् |

एकं नित्यं विमलमचलं सर्वधीसाक्षिभूतम् भावतीतं त्रिगुणरहितं सदगुरुं तं नमामि ||

I prostrate myself before that Guru, the Bliss of Brahman, the bestower of Supreme Happiness, who is Knowledge absolute, transcending the pairs of opposites, expansive like the sky, the goal indicated by the great sayings like “Thou art That”, the one eternal, pure, unchanging, the witness of functions of the intellect, who is above all Bhavas (mental conditions) and the three Gunas (Sattva, Rajas and Tamas).  

अखण्डमण्डलाकारं व्याप्तं येन चराचरम् । 

तत्पदं दर्शितं येन तस्मै श्रीगुरवे नमः ॥

Salutation to the noble Guru,, who has made it possible to realise the state which pervades the entire cosmos, everything animate and inanimate.

अज्ञानतिमिरान्धस्य ज्ञानाञ्जनशलाकया । 

चक्षुरुन्मीलितं येन तस्मै श्रीगुरवे नमः ॥

Salutation to the noble Guru, who has opened the eyes blinded by darkness of ignorance with the collyrium-stick of knowledge.

गुरुर्ब्रह्मा गुरुर्विष्णुः गुरुर्देवो महेश्वरः । 

गुरुरेव परंब्रह्म तस्मै श्रीगुरवे नमः ॥

Salutation to the noble Guru, who is Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswara, the direct Parabrahma, the Supreme Reality.

स्थावरं जंगमं व्याप्तं यत्किंचित्सचराचरम् । 

तत्पदं दर्शितं येन तस्मै श्रीगुरवे नमः ॥

Salutation to the noble Guru, who has made it possible to realise Him, by whom all that is - sentient and insentient, movable and immovable is pervaded.

चिन्मयं व्यापियत्सर्वं त्रैलोक्यं सचराचरम् । 

तत्पदं दर्शितं येन तस्मै श्रीगुरवे नमः ॥

Salutation to the noble Guru, who has made it possible to realise Him pervades everything, sentient and insentient, in all three worlds.

सर्वश्रुतिशिरोरत्नविराजित पदाम्बुजः । 

वेदान्ताम्बुजसूर्योयः तस्मै श्रीगुरवे नमः ॥

Salutation to the noble Guru, whose lotus feet are radient with (the luster of) the crest jewel of all Srutis and who is the sun that causes the Vendanta Lotus (knowledge) to bloosom.

चैतन्यः शाश्वतःशान्तो व्योमातीतो निरंजनः । 

बिन्दुनाद कलातीतः तस्मै श्रीगुरवे नमः ॥

Salutation to the noble Guru,who is the ever effulgent, eternal, peaceful, beyond space, immaculate, and beyond the manifest and unmanifest.

ज्ञानशक्तिसमारूढः तत्त्वमालाविभूषितः । 

भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदाता च तस्मै श्रीगुरवे नमः ॥

Salutation to that noble Guru, who is established in the power of knowledge, adorned with the garland of various principles and is the bestower of prospority and liberation.

अनेकजन्मसंप्राप्त कर्मबन्धविदाहिने ।

आत्मज्ञानप्रदानेन तस्मै श्रीगुरवे नमः ॥

Salutation to the noble Guru, who by bestowing the knowledge of the Self burns up the bondage created by accumulated actions of innumerable births.

शोषणं भवसिन्धोश्च ज्ञापणं सारसंपदः । 

गुरोः पादोदकं सम्यक् तस्मै श्रीगुरवे नमः ॥

Salutation to the noble Guru, by washing whose feet, the ocean of transmigration, endless sorrows is completely dried up and the Supreme wealth is revealed.

न गुरोरधिकं तत्त्वं न गुरोरधिकं तपः । 

तत्त्वज्ञानात्परं नास्ति तस्मै श्रीगुरवे नमः ॥

Salutation to the noble Guru, beyond whom there is no higher truth, there is no higher penance and there is nothing higher attainable than the true knowledge.

मन्नाथः श्रीजगन्नाथः मद्गुरुः श्रीजगद्गुरुः । 

मदात्मा सर्वभूतात्मा तस्मै श्रीगुरवे नमः ॥

Salutation to the noble Guru, who is my Lord and the Lord of the Universe, my Teacher and the Teacher of the Universe, who is the Self in me and the Self in all beings.

गुरुरादिरनादिश्च गुरुः परमदैवतम् । 

गुरोः परतरं नास्ति तस्मै श्रीगुरवे नमः ॥

Salutation to the noble Guru, who is both the beginning and beginningless, who is the Supreme Deity than whom there is none superior.

त्वमेव माता च पिता त्वमेव, त्वमेव बन्धुश्च सखा त्वमेव ।

त्वमेव विद्या द्रविणं त्वमेव, त्वमेव सर्वं मम देव देव ॥

(Oh Guru!) You are my mother and father; you are my brother and companion; you alone are knowledge and wealth. O Lord, you are everything to me.

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The Mahima of the true Guru (गुरु)

 गुरु

The Mahima of the true Guru

Dhyana Moolam Guru Murti,

Puja Moolam Gurur Padam, 

Mantra Moolam Gurur Vakyam, 

Moksha Moolam Guru Kripa

Om Shree Guruve Namaha 

ध्यान मूलम् गुरुर् मुरति ।

पुजा मूलम् गुरुर् पदम् ।

मन्त्र मूलम् गुरुर् बाकेयम् ।

मोक्ष मूलम् गुरुर् कृपा ।

ॐ श्री गुरुवे नमः ॥

Meaning:- The root where dhyana comes from is the guru’s form, pooja or any form of austerities a disciple practices comes from the lotus feet of the guru, root of mantra is guru’s word and root of liberation, moksha, only lies in guru’s blessings.

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