Totakacharya (त्रोटकाचार्य)

Bhaktamal | Totakacharya
Real name - Giri
Aradhya - Bhagwan Shiva
Guru - Adi Shankaracharya
Birth date - 8th century
Language: Sanskrit
Marital status - Unmarried
Famous - First Jagadguru of the Jyotir Pitham, Uttarakhand
Founder - Vadakke modam in Thrissur, Kerala.Trotakacharya was a disciple of Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century, who was made the first Jagadguru of Jyotirmath Peetha (Badrinath) by Shankaracharya.

When Adi Shankaracharya was in Sringeri, he accepted a very humble disciple named Giri. Giri neither had the knowledge of Sureshwar and Padmapad, nor the siddhi of Hastamalaka. Yet, Giri was unmatched in the personal attention he gave to the Acharya. He enjoyed looking after the personal comforts of the Acharya like a devoted servant. Naturally his fellow disciples were less aware of his wisdom.

Once when Giri had gone to the river to wash clothes, the Acharya waited for him to return before beginning his lecture. The other disciples were impatient. Padmapada could not restrain himself. He said: 'Why should we wait for a person who is no better than a wall?' Sri Shankaracharya naturally did not like this remark. He decided to bless Bhakta Giri. So in his mind he imparted the knowledge of all the scriptures to Giri. When Giri returned from the river, he was truly in bliss. He praised the Acharya in some splendid verses in Totak Chhanda. From then on Giri got the title of Totakacharya. The verses became famous as Totakashtakam.

From then on Totakacharya became one of the most prominent disciples of Sri Adi Shankaracharya. He summarized the essential teachings of the Upanishads in a small text. The name of this text is Shruti Saar Samudranam and it is written in the same Totak Chhand.

Padmapadacharya, Hastamalakacharya, Sureshvaracharya, Trotakacharya all are disciples of Adi Shankaracharya and are the first Peethadhees of the four Shankaracharya Peethas.