An Octet to the Guru Divine or Thotaka Ashtakam By Govind Kumar
Thotaka, one of the disciples of Sankara, wrote an octet in praise of his
Master, Bhagavan Sankara. The metre he used in his composition was the
difficult but the most beautiful Thotaka.
This eightfold verse voice the extreme loyalty and devotion he had for his
Master. There is nothing superior to the Guru, none greater than Him. Guru
is the destroyer of Ignorance and on the Grace of the Grace rests the
fulfilment of the dream of Self Actualisation !
His devotion is best expressed in the soul moving note of this magnificent
song , Be Thou my Refuge, O Master Divine !
viditákhilaùástrasudhájaladhe
mahitopanisatkathitárthanidhe
hødaye kalaye vimalam caraïam
bhava ùañkara deùika me ùaranam.(1)
O Knower of the Milk Ocean of Sciences philosophic
Proponent of the mighty Upanishads
My heart yearns for Thy faultless feet
Be Thou my Refuge, O Master Divine