Giri was a disciple looked down upon by others for doing menial chores like washing clothes rather than studying text. One day, while waiting for Giri to return, Shankara paused his lecture. When the other disciples grew impatient, Shankara mentally blessed Giri. Upon his return, the uneducated Giri burst into a flawless, complex Sanskrit meter, composing the Totakashtakam. He was named Totakacharya.

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