Among all the disciples br There was one simple, br Giri, a gentle-silent-man, br When the class was on. br br Others teased him, br And joked at him, br But he kept silent br And wasn’t violent. br br He raised no doubt. br So, others thought br He was a dull idiot br And senseless misfit. br br The Master knew well br The talent of this disciple, br And he wished to teach br A proper lesson to each. br br One day, the class was on, br In his seat, sat everyone. br As Giri didn’t turn up, . br The class was held up. br br Others were murmuring, br Why our Master was giving br Undue importance to him br And not at all to them. br br At last Giri came late. br The usual man silent, br He was seen singing br And happily dancing. br br It was a song in praise br Of his Master, a wise, br Kind, lovable, divine, br Teacher-heaven-born. br br The song in eight stanzas, br Of ‘Thodaga’ style it was, br So, he was given the title br ‘Thodagar, ’ the special. br br The ‘Thodagashtam’ song, br Even this day is widely sung, br In reverence to the Acharya, br The Jagadguru Sankaracharya.