Ultimately, Giri turned up but instead of keeping silent on that day, burst forth into eight slokas which had never been heard by the disciples earlier. On hearing this, all the disciples felt ashamed and praised Giri. These slokas are called "Thotaka ashtakam". Giri was named as Thotakar by Sri Sankara.

During these sixteen years, He propagated the principles of Advaitha and prayers to Paramtma as a Nirguna Brahman. He also gave us the religious practice following the Vedas and Smrithis. This was for the common people who cannot reach the high level of Jñana marga. He established four of his ashramams in the four corners of India to propagate his system of philosophy. In addition to the Adhvaitha philosophy and teachings on Jñana marga, Sri Sankara also established his system of devotional worship of Saguna Brahman for daily prayers to Ishta-Devatha or a personal Deity in the form of a Vigraha at homes or in Temples.

Sri Sankara developed the Bhakthi path of worship of Saguna Brahman in the six forms of Vigraha worship known as Shanmatha sthapanam and popularized various Hindu festivals for various Avatharas. Adi Sankara's Soundaryalahari is an outstanding work on Devi Parasakthi. The first part of 41 verses called `Aanandalahari' is regarded a `Mantra Sastra' describing the gross and subtle form of Devi and mode of worship of the Divine Mother. The remaining 59 verses contain an exquisite portrayal of the physical form of Devi from head to foot ending with a prayer for Her grace. The very first verse of Soundaryalahari points out that "Sakthi is supreme. Siva is able to create only when He is united with Sakthi. Otherwise Mahadeva cannot even move about!" Adi Sankara adds: "O Lady of the ever-smiling counternance and the limitless virtues".

He attained His mahasamÃdhi at the age of 32. It cannot be said definitely where the Acharya spent his last days. People claim the signs of his Mahasammadhi in the Holy towns of Kanchi, Trichur and Kedar. Ordinary people will have to spend 32 years of study even before they can ask a question "What is the meaning of this life?" But, the Great Acharya was able to traverse the entire land of Bharat to explain the meaning of the Vedas and all the great ancient works and caused a great religious renaissance all over in such a short period of time.

In the first eight years of life He was able to get his Gnana and became a Sanyasi, in the next eight years, he gave all the explanations for all the Vedas and Vedantha and wrote His commentaries and Bhashyam for Vyasa Maharishi's Brahmasutras and gave a Dharma Sasthra for the World. In the next sixteen years, He was able to complete His task of spreading His message of Adhvaitha and also the Devotional aspect of practice of Hindu Dharma for the common man. Thus He was able to re-vitalize the religious beliefs and practice and "establish the rules of proper Sanatana Dharma" in such a short span of life as a true Avatar of the Paramaatma, as a true manifestation of Sri Siva Himself. Adi Sankara is hailed as Bhagavadpada by his disciple because he appeared in human form with the purpose of expounding the knowledge of the Self for the redemption of humanity.