Dakshinamurthy

This article is about a deity. For the musician, see V. Dakshinamoorthy.

Dakshinamurti Shiva sculpture on the southern entrance of the Madurai Meenakshi Temple

Dakshinamurthy or Jnana Dakshinamurti (Kannada:ದಕ್ಷಿಣಾಮೂರ್ತಿ, Tamil: தட்சிணாமூர்த்தி, Sanskrit: दक्षिणामूर्ति (Dakṣiṇāmūrti)) is an aspect of the Hindu god Shiva as a guru (teacher) of all types of knowledge (jnana). This aspect of Shiva is his personification as the supreme or the ultimate awareness, understanding and knowledge. This form represents Shiva as a teacher of yoga, music, and wisdom, and giving exposition on the shastras. He is worshipped as the god of wisdom, complete and rewarding meditation. As per scriptures,if a person doesn't have a Guru, then they can consider and worship Lord Dakshinamurthy as their Guru.Eventually they will be blessed with a human Self-Realised Guru, if they are worthy.

Meaning

dakshinaa moorthy

Dakshinamurti literally means 'one who is facing south (dakṣiṇa)' in Sanskrit. South is the direction of Death, hence change. In every Siva temple the stone image of Dakshinamurthy is installed, facing south, on the southern circumambulatory path around the sanctum sanctorum. Perhaps, of all Hindu Gods, he is the only one sitting facing south. The great seer Ramana Maharshi, has said in letter 89: one meaning of Dakshina is efficient; another meaning is ‘in the heart on the right side of the body’; Amurthy ’means Formlessness' . "Dakshinamurthy Stotra" in Sanskrit, means the "Shapelessness situated on the right side".

Depiction

Dakshinamurti, 16th century, Musée Guimet (museum), Paris.

This iconographic form for depicting Shiva in Indian art is mostly south Indian in character.

In his aspect as Jnana Dakshinamurti, Shiva is generally shown with four arms. He is depicted seated under a banyan tree, facing the south. Shiva is seated upon a deer-throne and surrounded by sages who are receiving his instruction. He is shown as seated with his right foot on mythical apasmara (a demon which, according to Hindu mythology, is the personification of ignorance) and his left foot lies folded on his lap. Sometimes even the wild animals, are depicted to surround Shiva. In his upper arms, he holds a snake or rosary or both in one hand and a flame in the other; while in his lower right hand is shown in vyakhyanamudra, his lower left hand holds a bundle of kusha grass or the scriptures. The index finger of His right hand is bent and touching the tip of his thumb. The other three fingers are stretched apart. This symbolic hand gesture or Mudra is the Gnana Mudra (or Jnana Mudra or Jana Mudra), a symbol of knowledge and wisdom. Sometimes, this hand is in the Abhaya Mudra, a posture of assurance and blessing. In Melakadambur the Dakshinamurthy looks seated on a bull under a banyan tree, a hole in this statue's ear that extends to the next ear was an wonderful sculpturing.

Dakshinamurthy is portrayed as being in the yogic state of abstract meditation - and as a powerful form brimming with ever flowing bliss and supreme joy. Variations of this iconic representation include Veenadhara Dakshinamurthy (holding a Veena), Rishabharooda Dakshinamurthy (mounted on a Rishabha - the bull) etc. Maharshi Kardamshankara Jnanadeva, a mystic seer says that Dakshinamurthy means the abstract or hidden power of the absolute which expressed in all enlightened masters.

Significance

Worshipers at Dakshinamurthy temple at Brihadeeswarar temple

Indian tradition accords a special reverence to the Guru or the teacher. Dakshinamurthy, in the Hindu system of beliefs is regarded as the ultimate Guru - the embodiment of knowledge and the destroyer of ignorance (as represented by the demon being crushed under the feet of the deity). The Jnana Mudra is interpreted in this way:- The thumb denotes the God and the index finger denotes the man. The other three fingers stand for the three congenital impurities of man viz. arrogance, illusion and bad deeds of the past births. When man detaches himself from these impurities, he reaches God. Another interpretation is that the other three fingers denote the three states of life: Jagruti (Fully awake through senses and mind), Swapna (Sleep state - When the mind is awake) and Sushukti (Tru-self - When the senses and mind go into soul - Atma). The Abhaya Mudra, a gesture with the hand lifted above thigh with palm facing out, fingers pointing, is interpreted as His grace upon His students. The rosary or the snake signifies Tantric knowledge. The fire represents illumination, removing the darkness of ignorance.

Impact on Indian Life

The fifth day of the week, Thursday is associated with the planet Jupiter and is referred to as Guru (Guruvar or Guruvaaram). Thursdays are considered auspicious to start any educational endeavours. It is on Thursdays that special worship services are offered to Dakshinamurthy in many Saivite temples. Some temple traditions hold full moon nights, particularly the night of the Guru Purnima as the appropriate time for worship services to Dakshinamurthy.

Temples

The Gopuram of Kapaleeshwarar temple, Chennai depicts two sculptures of Dakshinamurthy: one playing the veena, another in a meditative state.

Even though the idol of Dakshinamurthy is installed in every Shiva temple, there are only a few temples where Dakshinamurthy is the chief deity.

• Only one of the twelve Jyotirlingas is Dakshinmurthy, the Mahakaleshwar in Ujjain. Being the only Dakshinmurthy Jyotirlinga, It holds special importance for Shaivites as a site of learning.
• Ettumanoor Mahadevar Temple in Kerala, where the deity enshrined in the form of a Shivalingam is considered as Dakshinamurthy
• Alangudi, Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu
• In the Sivanandeswarar temple in Thirupanthurai, Tanjore, Tamil Nadu, He is depicted in the Ardhanari form.
• In Thirupulivanam, we can find Dakshinamurthy in the form of Ardhanariswara. This temple is on the Uthiramerur-Kanchipuram road, 5 km from Uthiramerur, near Chennai.
• In March 2007, a big temple of Lord Dakshinamurty (the first in Maharashtra) was created in the Shrutisagar Ashram, about 30 km from Pune
• Pragya Dakshinamoorthy at Chibavananda Ashram in Theni, western Tamil Nadu
• Dakshinamurthy at Sukapuram, Edapal Taluk in Malappuram District, Kerala
• In Suchindram Thanumalaya temple (5 km from Nagercoil, Kanyakumari Dist.), contrary to tradition, Dakshinamurthy is worshipped instead of Ganesh/Vinayaka. Ganesha statue comes last in the worship line.
• In Thiruvotriyur, Chennai a dedicated temple to Dhakshinamoorthy exists. It's unique as the Lord faces North and is aptly called VadaGurusthalam (the guru's place of north).
• The oldest Dakshnimurthy temple is situated in Poonthottam village in Thiruvarur, Tamil Nadu. It is estimated that this temple is nearly 1000 years old and the idol of the lord was fixed on the day of mahakumbamela that that took place 1000 years ago
• Dakshinamurthy temple at Vellave near Talipramba (Kannur District, Kerala), This is a swayambhoo temple (self evolved) of Dakshinamurthi. This temple is situated 4 km away from the famous Rajarajeshwara Temple, Taliparamba
• Panaickal Sree Dakshinamurthy temple at Kadakkarappally, Cherthala Thaluk in Alappuzha District, Kerala
• Since 2002, Mauritius has seen its one and only Lord Dakshinamurthy Temple located on the east coast at Palmar on the Indian Ocean, in the compound of Arsha Vidya Ashram. The deity has occupied a place in the Ashram since 1994 but in 2002, a temple was built according to the rules of shahastra nama to give an altar to the Lord.
• The only temple in the United States dedicated to Lord Dakshinamurthy is located at Arsha Vidya Gurukulam in Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania.

Mantras & Hymns

There are many mantras dedicated to Lord Dakshinamurthy. Lord Dakshinamurthy is prayed for protection and overall well being as well as for success in education.

Dakshinamurthy Gayatri Mantra

Om Rishabath-vajaaya Vidmahe
Kruni-Hasthaya Dhimahee
Thanno Dakshinamurthy Prachodayath

Dakshinamurthy Stotram by Adi Shankara charya is a laudatory hymn for this form of Siva.

om namah pranavarthaya shuddhajnanaikamurtaye ! nirmalaya prashantaya dakshinamurtaye namaha !! chidghanaya maheshaya vatamulanivasine  ! omkaravachyarupaya dakshinamurtaye namaha !! nidhaye sarvavidyanam bhishaje bhavaroginam ! gurave sarvalokanaam dakshinamurtaye namaha !!