Shiva, Universal Guru, Dakshinamurti

Shiva as Dakshinamurti represents the Guru, the teacher, He who initiates and gives knowledge to those who seek it. He is the personification of supreme knowledge and wisdom. And he is worshipped as the god of divine wisdom.

Shiva as Dakshinamurthy

Dakshina first means the right direction. For almost all auspicious acts and rituals we face East, because the East is where the sun rises every day. It is where auspiciousness is born. When we face East, our right hand side is the South. That is how the Southern direction came to be know as 'dakshina'. And Shiva in his aspect of divine teacher is always facing South and is therefore called Dakshinamurti. When we enter a temple in southern India and follow the prakara in the clock-wise direction, we find Dakshinamurti in the central niche of the southern wall of the sanctum.

Around him sit four sages who are named Sanatkumara (always a youth), Sanaka (ancient), Sanatana (eternal), Sanandana (having joy). They are born from the mind of Brahma and live eternally as Brahmacaris. With the chin mudra Dakshinamurti and with great silence he teaches his four sishyas or disciples the meaning of Brahma Vidya, the knowledge of Brahman. The significance of Brahma Vidya is to realise Parabrahmam or the divine knowledge or wisdom. To know about the Brahmam is to know about the Paramatma. Through this teaching they receive all kinds of knowledge and wisdom.

Dakshinamurthy sits in a yogic pose called veerasana. He sits on a tiger skin which shows his yogic powers. With one leg he connects to our world, the world of ignorance and illusion. His other leg is folded across in a yogic pose, generating the energy. In his hair he wears the crescent moon. On his forehead is his third eye. In his four hands he holds his attributes. The tradition reaches us about 108 forms of Dakshinamurti. Among these Jñana Dakshinamurthy, Samhara Dakshinamurthy, Lakudi Dakshinamurthy, Yoga Dakshinamurthy, Metha Dakshinamurthy, Samba Dakshinamurthy and Veenadhara Dakshinamurthy are the most familiar.

He sits under the asvattha tree. This is the sacred tree which is described in the Veda as having its roots in heaven and its branches below in our world. It is the tree which represents the cosmos. Of tis it is said in the Katha Upanishad

“This is That eternal Asvattha Tree with its root above and branches below. That root, indeed, is called the Bright. That is Brahman, and That alone is the Immortal. In That all worlds are contained, and none can pass beyond. This verily is That.”

(Katha Upanishad II.iii.1)

When we worship this great lord who offers us darshan under that Cosmic Tree we will receive great knowledge and wisdom.

Kandhan Raja