Dakshinamurthy Stotram
Dakshinamurthy Stotram
Dakshinamurthy Stotram
I seek refuge in Him who is the embodiment of supreme knowledge, who has enlightened
the knowledge of Brahman through the Vedas. Those who have a desire to attain Moksha
(liberation) should take refuge in him.
• Dhyaanam
I bow to that Dakshinamurti, who is the embodiment of supreme bliss, who silently
manifests knowledge of Brahman, who is youthful, radiant, surrounded by sages who
know the supreme truth of life, who is ever blissful and who has experienced the state of
self-realization, and who blesses everyone with the chinmudra sign and smiling face.
Salutations to that Dakshinamurthy, who is sitting in a quiet place near the banks of the
river under the Vata tree, who gives knowledge to the sages around him, who is the
teacher of the three worlds, who is the destroyer of sorrows of life.
A beautiful picture where elderly disciples are sitting in front of a young Guru under the
banyan tree. The teacher has been giving knowledge through his silence, and dispelling
doubts of the disciples.
Salutations to Dakshinamurthy, who is the repository of all knowledge, the healer of all
worldly diseases, and the guru of all the worlds.
Salutations to Dakshinamurthy, who is the great lord with a solid intelligence, sitting
under the banyan tree, and whose form is that of pure consciousness.
Salutations to Dakshinamurthy, who manifests in various forms of the supreme lord and
the guru, who cannot be divided in any form, and his body pervades the entire universe.
He is a true yogi sitting in a yoga mudra with a gesture of joining the thumb and index
finger. He is the lord who reveals the meaning of the Vedas and shows the unity of
Brahman and the individual self.
• Stotram
Just like a city seen within a mirror, he reflects the entire universe within himself but it
only appears as though it is outside. In sleep, we perceive the magical illusion of a dream
as reality, but when we wake up from sleep, we realize the truth. Similarly, this universe
appears different from the self, though in truth it is non-different from the self. During
spiritual awakening, we experience this truth and realize the non-divisive doctrine of
Atman and Paramatman. I offer my salutations to that divine form of the Guru, Lord
Dakshinamurthy, who reveals this truth to the world.
The conscious and undifferentiated truth of the universe is like the sprout of a seed that
looks different after its growth. The Maya projects this creation in different forms and
diverse aspects of time and space in a peculiar manner. Only a Mahayogi creates and
witnesses the unfolding of the universe by his own will, as if playing with Maya. I offer
my salutations to that divine form of the Guru, Lord Dakshinamurthy, who reveals this
truth to the world.
By his will, this unreal and unknown existence becomes real and gets its meaning. As told
in the Vedas, it causes the realization of the truth to those who take refuge in him. And
this self-realization of ultimate truth puts an end to the cycle of birth and death in the
ocean of worldly existence. I offer my salutations to that divine form of the Guru, Lord
Dakshinamurthy, who reveals this truth to the world.
Just like the light coming out of a big lamp placed in a pot with many holes, his divine
knowledge comes out of our eyes and other sense organs. It is by his radiance that
everything in the universe shines and manifests. I offer my salutations to that divine form
of the Guru, Lord Dakshinamurthy, who reveals this truth to the world.
Those who consider this body, prana (life force), sense organs, unstable intellect, or
nothingness as their true existence, are similar to the ignorant women, children, blind and
stupid. They hold false beliefs but are reluctant to accept the truth. Only He can destroy
this mighty delusion created by the power of Maya. I offer my salutations to that divine
form of the Guru, Lord Dakshinamurthy, who reveals this truth to the world.
Like how Rahu eclipses Sun and Moon in the sky, the power of maya eclipses the true
nature of self, leading to ignorance and delusion. During deep sleep, all sense organs are
withdrawn leading to emptiness. However, after awakening, we realize that this is the
same entity that was in the state of sleep. Similarly during spiritual awakening, one will
realize the true nature of self. I offer my salutations to that divine form of the Guru, Lord
Dakshinamurthy, who reveals this truth to the world.
In stages like childhood, youth, and old age, in the state of sleep and in the other three
states, and in whatever harsh conditions, the soul always shines regardless of conditions
and time. God reveals the true nature of the self through his auspicious gesture to those
who surrender to him. I offer my salutations to that divine form of the Guru, Lord
Dakshinamurthy, who reveals this truth to the world.
• vishvam pashyati kaaryakaaranatayaa svasvaamisambandhatah
shishyaachaaryatayaa tathaiva pitruputraadyaatmanaa bhedatah |
svapne jaagrati vaa ya esha purusho maayaaparibhraamitah
tasmai shree gurumurtaye nama idam shree dakshinaamurtaye || 8 ||
One sees the world as cause and effect, another sees it as the universe and its lord. There
are differences in every relationship like the teacher-disciple, father-son, and creation-
creator. Similarly, one may perceive the self as awake or in a dream state. The true nature
of self is beyond Maya. The person believes in these differences because of illusion. I
offer my salutations to that divine form of the Guru, Lord Dakshinamurthy, who reveals
this truth to the world.
The universe is made up of five elements of Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Sky, and is
controlled by the Sun, Moon, and consciousness. This eight-power form of the Lord,
which embodies all moveable and immovable entities, is manifested by Him alone. Other
than the lord, who is the supreme being, nothing exists. Only the wise one can understand
this truth. I offer my salutations to that divine form of the Guru, Lord Dakshinamurthy,
who reveals this truth to the world.
This Dakshinamurthy hymn is the essence of the true understanding of the self. By
listening, meditating, and reflecting upon this hymn, one attains the realization of one’s
own true nature. With this understanding, one attains the status of Ishwara, along with all
the powers and glory. Also, this realization brings about eight types of powers to make a
complete transformation of life.