WHAT IS THE MYSTERY OF SRI DAKSHINAMURTY,THE DEPICTION OF LORD SHIVA?SHIVA

THE MYSTERY OF SRI DAKSHINAMURTY;- 11 FACTS;- 1-Lord Dakshinamurthy means one who is south faced.He , is considered as the source of all types of knowledge.Sri Dakshinamurthy is the depiction of Lord Shiva which illustrates Him as the supreme cosmic teacher (Adi Guru) who enlightens us with jnana (knowledge) that elevates and enriches.. he ,the ultimate Guru who truly illuminates the world with cosmic knowledge that lights the soul. 2-This form represents Shiva as a teacher of yoga, music, wisdom and giving exposition on the shastras. He is worshipped as the god of wisdom, complete and rewarding meditation.The rich treasures of knowledge in the Shastras become accessible when He appears as Sri Dakshinamurthy. 3-Sri Dakshinamurthy is believed to teach through para vak, which is a divine speech form inaudible to worldly ears and resides in the recesses of silence.He never speaks but conveys through his gaze. His face conveys lots of emotions-patience,serenity and happiness .Ordinary expressions are not needed to grasp the teachings of Sri Dakshinamurthy who explains the true meaning of Brahman naturally. His disciples are old Rishis and sages. He imparts the greatest awareness, understanding and comprehension. 4-The term Dakshina literally means a woman; and, it refers to the feminine principle, which can create, unfold and manifest. When Dakshina assumes a form, it results in Dakshinamurthi, an androgynous(partly male and partly female in appearance), variety of Shiva’s form. 5-Sri Dakshinamurthi, as ardha-nari, as Kameshwara and Kameshwari is regarded the principle deity of the Kadi School. The ardha-nari depictions can be seen in some temples; for instance, in the Shivanandeswarar temple in Thirupanthurai, (Tanjore) and in the Thirupulivanam, temple near Chennai. 6-Sri Dakshinamurthy is a revered seer of the kadi (samaya) matha school of Sri Vidya tradition. Samaya is centred on knowledge (jnana) which is the realization of the identity of Shiva and Shakthi: Shiva becomes Kameshwara and Kameshwari becomes Shiva. 7-Their names too get intertwined. For instance, Shiva and Shivaa; Tripura and Tripuraa; Bhava and Bhavani; Shambu and Shambhavi; Rudra and Rudrani ; and Sundara and Sundari etc. Therefore, Sri Dakshinamurthy, in this tradition, is worshipped as a combination of Shiva and Shakthi. Nama number 725 of Sri Lalitha Sahasaranama describes Sri Lalitha Parameshwari as Sri Daksinamurti-rupini. 8-Sri Dakshinamurthy, here, is depicted as a Master of Tantra. He has a very heavy jata-bhara, dishevelled and flowing down his shoulders, almost covering the ears. A patra-kundala is worn in the left ear, while there is none on the right. Snakes symbols of Tantra are prominently displayed: coiled loosely around the thighs, with its hooded head on the right; and in the jata-bhara; as also coiled on the damaru drum. 9-The meaning of Dakshinamurthy also is 'the one who is facing the south direction'. He sits under the auspicious vata vruksha facing the south direction to give knowledge. Sri Dakshinamurthy guides the cyclical courses of srishti (creation), sthiti (preservation), samhara (amalgamation), tirobhava (suppress on) and anugraha (revealing true knowledge). 10- Guru of Guru..Lord Dakshinamurthy is guru of guru- Brihaspati... Shivapurana explains that Brihaspati undertook lot of penance to appease Shiva. Lord Shiva-Dakshinamurthy not only conferred upon him title of devguru but also gave him immense spiritual powers. 11-He is always auspicious Lord-Sadashivam. His kindness is boundless and he is eager to bless his devotees. Devotees often worship him to appease Brihaspati ji,the most auspicious planet in vedic astrology. May Lord Dakshinamurthy blesses all! ICONOGRAPHIC DESCRIPTION OF SRI DAKSHINAMURTY;- 07 FACTS;- 1- Apparently, Sri Dakshinamurthy is the only Hindu deity who faces the south direction.Sri Dakshinamurthy is commonly illustrated in a seated posture and occasionally in standing position (while holding His veena, the musical instrument He plays proficiently). 2-When He is shown seated, His right leg is stretched down, resting upon a dwarfish demon (apasmara who stands for lack of knowledge and illumination). The place He sits on is covered by deer skin or tiger skin. His left foot is bent at the knee and rests on his right knee or thigh. He has an expression of meditative serenity on His face as the Rishis look towards Him for the light of knowledge. 3-Sri Dakshinamurthy wears Rudraksha beads mala and simple embellishments like garlands of flowers, sacred cord resting on His chest with sandal-paste, garlands and necklaces adorning it.Sri Dakshinamurthy has a pure disposition of sattva. His complexion is bright and glows brightly. He is deeply immersed in self (bhava shuddha) with a gentle smile on His divine face. 4-When Sri Dakshinamurthy is mostly depicted as Jnana Dakshinamurti, His right hand is in the Gnana Mudra (symbolising knowledge and wisdom). Several layers of intricate symbolism can be observed and interpreted when He assumes the Jnana Mudra. 5-A popular interpretation of the Jnana Mudra is that His thumb represents the God, the index finger represents the man and the other three fingers stand for three inborn impurities that afflict man viz. egotism, delusion and bad deeds performed in past births. Since the three fingers are separate the index finger (man), we learn from the Teacher Lord that we can detach ourselves from impurities and reach God. 6-Sri Dakshinamurthy may also appear as Veenadhara Dakshinamurthy (Sri Dakshinamurthy holding a Veena), Rishabharooda Dakshinamurthy (seated on Rishabha, the Bull) or in some other variations. 7-Not many temples are dedicated to Sri Dakshinamurthy, but He remains an important form of Lord Shiva. Invoking Him is akin to paying obeisance to knowledge, wisdom and perceiving the path of true enlightenment. THE LEGEND :- 05 FACTS;- 1-There is a legend from Purana-s which states that when the four brahma-rishis Sanaka, Sanandana, Sanatana, and Sanatkumara who are collectively called as ‘kumaras’, emerged from Brahma as his mind born sons; they didn’t show interest in becoming prajapati and helping Brahma in further creating by procreating offsprings. They were constantly in search of brahma-gyanam. They were looking for a preceptor capable of dispelling their all doubts. 2-While being on lookout for such a preceptor they were wandering from pillar to post, they went to Kailasha thinking only Lord Shiva might be able to answer their doubts, but there Lord Shiva enacted as if he didn’t notice them and was sporting with Parvati. 3-Those Kumara-s thought “how can suchone teach us about ‘vairagyam’?, he is not the knower of the truth, let’s search elsewhere”, and they moved out. Mahadeva knew everything that was in their minds, and it was all his sport. 4-Then those Kumara-s again started wandering, when suddenly in one secluded place they saw a huge banyan tree (vata vruksham) and under that tree they found a sixteen years old young lad facing southward direction. He was ‘Dakshinamurty’ sitting surrounded by octogenarian sages. He was 16 years old, but the disciples surrounding him were vashishtha etc., senior grey-haired old sages. 5-These four kumaras got perplexed to see that and got gravitated to the serene looking face of that Dakshinamurty and sat surrounding him. They put their questions to Dakshinamurti. He absorbed them into the supreme silence of Dakshinamurty and all their queries related to Brahman got resolved. SIGNIFICANCE OF SRI DAKSHINAMURTY STOTRAM;- 03 FACTS;- 1-The Dakshinamurthy Stotram expounds the theory or philosophy of Advaita Vedanta. It was written by Adi Shankara. It is believed that the one who understands it and chants it devotedly is freed of bondages and realizes truth. A Stotra or Stotram is a Sanskrit word, for a hymn addressed to Divinity. It can be a prayer, a description, or a conversation. 2-Unlike most of the stotras of Hindu gods, which are in the form of description of anthropomorphic forms, or mythological deeds of those gods, Dakshinamurthy stotram takesform of conceptual and philosophical statements. Repeated chanting and/or meditating on the meaning of these verses is expected to help a spiritual practitioner of Advaita vedanta get thoroughly established in an Advaitic experience. 3-The Dakshinamurthy stotram is arguably the most important small verse to be attributed to Adi Shankara. In a compilation of ten stanzas there is a concise and vivid description of the philosophical significance of the form of Shiva, giving the very essence of the Indian idea of epistemology(the theory of knowledge) .It differs from every other attempt in a very basic sense, in that it is holistic(relating to the whole of something) rather than purely reductionist(a person who analyses and describes a complex phenomenon).... SRI DAKSHINAMURTY STOTRAM;- मौनव्याख्या प्रकटित परब्रह्मतत्त्वं युवानं वर्षिष्ठांते वसद् ऋषिगणैः आवृतं ब्रह्मनिष्ठैः । आचार्येन्द्रं करकलित चिन्मुद्रमानंदमूर्तिं स्वात्मारामं मुदितवदनं दक्षिणामूर्तिमीडे ॥१॥ Meaning: 1: (Salutations to Sri Dakshinamurthy) Whose Exposition through Profound Silence is Awakening the Knowledge of the Supreme Brahman in the Hearts of His Disciples; Who is Himself Youthful ... 2: ... but is Sitting Surrounded by Old and Great Sages who are Devoted to Brahman, 3: The Hands of the Supreme Spiritual Teacher is Forming the Cin-Mudra (gesture of the Knowledge of Brahman) and Whose Appearance is Still and Blissful, 4: Who is Rejoicing in His Own Self which is reflected on His Blissful Face; Salutations to Sri Dakshinamurthy. वटविटपिसमीपेभूमिभागे निषण्णं सकलमुनिजनानां ज्ञानदातारमारात् । त्रिभुवनगुरुमीशं दक्षिणामूर्तिदेवं जननमरणदुःखच्छेद दक्षं नमामि ॥२॥ Meaning: 2.1: Sitting on the ground near the Banyan Tree, ... 2.2: ... were all Munis (Sages), who were (sitting) near to the bestower of Knowledge, ... 2.3: ... who were (sitting) near to the Guru of the Three Worlds, the Lord Himself, personified as Dakshinamurthy Deva, ... 2.4: ... who were (sitting) near to the one, expert in severing the sorrows resulting from the cycles of Births and Deaths; I bow to that Dakshinamurthy. चित्रं वटतरोर्मूले वृद्धाः शिष्या गुरुर्युवा । गुरोस्तु मौनं व्याख्यानं शिष्यास्तुच्छिन्नसंशयाः ॥३॥ Meaning: 3.1: It is indeed a strange picture to behold; At the root (i.e. base) of a Banyan Tree are seated old Disciples (i.e. aged Disciples) in front of an Young Guru, 3.2: The Guru is Silent, and Silence is His exposition (of the Highest Knowledge); and that (Silence) is severing the doubts (automatically) from the minds of the Disciples. निधये सर्वविद्यानां भिषजे भवरोगिणाम् । गुरवे सर्वलोकानां दक्षिणामूर्तये नमः ॥४॥ Meaning: 4.1: (Salutations to Sri Dakshinamurthy) Who is a receptacle to all Knowledge, Who is a Medicine to all the diseases of Worldly bondage, 4.2: Who is a Guru to all the Worlds; Salutations to Sri Dakshinamurthy. ॐ नमः प्रणवार्थाय शुद्धज्ञानैकमूर्तये । निर्मलाय प्रशान्ताय दक्षिणामूर्तये नमः ॥५॥ Meaning: 5.1: (Salutations to Sri Dakshinamurthy) Salutations to the embodiment of Pranava (Om), Salutations to the personification of the Pure, Non-Dual Knowledge, 5.2: Salutations to the Pure and Stainless, and Salutations to the Tranquil; Salutations to Sri Dakshinamurthy. चिद्घनाय महेशाय वटमूलनिवासिने । सच्चिदानन्दरूपाय दक्षिणामूर्तये नमः ॥६॥ Meaning: 6.1: (Salutations to Sri Dakshinamurthy) Salutations to the one Who is (as if) Consciousness Solidified, Salutations to the Mahesha (the Great God), Salutations to the One Who dwell at the root (i.e. base) of the Banyan Tree, 6.2: Salutations to the embodiment of Sacchidananda (Existence, Consciousness, Bliss); Salutations to Sri Dakshinamurthy. ईश्वरो गुरुरात्मेति मूर्तिभेदविभागिने । व्योमवद् व्याप्तदेहाय दक्षिणामूर्तये नमः ॥७॥ Iishvaro Gurur-Aatme[a-I]ti Muurti-Bheda-Vibhaagine | Vyoma-Vad Vyaapta-Dehaaya Dakssinnaamuurtaye Namah ||7|| Meaning: 7.1: "Ishwara - Guru - Atman"; (Underlying) these different forms of (apparent) separation, ... 7.2: ... like a Sky (i.e. Spiritual Sky or Chidakasha) Who pervades, Salutations to that Dakshinamurthy. विश्वं दर्पणदृश्यमाननगरीतुल्यं निजान्तर्गतं पश्यन्नात्मनि मायया बहिरिवोद्भूतं यथा निद्रया । यः साक्षात्कुरुते प्रबोधसमये स्वात्मानमेवाद्वयं तस्मै श्रीगुरुमूर्तये नम इदं श्रीदक्षिणामूर्तये ॥१॥ Meaning: (Salutations to Sri Dakshinamurthy Who Awakens the Glory of the Atman within us through His Profound Silence) 1.1: The Entire World is Like a City Seen within a Mirror, the Seeing happening within One's Own Being, 1.2: It is a Witnessing happening within the Atman, (the Witnessing) of the Externally Projected World; Projected by the Power of Maya; As if a Dream in Sleep, 1.3: One Experiences this Directly (this Play of Maya) during Spiritual Awakening within the Non-Dual Expanse of One's Own Atman, 1.4: Salutations to Him, the Personification of Our Inner Guru Who Awakens This Knowledge through His Profound Silence; Salutation to Sri Dakshinamurthy. बीजस्याऽन्तरिवाङ्कुरो जगदिदं प्राङ्गनिर्विकल्पं पुनः मायाकल्पितदेशकालकलना वैचित्र्यचित्रीकृतम् । मायावीव विजृम्भयत्यपि महायोगीव यः स्वेच्छया तस्मै श्रीगुरुमूर्तये नम इदं श्रीदक्षिणामूर्तये ॥२॥ Meaning: (Salutations to Sri Dakshinamurthy Who Awakens the Glory of the Atman within us through His Profound Silence) 2.1: This World is Like a Sprout of a Seed Within which transforms what is Changeless state Before, appear Again ... 2.2: ... as Space and Time, and endless Varieties of Pictures over it; all due to the Creation of Maya, 2.3: This Unfolding of the World (from the Seed) which is Like a Play of a Magician, happens to one Who is Like a Mahayogi out of His Own Free Will (i.e. a Mahayogi can enter the state of Samadhi out of his own free will and witness the unfolding of the world when He comes out of Samadhi), 2.4: Salutations to Him, the Personification of Our Inner Guru Who Awakens This Knowledge through His Profound Silence; Salutation to Sri Dakshinamurthy. (Seed - Magician) यस्यैव स्फुरणं सदात्मकमसत्कल्पार्थकं भासते साक्षात्तत्त्वमसीति वेदवचसा यो बोधयत्याश्रितान् । यत्साक्षात्करणाद्भवेन्न पुनरावृत्तिर्भवाम्भोनिधौ तस्मै श्रीगुरुमूर्तये नम इदं श्रीदक्षिणामूर्तये ॥३॥ Meaning: (Salutations to Sri Dakshinamurthy Who Awakens the Glory of the Atman within us through His Profound Silence) 3.1: By This Throb Alone which is of the Nature of Eternal Underlying Awareness, the Unreal Forms get their Meanings and Appear over the Mind, 3.2: This Knowledge of the Atman Spoken of in the Vedas as "Tat-Tvam-Asi" is Imparted by Our Inner Guru as a Direct Experience when we Surrender Whole-Heartedly to Him, 3.3: By Direct Experience of this Knowledge, the Delusion of being tossed within an unending Ocean of Worldly Existence will Not Appear Again, 3.4: Salutations to Him, the Personification of Our Inner Guru Who Awakens This Knowledge through His Profound Silence; Salutation to Sri Dakshinamurthy. नानाच्छिद्रघटोदरस्थितमहादीपप्रभा भास्वरं ज्ञानं यस्य तु चक्षुरादिकरणद्वारा वहिः स्पन्दते । जानामीति तमेव भान्तमनुभात्येतत्समस्तं जगत् तस्मै श्रीगुरुमूर्तये नम इदं श्रीदक्षिणामूर्तये ॥४॥ Meaning: (Salutations to Sri Dakshinamurthy Who Awakens the Glory of the Atman within us through His Profound Silence) 4.1: As the Light of a Great Lamp Situated Inside a Pitcher having Many Holes, Shine Outwards, ... 4.2: ... similarly, the Knowledge of That Only (i.e. Atman) Throb Outwards through our Eyes and Other Sense Organs, 4.3: "I Know", He Alone Shining (i.e Atman), This Entire World Shines ... 4.4: Salutations to Him, the Personification of Our Inner Guru Who Awakens This Knowledge through His Profound Silence; Salutation to Sri Dakshinamurthy. देहं प्राणमपीन्द्रियाण्यपि चलां बुद्धिं च शून्यं विदुः स्त्रीबालान्धजडोपमास्त्वहमिति भ्रान्ता भृशं वादिनः । मायाशक्तिविलासकल्पितमहाव्यामोहसंहारिणे तस्मै श्रीगुरुमूर्तये नम इदं श्रीदक्षिणामूर्तये ॥५॥ Meaning: (Salutations to Sri Dakshinamurthy Who Awakens the Glory of the Atman within us through His Profound Silence) 5.1: Those who Consider the Body or Prana (Vital Force) or Sense Organs or the Changing Mind or the Void (Total Non-Existence) ... 5.2: ... as the "I", are Like a Naive Innocent Girl Child, or a Blind, or a Dull-Headed; they are Deluded but they Vehemently Assert their Points, 5.3: The Inner Guru Destroys this Great Delusion Created by the Play of the Power of Maya, 5.4: Salutations to Him, the Personification of Our Inner Guru Who Awakens This Knowledge through His Profound Silence; Salutation to Sri Dakshinamurthy. राहुग्रस्तदिवाकरेन्दुसदृशो मायासमाच्छादनात् सन्मात्रः करणोपसंहरणतो योऽभूत्सुषुप्तः पुमान् । प्रागस्वाप्समिति प्रबोधसमये यः प्रत्यभिज्ञायते तस्मै श्रीगुरुमूर्तये नम इदं श्रीदक्षिणामूर्तये ॥६॥ Meaning: (Salutations to Sri Dakshinamurthy Who Awakens the Glory of the Atman within us through His Profound Silence) 6.1: Just Like the Sun and the Moon are Eclipsed by Rahu, the Pure Consciousness is Eclipsed by Maya (for a spiritually ignorant person), 6.2: A Spiritually Elevated Soul can enter that state of Unborn Deep Sleep (i.e. Pure Consciousness) by Withdrawing His Sense Organs to such an extent that Only the Real Essence remains, 6.3: That state (i.e. Pure Consciousness) is experienced during Spiritual Awakening whereby one clearly Perceives that "Before I was Sleeping" (by being eclipsed by Maya), 6.4: Salutations to Him, the Personification of Our Inner Guru Who Awakens This Knowledge through His Profound Silence; Salutation to Sri Dakshinamurthy. बाल्यादिष्वपि जाग्रदादिषु तथा सर्वास्ववस्थास्वपि व्यावृत्तास्वनुवर्तमानमहमित्यन्तः स्फुरन्तं सदा । स्वात्मानं प्रकटीकरोति भजतां यो मुद्रयाभद्रया तस्मै श्रीगुरुमूर्तये नम इदं श्रीदक्षिणामूर्तये ॥७॥ Meaning: (Salutations to Sri Dakshinamurthy Who Awakens the Glory of the Atman within us through His Profound Silence) 7.1: During Boyhood and Other stages of Life (Youth, Old age etc), during Waking and Other states (Dreaming, Deep Sleep, Turiya etc) and Similarly in All Conditions ... 7.2: ... the Atman Always Shines as the "I" Within, Free from All Conditions but at the same time Present in All Conditions, 7.3: The Inner Guru Awakens this Knowledge of One's Own Atman to those who Surrender to Him; this Knowledge which is represented by the Auspicious Cin-Mudra, 7.4: Salutations to Him, the Personification of Our Inner Guru Who Awakens This Knowledge through His Profound Silence; Salutation to Sri Dakshinamurthy. विश्वं पश्यति कार्यकारणतया स्वस्वामिसम्बन्धतः शिष्याचार्यतया तथैव पितृपुत्राद्यात्मना भेदतः । स्वप्ने जाग्रति वा य एष पुरुषो मायापरिभ्रामितः तस्मै श्रीगुरुमूर्तये नम इदं श्रीदक्षिणामूर्तये ॥८॥ Meaning: (Salutations to Sri Dakshinamurthy Who Awakens the Glory of the Atman within us through His Profound Silence) 8.1: The Differentiations that we See in the World as Cause and Effect, as Possessor-Possession Relations, ... 8.2: ... as the Disciple-Teacher, and Also as Father-Son Relations etc, are all Differentiations within the One Atman, 8.3: In Dream or Waking state, He, the One Purusha is always present, and (as if) Maya Wanders over Him and gives rise to all these Differentiations, 8.4: Salutations to Him, the Personification of Our Inner Guru Who Awakens This Knowledge through His Profound Silence; Salutation to Sri Dakshinamurthy. भूरम्भांस्यनलोऽनिलोऽम्बरमहर्नाथो हिमांशु पुमान् इत्याभाति चराचरात्मकमिदं यस्यैव मूर्त्यष्टकम् नान्यत् किञ्चन विद्यते विमृशतां यस्मात्परस्माद्विभोः तस्मै श्रीगुरुमूर्तये नम इदं श्रीदक्षिणामूर्तये ॥९॥ Meaning: (Salutations to Sri Dakshinamurthy Who Awakens the Glory of the Atman within us through His Profound Silence) 9.1: Earth, Water, Fire, Air, Space, Sun, Moon and Jiva, ... 9.2: ... are Verily His (i.e. Atman's) Eight Manifestations Shining within the Moving and the Non-Moving forms, 9.3: Apart from Him (i.e. Atman) there Cannot Exist anything; The Yogis who Reflect (i.e. Meditate) within Discover Him as the Essence From Which Everything Originates, ... Discover Him as Existing Beyond Everything as the Eternal Essence, 9.4: Salutations to Him, the Personification of Our Inner Guru Who Awakens This Knowledge through His Profound Silence; Salutation to Sri Dakshinamurthy. सर्वात्मत्वमिति स्फुटीकृतमिदं यस्मादमुष्मिन् स्तवे तेनास्य श्रवणात्तदर्थमननाद्ध्यानाच्च संकीर्तनात् । सर्वात्मत्वमहाविभूतिसहितं स्यादीश्वरत्वं स्वतः सिद्ध्येत्तत्पुनरष्टधा परिणतं चैश्वर्यमव्याहतम् ॥१०॥ Meaning: (Salutations to Sri Dakshinamurthy Who Awakens the Glory of the Atman within us through His Profound Silence) 10.1: Since the Divine Essence in All is Made Clear in this Hymn, 10.2: Hence by Listening to It, Contemplating on its Meaning, Meditating on It, and Glorifying it, 10.3: One becomes Endowed with the Greatness of the Knowledge of the Divine Essence ( present in All ); Perhaps the Divine Essence by Itself ... 10.4: ... will Awaken within him after that Again, the Eightfold Manifestations of Divine Powers (Siddhis) Unimpeded.

;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; IN NUTSHELL;- Text of the Dakshinamurthy Stotram I praise and salute that Dakshinamurthy, Who faces the south, Who explains the true nature of the supreme Brahman, Through his state of silence, Who is young in looks, Who is surrounded by disciples who are old Sages, Whose minds are fixed on Brahman, Who is the greatest of teachers, Who shows the Chinmudhra by his hand, Who is personification of happiness, Who is in the state of extreme joy within himself, And who has a smiling face.

Similar to the image of a town as seen in the mirror, When one sees the image of the world within him, The world appears as if it is outside. It is similar to his seeing due to illusion, During the state of sleep, That the one real fact appears as many different truths, And he realizes,when he wakes up and sees the reality, That he is really the one and only one soul. Salutation to the God facing the south, Who is the greatest teacher.

Like the germ inside the seed is its part, But becomes different after development The many places and time which are before us, Are drawn by illusion in the board of life in a peculiar manner, By a great savant or an expert Siddha, Who can create them as per their will, Salutation to the God facing the south, Who is the greatest teacher.

He who exists as the real light of truth, And shines in the false world of appearance, And He who teaches disciples the great saying, “Thou art that” after realizing its import, Gets away from this cycle of life and death. Salutation to the God facing the south, Who is the greatest teacher.

Like the light emanating from a lamp, Kept in a pot with many holes, Goes out in all directions, In the person in whom the wisdom goes out Through the openings of ear, eye, mouth and thought, And when that person realizes that ‘I know myself”, This whole universe shines after Him alone, Who shines in the consciousness as the knower. Salutation to the God facing the south, Who is the greatest teacher.

Those great philosophers, who think that, The body, the soul and the fickle intellect, The concept of emptiness and all other nothingness, Are nothing but themselves, Are similar to the women children, blind and the ignorant. It is only He who can destroy, this veil of ignorance, And wake us up from this state of deceit. Salutation to the God facing the south, Who is the greatest teacher.

Similar to the Sun when being masked by the serpent Rahu, Knows that it was existing, once the eclipse is over That man whose senses are suppressed When he is asleep, Because of the veil of illusion, Realizes that he was in the state of sleep, When he wakes up. Salutation to the God facing the south, Who is the greatest teacher.

Salutations to him who shines and exhibits, Himself by the beatific Chinmudhra of the hand, That he exists within the humans as self, Forever and non changing, Even during the changing states of childhood, youth and old age And even during the states of sleep, dream and wakefulness. Salutation to the God facing the south, Who is the greatest teacher. The truth as represented by the concept of Brahman, exists always.

The world sees as cause and effect, The differences between us and our lord, The distinction between teacher and the taught, The distinction between father and son, And so the man is confused by illusion, And believes in these differences, During the times of dream and wakefulness. Salutation to the God facing the south, Who is the greatest teacher.

To the sake of which supreme Brahman, The universe is shining as self, Which is Movable and immovable, with its aspects? Of water, fire, air, space, The sun, moon and the individual soul, And also to those who examine the truth behind, The meaning of this universe and find, That it Consists of nothing but, The God who is every where. Salutation to the God facing the south, Who is the greatest teacher.

The concept of the Athma, Which is explained in this poem of praise, Hearing which, understanding which, Meditating which and singing which, One would attain the state of the godliness, And the great state of self-realization, And also you would get the eight powers of occult, Without any problems in between. ....SHIVOHAM...