Shri dakshinaamuurtii stotram

दक्षिणामूर्ति स्तोत्रं

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Offered on this holy day of guru puurnima, this poem is transliterated and translated as a humble dedication to my various spiritual teachers including my Guru, Yogiraj Vethathiri, and paramaguru, Adi Shankaracharya, and the Guru of all, Shrii Dakshinaamuurti.

They took pity on this unworthy disciple enslaved, enticed and ensnared by Maya and taught me to respect reason, aspire for Truth, discriminate between the real and the unreal and remain dedicated, disciplined and devoted to Shakti, residing with us all. Just as a beggar, for his own satisfaction, offers copper coins to a king, I, while remaining indebted, humbly offer this compilation at their Lotus feet as a small token.

shriidakshiNaamuurtii stotraM was written by Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya.

shriidakshiNaamuurti stotraM is one of the minor compositions of the spiritual giant and exquisite philosopher, Adi Shankaracharya. The popularity of this hymn is not just due to the poetic masterpiece but also because it encompasses the fundamental teachings of Vedanta succinctly and briefly. Dakshninamurti (Shiva) manifests in three different forms as God, Preceptor and the Self (Atman). The all-pervasiveness of the Atman is clearly expounded in the tenth verse of the hymn.

The practice of vedanta is to get rid of avidya (ignorance) by exercising the will over attachment to the unreal, and by overcoming fear and anxiety by finding the bliss in the eternal. The sadhaka (aspirant) is often aided by a teacher who is self-realized, and the aspirant follows the teachings of this Guru, whom he/she considers to be an embodiment of God. The embodiment of Dakshinamurti in the Guru, by whose grace and grace alone, the illumination becomes apparent is saluted in the fourth line of each sloka in the hymn. The final understanding that there is no duality between Guru and God is the essence of religious life, according to Advaita Vedanta [please refer to shvetasvatara upanishhad, 6.23]. More on the knowledge of Atman can be found in brihadaranyaka upanishhad 4.4.12-21.

The stotraM aids in the comprehension of the fact that Jiva, Ishvara and Brahman are all the same on the plane of Reality. The recital of this hymn, accompanied with contemplation of the meaning, is said to enable one to reach the plentitude of realization and become one with the Brahman. (Actually, it is the realization that you are already and always Brahman).

An excellent commentary on the dakshinamurthi stotra was written by His immediate disciple, Sureshvara, and it is called maanasollaasa. Another beautiful commentary on the work is tattvasudhaa by svayamprakaashayatinindra. Both of the works, along with a lucid commentary of the dakshinamurti stotra, has been published by the Sringeri Math. The book is called 'Sridakshinamurtistotram' and translated by Dr. D.S. Subbramaiya. The book has two volumes and over 1200 pages. The fact that one requires over 1200 pages to explain the sridakshinamurti stotra provides an idea of the depth required to understand the stotra.

May shri daksinamurti lead us from ignorance to Truth.

shrIdakshiNaamUrti stotraM दक्षिणामूर्ति स्तोत्रं .. शांतिपाठः.. ॐ यो ब्रह्माणं विदधाति पूर्वम.ह यो वै वेदांश्च प्रहिणोति तस्मै . तं ह देवमात्मबुद्धिप्रकाशं मुमुक्शुर्वै शरणमहं प्रपद्ये .. ॐ शांतिः शांतिः शांतिः This verse is chanted before the stotraM. AUM. I surrender to THAT, who projected brahma at the beginning of the creation and revealed vedas. The inspiration turns my intellect towards Atman. May peace be on us for ever. विश्वं दर्पणदृश्यमाननगरीतुल्यं निजान्तर्गतं पश्यन्नात्मनि मायया बहिरिवोद.ह्भूतं यदा निद्रया . यः साक्शात्कुरुते प्रबोधसमये स्वात्मानमेवाद्वयं तस्मै श्रीगुरुमूर्तये नम इदं श्रीदक्शिणामूर्तये .. १.. The universe is the reflection of a mirror. The Truth is the supreme Brahman, the one without a second. The mind, senses and intellect are all able to only discern the reflection of the Atman. The identity of the brahman and the Atman is apparent after self-illumination. I offer my profound salutations to the auspicious Guru, who is an embodiment of Dakshinamurti, and whose grace is responsible for the illumination. बीजस्यान्तरिवाण्‍कुरो जगदिदं प्राण्‍निर्विकल्पं पुनः मायाकल्पितदेशकालकलनावैचित्र्यचित्रीकृतम.ह . मायावीव विजृम्भयत्यपि महायोगीव यः स्वेच्च्हया तस्मै श्रीगुरुमूर्तये नम इदं श्रीदक्शिणामूर्तये .. २.. He in whom this universe, prior to its projection was present like a tree in a seed(unmanifested), and by whose magic this was transformed(manifested) in various forms, by His own will similar to a yogi's- to that Dakshinamurti, who is embodied in the auspicious Guru, I offer my profound salutations. यस्यैव स्फुरणं सदात्मकमसत्कल्पार्थकं भासते साक्शात्तत्त्वमसीति वेदवचसा यो बोधयत्याश्रितान.ह . यत्साक्शात्करणाद्भवेन्न पुनरावृत्तिर्भवाम्भोनिधौ तस्मै श्रीगुरुमूर्तये नम इदं श्रीदक्शिणामूर्तये .. ३.. He, by whose light the (unreal) universe appears real, teaches the truth of brahman to those who want to know  the Atman through the vedic statement tattvamasi (thou art That) and He  Who puts an end to the samsaric cycle - to that Dakshinamurti, who is embodied in the auspicious Guru, I offer my profound salutations. नानाच्च्हिद्रघटोदरस्थितहादीपप्रभाभास्वरं घ्य़ानं यस्य तु चक्शुरादिकरणद्वारा बहिः स्पन्दते . जानामीति तमेव भान्तमनुभात्येतत्समस्तं जगत.ह तस्मै श्रीगुरुमूर्तये नम इदं श्रीदक्शिणामूर्तये .. ४.. He whose light gleams through the senses like the light emanating from a pot with holes (in which a lamp is kept), He whose knowledge alone brings the state of knowing (I am That), He whose brightness makes everything shine - to that Dakshinamurti, who is embodied in the auspicious Guru, I offer my profound salutations. देहं प्राणमपीन्द्रियाण्यपि चलां बुद्धिं च शून्यं विदुः स्त्रीबालान्धजडोपमास्त्वहमिति भ्रान्ता भृशं वादिनः . मायाशक्तिविलासकल्पितमहा व्यामोहसंहारिणे तस्मै श्रीगुरुमूर्तये नम इदं श्रीदक्शिणामूर्तये .. ५.. Some philosophers contend the body, senses, life-breath, intellect and non-existence (shunya) as the real `I' (Atman). Their comprehension is worse than that of women, children, blind and the dull. He who destroys this delusion caused by maya (and makes us aware of the Truth)- to that Dakshinamurti, who is embodied in the auspicious Guru, I offer my profound salutations. राहुग्रस्तदिवाकरेन्दुसदृशो मायासमाच्च्हादनात.ह सन्मात्रः करणोपसंहरणतो यो.अभूत्सुश्हुप्तः पुमान.ह . प्रागस्वाप्समिति प्रबोधसमये यः प्रत्यभिघ्य़ायते तस्मै श्रीगुरुमूर्तये नम इदं श्रीदक्शिणामूर्तये .. ६.. The brillance of sun exists even when intercepted by Rahu during eclipse. Similarly, the power of cognition only remains suspended during deep sleep. The Self exists as pure being even though unrecognized due to the veil of Maya. A person on awakening becomes aware that he was asleep earlier (and the dream was unreal). Similarly, a person who awakens to the consciousness of the Self recognizes his previous state of ignorance as unreal. He by whose grace alone does one awaken to the consciousness of the Self - to that Dakshinamurti, who is embodied in the auspicious Guru, I offer my profound salutations. बाल्यादिश्ह्वपि जाग्रदादिश्हु तथा सर्वास्ववस्थास्वपि व्यावृत्तास्वनुवर्तमानमहमित्यन्तः स्फुरन्तं सदा . स्वात्मानं प्रकटीकरोति भजतां यो मुद्रया भद्रया तस्मै श्रीगुरुमूर्तये नम इदं श्रीदक्शिणामूर्तये .. ७.. He, whose existence is changeless throughout the various states of the body (like old, young etc) and the mind (waking, dreaming etc), and who reveals the greatest knowledge of Atman by GYaana-mudra (the joining of the thumb and the forefinger of a raised right hand) - to that Dakshinamurti, who is embodied in the auspicious Guru, I offer my profound salutations. विश्वं पश्यति कार्यकारणतया स्वस्वामिसंबन्धतः शिश्ह्याचार्यतया तयैव पितृपुत्राद्यात्मना भेदतः . स्वप्ने जाग्रति वा य एश्ह पुरुश्हो मायापरिभ्रामितः तस्मै श्रीगुरुमूर्तये नम इदं श्रीदक्शिणामूर्तये .. ८.. He, whose power of Maya enables one to experience the world as multiform (like teacher, disciple, father, son etc) during both the waking and dream states -  to that Dakshinamurti, who is embodied in the auspicious Guru, I offer my profound salutations. भूरम्भांस्यनलो.अनिलो.अम्बरमहर्नाथो हिमांशुः पुमान.ह इत्याभाति चराचरात्मकमिदं यस्यैव मूर्त्यश्ह्टकम.ह . नान्यत्किञ्चन विद्यते विमृशतां यस्मात्परस्माद्विभोः तस्मै श्रीगुरुमूर्तये नम इदं श्रीदक्शिणामूर्तये .. ९.. He, whose subtle and unmanifest eightfold form causes the moving and unmoving universe, and by whose grace alone does all these manifestation disappear to reveal that `All that exists is Brahman' - to that Dakshinamurti, who is embodied in the auspicious Guru, I offer my profound salutations. सर्वात्मत्वमिति स्फुटीकृतमिदं यस्मादमुश्ह्मिन.ह स्तवे तेनास्य श्रवणात्तदर्थमननाद्ध्यानाच्च सण्‍कीर्तनात.ह . सर्वात्मत्वमहाविभूतिसहितं स्यादीश्वरत्वं स्वतः सिद्ध्येत्तत्पुनरश्ह्टधा परिणतं चैश्वर्यमव्याहतम.ह .. १०.. The verse points out to the all pervasiveness of the indwelling Spirit, Atman. By the recital, contemplation and meditation of this hymn, the disciple attains the state of oneness with Atman and realizes his unity with the universe,thus becoming the very essence of the eightfold manifestation. वटविटपिसमीपे भूमिभागे निश्हण्णं सकलमुनिजनानां घ्य़ानदातारमारात.ह . त्रिभुवनगुरुमीशं दक्शिणामूर्तिदेवं जननमरणदुःखच्च्हेददक्शं नमामि ..

This verse is usually recited at the end of the recital of the above hymn.

I offer my profound salutations to Shri maha dakshinamurti, the remover of the worldly (samasric) bonds binding us, Who is to be meditated upon as the one sitting under a banyan tree and bestowing knowledge (GYana)instantly on all the sages (and the devoted disciples).