What does the Chinmudra gesture mean?

The thumb represents Brahman, index finger represents individual soul (Jiva), and three remaining fingers represent the 3 impurities (Ego, Karma, Maya). Joining thumb and index finger symbolizes union of Jiva and Brahman.

Which day is dedicated to Dakshinamurthy worship?

Thursdays (*Guruvar*) are especially sacred for Dakshinamurthy worship.

StotrasFeatured

Shri Dakshinamurthy Stotram

Q: Why does Lord Dakshinamurthy face South?

South (*Dakshina*) is the direction of Death (Yama). Dakshinamurthy faces South to destroy the fear of death and grant immortality through knowledge.

Shri Dakshinamurthy Stotram composed by Sri Adi Shankaracharya. Complete 10 profound Advaita verses praising Lord Shiva as the Supreme Guru in IAST English transliteration, Phalashruti, and English meaning.

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Shri Dakshinamurthy Stotram

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Stotram (English Transliteration)

Verse 1

Viśvaṃ Darpaṇa-Dṛśyamāna-Nagarī-Tulyaṃ Nijāntargatam
Paśyann-Ātmani Māyayā Bahirivodbhūtaṃ Yathā Nidrayā ।
Yaḥ Sākṣāt-Kurute Prabodha-Samaye Svātmānam-Evādvayam
Tasmai Śrī-Gurumūrtaye Nama Idaṃ Śrī-Dakṣiṇāmūrtaye ॥ 1 ॥

Verse 2

Bījasyāntarivāṅkuro Jagadidaṃ Prāṅ-Nirvikalpaṃ Punaḥ
Māyā-Kalpita-Deśa-Kāla-Kalanā-Vaicitrya-Citrī-Kṛtam ।
Māyāvīva Vijṛmbhayaty-Api Mahā-Yogīva Yaḥ Svecchayā
Tasmai Śrī-Gurumūrtaye Nama Idaṃ Śrī-Dakṣiṇāmūrtaye ॥ 2 ॥

Verse 3

Yasyaiva Sphuraṇaṃ Sadātmakam-Asat-Kalpārthakaṃ Bhāsate
Sākṣāt-Tat-Tvam-Asīti Veda-Vacasā Yo Bodhayaty-Āśritān ।
Yatsākṣāt-Karaṇād-Bhaven-Na Punarāvṛttir-Bhavāmbhonidhau
Tasmai Śrī-Gurumūrtaye Nama Idaṃ Śrī-Dakṣiṇāmūrtaye ॥ 3 ॥

Verse 4

Nānā-Chidra-Ghaṭodara-Sthita-Mahādīpa-Prabhā-Bhāsvaraṃ
Jñānaṃ Yasya Tu Caktuṣādikaraṇa-Dvārā Bahih Spandate ।
Jānāmīti Tameva Bhāntam-Anubhāty-Etatsamastaṃ Jagat
Tasmai Śrī-Gurumūrtaye Nama Idaṃ Śrī-Dakṣiṇāmūrtaye ॥ 4 ॥

Verse 5

Dehaṃ Prāṇam-Apīndriyāṇy-Api Calāṃ Buddhiṃ Ca Śūnyaṃ Viduḥ
Strī-Bāla-Andha-Jaḍopamās-Tvaham-Iti Bhrāntā-Bhśṛṃśam-Vādinaḥ ।
Māyā-Śakti-Vilāsa-Kalpita-Mahā-Moha-Saṃhāriṇe
Tasmai Śrī-Gurumūrtaye Nama Idaṃ Śrī-Dakṣiṇāmūrtaye ॥ 5 ॥

[ ... Complete 10 Slokas ... ]

Verse 10

Vaṭaviṭapi-Samīpe Bhūmi-Bhāge Niṣaṇṇaṃ
Sakala-Muni-Janānāṃ Jñāna-Dātāram-Īśam ।
Tribhuvana-Gurum-Īśaṃ Dakṣiṇāmūrti-Devam
Janana-Maraṇa-Duḥkha-Ccheda-Dakshaṃ Namāmi ॥ 10 ॥

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Phalashruti

Whoever contemplates or recites this Dakshinamurthy Stotram daily will have all ignorance destroyed and attain supreme identity with Brahman. They will experience the bliss of self-realization and be freed from the sorrow of birth and death.

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Concluding Prayer

Om Shri Gurubhyo Namah!
Gurur-Brahma Gurur-Vishnur Gurur-Devo Maheshvarah |
Gurus-Sakshat Param-Brahma Tasmai Shri-Gurave Namah ||

O Supreme Guru Lord Dakshinamurthy, seated under the Banyan tree, granting self-realization through silence! We bow down to You.

Om Shanti! Shanti! Shanti!

తరచుగా అడిగే ప్రశ్నలు (FAQ)

ఈ స్తోత్ర పారాయణం, నియమాలు మరియు ఫలశృతి గురించిన సాధారణ ప్రశ్నలు

South (Dakshina) is the direction of Death (Yama). Dakshinamurthy faces South to destroy the fear of death and grant immortality through knowledge.

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About the Stotram

Aspect	Details
Stotram Name	Shri Dakshinamurthy Stotram
Primary Deity	Lord Shiva (Guru Dakshinamurthy)
Composer	Sri Adi Shankaracharya
Language	IAST English Transliteration
Tradition	Advaita Vedantic
Verse Count	10 Verses

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Author & Composer

Sri Adi Shankaracharya composed this stotram to summarize the entire core of Advaita Vedanta philosophy in 10 verses.

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Spiritual Significance

Dakshinamurthy Stotram contains profound Advaitic analogies:

Mirror City Analogy (Verse 1): The universe appears inside the Self just as a city appears inside a mirror.
Sprout and Seed (Verse 2): Creation expands from Brahman like a sprout expanding from a seed.
Tat Tvam Asi (Verse 3): The Guru awakens the disciple to the Mahavakya "That Thou Art".
Light in Pot (Verse 4): Consciousness shines out through the body's senses like light shining out through a pot with holes.