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.

Q: Which day is dedicated to Dakshinamurthy worship?

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

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 ॥

Shri Dakshinamurthy Stotram is a 10-verse philosophical masterpiece composed by Sri Adi Shankaracharya. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva in His form as Guru Dakshinamurthy—the Primordial Teacher who faces South (Dakshina) and imparts self-realization to aged rishis (Sanaka, Sanatana, Sanatkumara, Sanatsujata) through Silence (Mouna Vyakhyanam) and the Chinmudra gesture.

This stotram condenses the highest non-dual philosophy (Advaita Vedanta) into 10 radiant stanzas. It begins with the celebrated metaphor of the universe being like a city reflected in a mirror: "Viśvaṃ Darpaṇa-Dṛśyamāna-Nagarī-Tulyaṃ Nijāntargatam".

Each verse ends with the sacred chorus: "Tasmai Śrī-Gurumūrtaye Nama Idaṃ Śrī-Dakṣiṇāmūrtaye" ("Salutations to Him, the embodiment of the Supreme Guru, Lord Dakshinamurthy!").

According to scriptural tradition and verse 10 of this stotram, daily recitation of Shri Dakshinamurthy Stotram grants the following blessings:

Attainment of Self-Realization (Atma Jnana): Dispels ignorance (Avidya) and reveals the non-dual Self.
Mastery over Wisdom and Speech (Vak Siddhi): Enhances intellect, memory, and spiritual clarity.
Freedom from Rebirth Cycle (Samsara Mukti): Destroys karmic bonds and grants liberation.

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

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.

Thursdays (Guruvar) are especially sacred for Dakshinamurthy worship.

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

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.

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.

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!

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

Om Shanti! Shanti! Shanti!

Verse 1: Salutations to Dakshinamurthy, who reveals the non-dual Self, seeing the universe within Himself like a city in a mirror.
Verse 2: Salutations to Dakshinamurthy, who projects the universe by Maya like a seed sprouting into a tree.
Verse 3: Salutations to Dakshinamurthy, who instructs disciples with the Mahavakya Tat Tvam Asi.
Verse 4: Salutations to Dakshinamurthy, whose consciousness shines out through the senses like light from a pot.
Verses 5–9: Refuting false theories identifying the Self with body, mind, or void; praising the Self beyond dream and waking states.
Verse 10 (Phalashruti): Salutations to the Supreme Lord Dakshinamurthy seated under the Banyan tree, severing the sorrow of birth and death.

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