Swami Krishnananda Shashtyabdapurti Mahotsava Commemoration Volume
A Souvenir released on Swami Krishnananda's 60th Birthday
Dakshinamurty
by A.V. Kupuswami
Different religions depict God in different ways. God is worshipped as Mother, Father, Master, Teacher, and as everything noble and auspicious. Among them the Dakshinamurti worship adores God as the Preceptor.
Dakshinamurti is one of the many Saguna forms of Lord Siva. Uma Mahesvara, Rishabaruda, Nataraja, Kala Bhairava and Somaskanda are some among these many forms. Dakshinamurti idols are mostly found in stone sculptures and are generally installed in the niches in one of the four walls of the sanctum sanctorum of Siva temples; although, in a few temples like those at Alangudi and Tiruvarur in South India, separate small shrines also are built for Dakshinamurti worship.
These idols always face the South and so go by the name "Dakshinamurti", the Sanskrit word 'Dakshina' meaning 'south'. The word `Dakshina' also means 'wisdom', in addition to its more popular connotation, namely, 'south'. This would indicate that Dakshinamurti is the God who bestows wisdom or Jnana on His devotees.
The different Saguna Murti idols of Lord Siva are classified into three groups, viz., Bhoga Murti, Yoga Murti and Ananda Murti. For example, the Somaskanda form is a Bhoga Murti, the Nataraja form is an Ananda Murti and the Dakshinamurti form is a Yoga Murti.
The Visual Form
The Dakshinamurti sculptural pieces, whether in granite or in bronze, are nomally about one and a half to two feet in height, carved as seated under a banyan tree, in Veerasana pose. While the right leg is shown hanging, the left leg is bent, its foot placed over the right thigh. Below the right foot, the demon Muyalaka is shown as being trampled. There are four arms in the Dakshinamurti figures, the front right hand showing the Chin-mudra, the rear right hand carrying either the Rudraksha Mala or a book, the front left hand showing Abhaya or Varada Mudra, and the rear left hand carrying fire or the cobra. These idols always depict an erect gait without bends and curves, signifying that the backbone should be kept erect for undisturbed deep meditation. The hair over the head, aesthetically tied a into big knot, resembles a crown. The crescent moon and Ganga Devi peep out from this hairdo. Serenity and wisdom shine forth from the face and spread peace all around. Deep meditation is visible in the poise of the eyes, the sight pivoted on the tip of the nose.
The Four Forms of Dakshinamurti
When Sanaka, Sanathana, Sanandana and Sanat Kumara, the four mind-born sons of Brahma, the Creator, wanted to know the esoteric meaning of the Vedas, they performed intense austerities to invoke Lord Siva. Pleased with their one-pointed devotion, Lord Siva appeared before them in the Vyakyana Dakshinamurti form and revealed to them the Agamas which contain the inner meaning of the Vedas.
The four sages were still not satisfied, as they were not yet able to control the mind. They once again performed penance. This time the Lord appeared before them in the Yoga Dakshinamurti form and taught them the intricacies of Yoga-Marga by which the Vikalpa of the mind could be calmed. Medha Dakshinamurti and Veena Dakshinamurti are two other forms in which the Dakshinamurti idol is found. In the former form, the Lord bestows Jnana; and in the latter form, He chants the Vedas and teaches them to the disciples, playing the tune simultaneously on the Veena.
Significance OF the Chin-Mudra
In all the four forms mentioned above, the right hand invariably shows the Chin-Mudra. Chit-Mudra or Chin-Mudra is the Jnana emblem. Jnana is symbolised in Chin-Mudra. Herein, the index finger is fully bent down so as to touch the base of the thumb. Without the aid of the thumb, the other four fingers in the hand cannot perform any work. The thumb therefore is significant.
In Chin-Mudra the thumb represents the Almighty God, the index finger represents the Jivatma or the individual soul, and the other three fingers represent, according to the Saiva Siddhanta philosophy, Anavam, Kanmam, and Mayai, the three obstacles to liberation. As long as the individual, signified by the index finger, does not free himself from the bondage of attachment and ignorance, as are signified by the other three fingers, there is no hope of salvation. The moment the aspirant (Pasu) tries to get away from these bondages, casts off his attachment and ego and attempts to walk towards God (Pati) signified by the thumb, the Lord Himself comes to him and rescues him from the clutches of Samsara.
He is our Dakshinamurti", said H.H. Swami Sivanandaji once, when H.H. Sri Vighuti Jyoti Nityanandaji Maharaj pointed to Swami Krishnanandaji and wondered, "Who knows how many Sankaracharyas have gone into our young Swami!" Truly so, for at the feet of this (young) saint, many grey-heads have bowed in reverence and imbibed the wisdom of ancient Upanishadic lore.
—SWAMI VENKATESANANDA
(in the book "Essays on Upanishads and Other Essays”)
The Dakshinamurthi Symbols and Their Meaning
For meditation, we have to face either east or north. But Dakshinamurti faces south. This is to point out that the Lord is beyond the regulations prescribed for men. The serpent crawling on his body signifies the Kundalini Sakti, which is to be aroused in Yoga Sadhana. The banyan tree and its shade signify Maya. The Rudraksha Mala in His hand reminds us about the thirty-six Tattvas, about the efficacy of Japa Yoga, and of the Panchakshara Mantra which is to be done with the Rudraksha Mala. The demon Muyalaka being pressed under the Lord's foot, tells us that the Lord quells the vicious and protects the virtuous. The Abhaya Mudra assures us of succour from evil forces.
Devotees visiting Siva temples, after they offer worship in the main sanctum sanctorums of the Lord and the Devi, do Pradakshina. And when they come near the southern round, they offer worship at the feet of Dakshinamurti. They sit there in front of the Murti, facing north or east, and do meditation for some time. Complete silence is observed at this place. Those who are conversant with the Dakshinamurti Ashtakam recite the eight stanzas and prostrate at the conclusion of each stanza and seek the blessings of the Lord for granting them spiritual wisdom.
May Lord Dakshinamurti endow us with spiritual enlightenment.