dakshinamurthy stotram
Dhyanam
Mauna-vyakhya prakatita parabrahma-tattvam yuvaanam
Varshishthaante vasad rishi-ganair aavritam brahma-nishthaih |
Aacharyendram kara-kalita chin-mudram aananda-moortim
Svaatmaaraamam mudita-vadanam dakshinaamoortim eede ||
English Translation:
I praise Lord Dakshinamurti, the supreme teacher, who reveals the truth of the Supreme Brahman through profound silence; who is youthful yet surrounded by elderly, wise sages devoted to Brahman; whose hand holds the Chin-mudra (gesture of pure consciousness); who is the embodiment of supreme bliss, rejoicing in His own Self, with a delightfully radiant face.
॥ Shree Dakshinamoorti Stotram ॥
Vishwam darpana-drishyamaana-nagaree-tulyam nijaantargatam
Pashyann aatmani maayayaa bahir-ivodbhootam yathaa nidrayaa |
Yah saakshaat-kurute prabodha-samaye svaatmaanam evaadwayam
Tasmai shree-guru-moortaye nama idam shree-dakshinaamoortaye || 1 ||
English Translation:
This universe is like a city seen inside a mirror—it exists within oneself, but due to Maya (illusion), it appears as if outside, just like a dream seen in sleep appears external. To Him who, at the time of spiritual awakening, directly reveals that the Self is one and non-dual—to that Sri Guru, Sri Dakshinamurti, I bow.
Beejasyaantar-ivaankuro jagad-idam praang-nirvikalpam punah
Maayaa-kalpita-desha-kaala-kalanaa-vaichitrya-chitreekritam |
Maayaaveeva vijrimbhayaty-api mahaa-yogeeva yah svecchayaa
Tasmai shree-guru-moortaye nama idam shree-dakshinaamoortaye || 2 ||
English Translation:
Like a sprout hidden inside a seed, this world was originally unmanifest and without divisions, but was later projected by Maya with diverse variations of time and space. To Him who, like a magician or a great yogi, unfolds this universe by His own will—to that Sri Guru, Sri Dakshinamurti, I bow.
Yasyaiva sphuranam sadaatmakam asat-kalpaarthakam bhaasate
Saakshaat tattvam-aseeti veda-vachasaa yo bodhayat-yaashritaan |
Yat-saakshaat-karanaad bhaven na punar-aavrittir bhavaambho-nidhau
Tasmai shree-guru-moortaye nama idam shree-dakshinaamoortaye || 3 ||
English Translation:
By whose pure consciousness alone this unreal, perceived world appears real; who directly teaches His seekers through the Vedic statement "Tat Tvam Asi" (You are That); and by whose direct realization one is never reborn into the ocean of worldly existence—to that Sri Guru, Sri Dakshinamurti, I bow.
Naanaa-chhidra-ghatodara-sthita-mahaa-deepa-prabhaa-bhaasvaram
Gnyaanam yasya tu chakshur-aadi-karana-dwaaraa bahih spandate |
Jaanaameeti tam eva bhaantam anubhaaty-etat samastam jagat
Tasmai shree-guru-moortaye nama idam shree-dakshinaamoortaye || 4 ||
English Translation:
Just as the light of a great lamp kept inside a pot with many holes shines outward through the openings, His knowledge radiates outward through the senses (eyes, ears, etc.). Following His light alone ("I know") does this entire universe shine—to that Sri Guru, Sri Dakshinamurti, I bow.
Deham praanam apeedriyaany-api chalaam buddhim cha shoonyam viduh
Stree-baalaandha-jadopamaas tv aham iti bhraantaa bhrisham vaadinah |
Maayaa-shakti-vilaasa-kalpita-mahaa-vyaamoha-samhaarine
Tasmai shree-guru-moortaye nama idam shree-dakshinaamoortaye || 5 ||
English Translation:
Those who mistakenly identify the body, vital breath, senses, fluctuating intellect, or emptiness (the void) as the "I" (Self) are like deluded children, the blind, and the foolish. To Him who completely destroys this immense delusion created by the play of Maya—to that Sri Guru, Sri Dakshinamurti, I bow.
Raahu-grasta-divaakarendu-sadrisho maayaa-samaachhaadanaat
Sanmaatrah karanopasamharanato yo-bhoot sushuptah pumaan |
Praagasvaapsam iti prabodha-samaye yah pratyabhijnyaayate
Tasmai shree-guru-moortaye nama idam shree-dakshinaamoortaye || 6 ||
English Translation:
Like the sun or moon obscured during an eclipse by Rahu, a person in deep sleep remains veiled by Maya, existing purely as presence (Sat) when the senses withdraw. Upon waking, He who recognizes "I slept peacefully" through that continuous witness consciousness—to that Sri Guru, Sri Dakshinamurti, I bow.
Baalyaadishv api jaagradaadishu tathaa sarvaasv avasthaasv api
Vyaavrittaasv anuvartamaanam aham ity antah sphurantam sadaa |
Svaatmaanam prakatee-karoti bhajataam yo mudrayaa bhadrayaa
Tasmai shree-guru-moortaye nama idam shree-dakshinaamoortaye || 7 ||
English Translation:
Through all changing stages of life (childhood, youth, old age) and all states of consciousness (waking, dreaming, deep sleep), the one immutable Self continuously shines within as "I, I". To Him who reveals this True Self to devotees through the auspicious Chin-mudra—to that Sri Guru, Sri Dakshinamurti, I bow.
Vishwam pashyati kaarya-kaarana-tayaa sva-swaami-sambandhatah
Shishyaachaarya-tayaa tathaiva pitri-putraadyaatmanaa bhedatah |
Swapne jaagrati vaa ya esha purusho maayaa-paribhraamitah
Tasmai shree-guru-moortaye nama idam shree-dakshinaamoortaye || 8 ||
English Translation:
Deluded by Maya in both dream and waking states, a person perceives the universe as divided into relationships—such as cause and effect, master and servant, teacher and student, father and son. To Him who is the underlying reality beyond all these dualities—to that Sri Guru, Sri Dakshinamurti, I bow.
Bhoor-ambhaamsy-analo-anilo-ambaram ahar-naatho himaamshuh pumaan
Ity aabhaati charaacharaatmakam idam yasyaiva moorty-ashtakam |
Naanyat kinchana vidyate vimrishataam yasmaat parasmaad vibhos-
Tasmai shree-guru-moortaye nama idam shree-dakshinaamoortaye || 9 ||
English Translation:
Earth, water, fire, air, space, the sun, the moon, and the conscious individual (Jiva)—this entire moving and non-moving cosmos shines forth as His eightfold manifestation (Ashtamurti). For those who reflect deeply, nothing exists apart from this Supreme, all-pervading Being. To that Sri Guru, Sri Dakshinamurti, I bow.
Sarvaatmatvam iti sphutee-kritam idam yasmaad amushmin stave
Tenaasya shravanaat tad-artha-mananaad dhyaanaach cha sankeertanaat |
Sarvaatmatva-mahaa-vibhooti-sahitam syaad eeshwaratvam svatah
Siddhyet tat punar ashtadhaa parinatam chaishvaryam avyaahatam || 10 ||
English Translation:
Since the truth of Universal Oneness ("All is the Self") is clearly revealed in this hymn, by listening to it, contemplating its meaning, meditating upon it, and singing it, one naturally attains oneness with the Divine and the supreme glory of seeing the Self in everything, along with unobstructed divine sovereignty.
Mantra
॥ Om Hreem Dakshinaamoortaye Namah ॥