Dakshinamurthy Upasana

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Dear Members,

 

Dakshinamurthy upasana froms an important aspect in Srividya. Infact, for the

followers of Sankara tradition, Dakshinamurthy is the Adi Guru who propagated

the Samaya Tradition of Srividya. The Mula Guru of the Samashti Gurumandala is

Dakshinamurthy.

 

There are several temples dedicated to Dakshinamurthy in Tamilnadu and Andhra

Pradesh. Two of such temples in Andhra Pradesh are Sri Kalahasthi and

Narasaraopeta. The Devi Jnana Prasunaambika at Shrikalahasthi is the Jnana Kala

of Dakshinamurthy (as told by my guru).

 

There are several forms of this Dakshinamurthy which probably have evolved

depending upon the mantra upasanas of the same. Some of them are as follows:

Mula Dakshinamurthy, Shuddha Dakshinamurthy, Medha Dakshinamurthy, Lakshmi

Dakshinamurthy, Vaagisha Dakshinamurthy, Yoga Dakshinamurthy, Vina

Dakshinamurthy, Samba Dakshinamurthy, Hamsa Dakshinamurthy, Lakuta

Dakshinamurthy, Chidambara Dakshinamurthy, Vira Vijaya Dakshinamurthy, Kirthi

Dakshinamurthy, Brahma Dakshinamurthy, Sakthi Dakshinamurthy, Siddha

Dakshinamurthy, Srividya Dakshinamurthy etc.

 

Among these, the famous and most popular figure of Dakshinamurthy is Medha

Dakshinamurthy whose form is seen under the Banyan Tree with the Right Leg on

the Demon Apasmara and the Left Leg on the Right Thigh. With four hands holds

pot of nector, veda sastra, chinmudra and akshamala (beads of rosary /

sphatika).

 

IT IS INTERESTING TO NOTE THAT THE DEVI SARADA OF SRINGERI SPORTS WITH THESE

VIZ., AMRUTA KALASA, VEDA SASTRA, CHINMUDRA AND AKSHAMALA. APART FROM THESE,

SHE ALSO SPORTS WITH A PARROT WHICH IS THE SYMBOLIC REPRESENTATION OF “VAKâ€.

 

SRI SARADA IS ALSO THE FEMALE FORM OF MEDHA DAKSHINAMURTHY (AS TOLD BY SHRI

BHARATI TIRTHA IN HIS ANUGRAHA BHASHANA).

 

This Parrot is also seen to be in the hands of Minakshi of Madhurai and hence

she is considered to be the devata of Vak and Sangitha Jnana.

 

The Upasana of Medha Dakshinamurthy confers razor sharp intelligence,

analytical skills, excellence in studies and academics, victory in the debates

and polemics, intuition and inspiration while contemplating on tarka, vyakarana,

mimamsa etc.

 

It needs a special mention that the Dakshinamurthy Ashtaka gifted to the

posterity by Adi Sankara is a wonderful potent mantra (though it seems to be a

simple stotra of 10 couplets) which has the ability and potency to cure ailments

that have been declared hopeless by doctors. Some of the case of epilepsy,

fits, and mental retardness were found to be cured as witnessed by my gurunatha.

 

Apart from swa-swarupa jnana, this Dakshinamurthy Stotra is a potent mantra

for mentally-immatured and mentally-retarded children. The Demon Apasmara under

the feet of Dakshinamurthy denotes that Dakshinamurthy confers the

“Swa-swarupa Sthithâ€. Swa-swarupa Jnana is the Atma Jnana for Upasakas and

Nija Jagrat Avastha (consciousness of the external world) for the

mentally-retarded.

 

Upasana of the Dakshinamurthy involves several purva-anga and uttara-angas

mantras which one needs to be initiated at the time of the upasana of

Dakshinamurthy. However, these may differ from tradition to tradition.

 

Purva-Anga:

 

Guruuganapatirdurga kshetrapalah saraswathi

Etah sridakshinamurtheh purvamantradhidevataah

 

They are : Guru, Ganapati, Durga, Kshetrapala, Saraswathi mantras

 

Uttara-Anga:

 

Balashadakshari devyah svarnaakarshana bhairavah

Mritasanjivani chaiva mahamrityunjah tatah

Ete panchamahamantra uttaranga mahesatum

 

These are : Bala, Devi Shadakshari, Svarna Akarshana Bhairava, Mrita Sanjivani

Mantras

 

The Dakshinamurthy Upasana has to be pursued with these Purva and Uttara Anga

Mantras and should be meditated at the Sahasrara Chakra at Dvadashanta Sthala.

 

There are several yantras related to Shri Dakshinamurthy however there is a

wonderful yantra of 25 squares (5 x 5 matrix) with Dakshinamurthy Mantra

inscribed on it. It is a siddha dakshinamurthy yantra which is worshipped in

the Sringeri Sivaganga Mutt (Sivaganga Mutta is the upa-pita of Sringeri Sarada

Pita). All the sanyasis belonging to this mutt are the wonderful siddha

upasakas of Dakshinamurthy Yantra.

 

With regards,

Sriram

 

 

 

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