Shri Dakshinamurthy Stotram ( श्री दक्षिणामूर्ति स्तोत्रम् )
Shri Dakshinamurthy Stotram (श्री दक्षिणामूर्ति स्तोत्रम्) is a profound hymn composed by Adi Shankaracharya. It praises Lord Dakshinamurthy (a form of Shiva as the supreme Guru and embodiment of knowledge) and expounds key principles of Advaita Vedanta, such as the nature of the Self (Atman), the illusory world (Maya), and ultimate realization.
Dhyanam (Meditative Verses)
मौनव्याख्या प्रकटित परब्रह्मतत्त्वं युवानं वर्षिष्ठांते वसद् ऋषिगणैः आवृतं ब्रह्मनिष्ठैः । आचार्येन्द्रं करकलित चिन्मुद्रमानंदमूर्तिं स्वात्मारामं मुदितवदनं दक्षिणामूर्तिमीडे ॥
I salute Lord Dakshinamurthy, who reveals the truth of the Supreme Brahman through silence, who appears young while surrounded by elderly sages established in Brahman, the supreme teacher holding the Chinmudra, the embodiment of bliss, who rejoices in the Self with a joyful face.
वटविटपिसमीपेभूमिभागे निषण्णं सकलमुनिजनानां ज्ञानदातारमारात् । त्रिभुवनगुरुमीशं दक्षिणामूर्तिदेवं जननमरणदुःखच्छेद दक्षं नमामि ॥
Seated under the banyan tree on the ground, bestowing knowledge to all sages nearby, the Guru of the three worlds, Lord Dakshinamurthy, skilled in cutting the sorrow of birth and death—I bow to Him.
Main Stotram
विश्वं दर्पणदृश्यमाननगरीतुल्यं निजान्तर्गतं पश्यन्नात्मनि मायया बहिरिवोद्भूतं यथा निद्रया । यः साक्षात्कुरुते प्रबोधसमये स्वात्मानमेवाद्वयं तस्मै श्रीगुरुमूर्तये नम इदं श्रीदक्षिणामूर्तये ॥१॥
To Him who sees the entire universe (like a city reflected in a mirror) existing within Himself, yet appearing as if outside due to Maya (like a dream), and who, upon awakening, directly realizes the non-dual Self — salutations to that Guru-form, Sri Dakshinamurthy.
बीजस्यान्तरिवाङ्कुरो जगदिदं प्राङ्निर्विकल्पं पुनः मायाकल्पितदेशकालकलना वैचित्र्यचित्रीकृतम् । मायावीव विजृम्भयत्यपि महायोगीव यः स्वेच्छया तस्मै श्रीगुरुमूर्तये नम इदं श्रीदक्षिणामूर्तये ॥२॥
Like a sprout inside a seed, this world was undifferentiated earlier; now projected by Maya with divisions of space and time in diverse forms. Like a magician or great yogi, He manifests it at will — salutations to Sri Dakshinamurthy.
यस्यैव स्फुरणं सदात्मकमसत्कल्पार्थकं भासते साक्षात्तत्त्वमसीति वेदवचसा यो बोधयत्याश्रितान् । यत्साक्षात्करणाद्भवेन्न पुनरावृत्तिर्भवाम्भोनिधौ तस्मै श्रीगुरुमूर्तये नम इदं श्रीदक्षिणामूर्तये ॥३॥
By whose light the unreal appears real, who teaches the mahavakya “Tat Tvam Asi” (Thou Art That) to devotees, and by whose realization there is no more return to the ocean of samsara — salutations to Him.
नानाछिद्र घटोदरस्थित महादीप प्रभाभास्वरं ज्ञानं यस्य तु चक्षुरादिकरण द्वारा बहिः स्पन्दते । जानामीति तमेव भान्तमनुभात्येतत्समस्तं जगत् तस्मै श्रीगुरुमूर्तये नम इदं श्रीदक्षिणामूर्तये ॥४॥
Like the light of a great lamp inside a pot with many holes shining outward through the senses, whose knowledge makes the whole world shine as “I know” — salutations to Sri Dakshinamurthy.
देहं प्राणमपीन्द्रियाण्यपि चलां बुद्धिं च शून्यं विदुः स्त्री बालान्ध जडोपमास्त्वहमिति भ्रान्ता भृशं वादिनः । मायाशक्ति विलास कल्पित महाव्यामोह संहारिणे तस्मै श्रीगुरुमूर्तये नम इदं श्रीदक्षिणामूर्तये ॥५॥
Those who identify the Self with body, prana, senses, intellect or void are deluded like women, children, blind or fools. To the destroyer of this great delusion created by Maya’s play — salutations.
राहुग्रस्त दिवाकरेंदु सदृशो माया समाच्छादनात् सन्मात्रः करणोप संहरणतो योऽभूत्सुषुप्तः पुमान् । प्रागस्वाप्समिति प्रबोधसमये यः प्रत्यभिज्ञायते तस्मै श्रीगुरुमूर्तये नम इदं श्रीदक्षिणामूर्तये ॥६॥
Like the sun or moon covered by Rahu, the pure consciousness veiled by Maya in deep sleep, who upon waking recognizes “I slept” — salutations to Him.
बाल्यादिष्वपि जागरादिषु तथा सर्वास्ववस्थास्वपि व्यावृत्तास्वनुवर्तमान महमित्यन्तः स्फुरन्तं सदा । स्वात्मानं प्रकटीकरोति भजतां यो मुद्रया भद्रया तस्मै श्रीगुरुमूर्तये नम इदं श्रीदक्षिणामूर्तये ॥७॥
Who, through the auspicious Chinmudra, reveals the eternal inner Self (“I”) that persists unchanged through childhood, youth, old age, waking, dream, and sleep — salutations.
विश्वं पश्यति कार्यकारणतया स्वस्वामिसंबन्धतः शिष्याचार्यतया तथैव पितृपुत्राद्यात्मना भेदतः । स्वप्ने जाग्रति वा य एष पुरुषो माया परिभ्रामितः तस्मै श्रीगुरुमूर्तये नम इदं श्रीदक्षिणामूर्तये ॥८॥
Who sees the world in terms of cause-effect, owner-owned, teacher-disciple, father-son, etc., due to Maya’s delusion in dream or waking — salutations.
भूरम्बांस्यनिलोऽम्बर महर्नाथो हिमांशुः पुमान् इत्याभाति चराचरात्मकमिदं यस्यैव मूर्त्यष्टकम् । नान्यत्किञ्चन विद्यते विमृशतां यस्मात्परस्माद्विभो तस्मै श्रीगुरुमूर्तये नम इदं श्रीदक्षिणामूर्तये ॥९॥
This movable-immovable universe appears as earth, water, fire, air, space, sun, moon, and soul — the eightfold form of the Supreme. Nothing else exists apart from Him — salutations.
सर्वात्मत्वमिति स्फुटीकृतमिदं यस्मादमुष्मिन् स्तवे तेनास्य श्रवणात्तदर्थमननाद्ध्यानाच्च संकीर्तनात् । सर्वात्मत्व महाविभूतिसहितं स्यादीश्वरत्वं स्वतः सिद्ध्येत्तत्पुनरष्टधा परिणतं चैश्वर्यमव्याहतम् ॥१०॥
By listening to, reflecting on, meditating upon, and singing this hymn that clearly reveals the All-Self, one attains lordship with the great glory of realizing everything as the Self, and the unobstructed eightfold powers.
Concluding Verses
निधये सर्वविद्यानां भिषजे भवरोगिणाम् । गुरवे सर्वलोकानां दक्षिणामूर्तये नमः ॥
Salutations to the treasure of all knowledge, the physician for the disease of samsara, the Guru of all worlds — Sri Dakshinamurthy.
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥
Significance of Sri Dakshinamurthy
Chanting this stotram with understanding is believed to bestow wisdom, destroy ignorance, and lead toward self-realization. It is especially powerful on Guru-related days or during meditation.
