Thursday 21 September 2023
Yoga
In his aspect as Yoga Dakshinamurti, Shiva is generally represented in any of the two styles described as under: -
- He is represented sitting in padmasana posture and engrossed in meditation. He is shown as having four arms. His four arms are depicted in different ways. In the upper right hand he holds his trident (trishula); he carries a bowl of human skull in his upper left hand; the lower right hand is shown in chinmudra; and the lower left hand is raised to his chest.
- In another representation, he is shown as sitting under a banyan tree. His one leg rests on the ground, while the other is on his thigh, with the help of a Yogapatta. His four arms are shown in different ways. He carries an akshamala in his upper right hand; the upper left hand is shown as carrying fire; the lower right hand is depicted in dyanamudra; and the lower left hand is shown in abhayamudra. Below his seat, two deer are shown squatting, and a cobra wound around his right arm looks towards him.
Poonthottam
- The oldest Dakshnimurthy temple is situated in Poonthottam village in Thiruvarur, Tamil Nadu. It is estimated that this temple is nearly 1000 years old and the idol of the deity was fixed on the day of mahakumbamela that took place 1000 years ago
Vellavu
- Dakshinamurti temple at Vellave near Taliparambu (Kannur District, Kerala), This is a swayambhoo temple (self evolved) of Dakshinamurthi. This temple is situated 4 km away from the famous Rajarajeshwara Temple, Taliparamba
Adiyogi
- Adiyogi – The Abode of Yoga is a 30,000 square foot space located at the Isha Institute of Inner-sciences, Tennessee, USA. It houses a 21 feet statue of Adiyogi Shiva (which is seen as representation of Dakshinamurti[11]), along with a Shivalinga.
- A 112 feet, South-facing Adiyogi Shiva statue (Adiyogi – The Source of Yoga) along with a linga called "Yogeshwar Linga". It is located at the Isha Yoga Center in Coimbatore, India. The South-facing Adiyogi is seen as a representation of Dakshinamurti, and is considered the Adi Guru or the first Guru.
Wednesday 20 September 2023
Fingers
The Jnana Mudra is interpreted in this way:- The thumb denotes the god and the index finger denotes the man. The other three fingers stand for the three congenital impurities of man viz. arrogance, illusion and bad deeds of the past births. When man detaches himself from these impurities, he reaches God. Another interpretation is that the other three fingers denote the three states of life: Jagruti (Fully awake through senses and mind), Swapna (Sleep state - When the mind is awake) and Sushupti (True-self - When the senses and mind go into soul - Atma). The Abhaya Mudra, a gesture with the hand lifted above thigh with palm facing out, fingers pointing, is interpreted as his grace upon his students. The rosary or the snake signifies tantric knowledge. The fire represents illumination, removing the darkness of ignorance.
Power
Dakshinamurti is portrayed as a powerful form brimming with
- ever-flowing bliss and
- supreme joy
Kusha or Scripts
his lower left hand holds a bundle of kusha grass or the scriptures.
https://www.google.com/search?q=kusha+grass
https://freeglobaluniversity.blogspot.com/search/label/Script
Ardhanari
He is depicted in the Ardhanari form. In Thirupulivanam, we can find Dakshinamurthy in the form of Ardhanariswara. This temple is on the Uthiramerur-Kanchipuram road, 5 km from Uthiramerur, near Chennai.
https://www.google.com/search?q=Thirupulivanam
Shrutisagar
In March 2007, a big temple of Lord Dakshinamurty (the first in Maharashtra) was created in the Shrutisagar Ashram, about 30 km from Pune.
Jnana
Yama
World Teacher
Ultimate
Shiva as a guru (teacher). He is regarded to be the personification of the supreme or the ultimate awareness, understanding, and knowledge.
https://www.google.com/search?q=Ultimate
https://www.google.com/search?q=ultimate+awareness+understanding+knowledge
Tuesday 19 September 2023
Morning Afternoon Evening Night
The deity at the famous Shiva temple in Vaikom town in Kottayam district of Kerala is worshipped as
- Dakshinamurti in the morning,
- Kirathamurthy in the afternoon
- Umamaheshwara in the evening.
- All in the Night
Monday 18 September 2023
Saptha Vigraha Moorthis
| Saptha Vigraha moorthis are the seven prime consorts in all Shiva temples located at seven cardinal points around the temple | ||
| Deity | Temple | Location |
| Shiva | Mahalingaswamy temple | Tiruvidaimarudur |
| Vinayaga | Vellai Vinayagar Temple | Thiruvalanchuzhi |
| Murugan | Swamimalai Murugan temple | Swamimalai |
| Nataraja | Natarajar temple | Chidambaram |
| Durga | Thenupuriswarar Temple | Patteswaram |
| Dakshinamurthy | Apatsahayesvarar Temple | Alangudi |
| Navagraha | Suryanar Kovil | Suryanar Kovil |