Adi Sankara's Sri Dakshinamurthy Stotram

Please see pravachanam of Sri Sundara Chaitanya Swami Garu in telugu for Sri Dakshinamurthy Stotram in the below link.

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Daskhinamurthy+Stotram+Volume1&aq=f

Source: http://www.hindupedia.com/en/Sri_Dakshinamurthy_Stotram

Translated by P.R.Ramachander

Adhi Sankara has written very many great Stotras (prayers) but here is a unique prayer, which is not only a prayer but the summary of all the philosophy that he has taught. Even during his time, this stotra was difficult to comprehend and it became necessary for one of his disciples, Sureshwaracharya to write a commentary called Manasollasa to this stotra. There are large number of books and commentaries on this commentary itself.

Mouna Vyakhya prakatitha, para,
Brahma thathwam yuvanam,
Varshishtha anthevasad rishiganai,
Ravrutham brahma nishtai,
Acharyendram kara kalihtha chin,
Mudram ananda roopam,
Swathmaramam mudhitha vadanam,
Dakshinamurthim eede.

I praise and salute that Dakshinamrthy,
Who faces the south,
Who explains the true nature of the supreme Brahman,
Through his state of silence,
Who is young in looks,
Who is surrounded by disciples who are old Sages,
Whose minds are fixed on Brahman,
Who is the greatest of teachers,
Who shows the Chinmudhra by his hand,
Who is personification of happiness,
Who is in the state of extreme joy within himself,
And who has a smiling face.

Note: Sri Sundara Chaitanya Swami says Dumb people should have also have become gurus if by silence only doubts get eradicated. So it means we need to listen carefully in silent mind without having any other thoughts and do sravanam,mananam and nidhidyasanam by conventration.As time is dependent on him so it means he looks young.

Sri Dakshinamurthy Stotram was first told to Sanaka,Sanatana, Sanandana,Sanatkumara who are the sons of Lord Brahma By Lord shiva(Dakshinamurthy).Adi Guru from which gnana started by Dakshinamurthy(Siva). Please note that Gnana is never created and gnana is eternal. Example: Even before newton discovered our earth is having gravitational force and only newton discovered it and not invented.

In Hand as known thumb finger is very important and base and other four fingers have no power without thumb finger.

In our hand the middle,ring and little fingers represent walking,dream,deep sleep states. 4th finger(Index Finger) i.e pointing finger represents ego(jiva).When we obverse jiva always tries to be close with the other 3 fingers but not with thumb finger.

Chinmudra means hand gesture in which the first finger is kept at the root of the thumb, the last three fingers are unfolded which means jiva mixes with thumb finger which is paramatma as thumb finger is required for any operation with hand.

Below article gives more information about Chin Mudra.

http://www.hathayoga.co.za/mudras.htm

Chin Mudra

This gesture symbolises the connected nature of human consciousness. The circle formed by the index finger and thumb represents the true goal of yoga – the merging of the individual soul with the universal soul, or the soul of God. The nail of the index finger is placed into the first joint of the thumb. The last three fingers always face down towards the earth in this mudra. It is a gesture of receiving. When the finger touches the thumb a circuit is produced which allows the energy that would normally dissipate into the environment to travel back into the body, and up to the brain.

Sri Sundara Chaitanya Swami says Vedanta is for one who thinks he is bound and no age,sex factors come into consideration.

In dreams even though there is no external light,sun,moon and though we close our eyes we are still seeing our dream by our own light(chaitanyam).We are not the body also we are only observer of the body but not the body as we observe our body growing old etc...


Viswam darpana drusyamana nagari,
Thulyam nijantargatham,
Pasyannathmani mayaya bahirivoth,
Bhutham yatha nidraya,
Ya sakshath kuruthe prabodha samaye,
Swathmanameva dwayam,
Thasmai sri guru murthaye nama idham,
Sree Dakshinamurthaye., 2

Similar to the image of a town as seen in the mirror,
When one sees the image of the world within him,
The world appears as if it is outside.
It is similar to his seeing due to illusion,
During the state of sleep,
That the one real fact appears as many different truths,
And he realizes,when he wakes up and sees the reality,
That he is really the one and only one soul.
Salutation to the God facing the south,
Who is the greatest teacher.

The above stanza tells us that the world which is outside us is same as our soul but we see them as different entities due to the veil of ignorance. As soon as we wake up, we realize that the dream is false and even while seeing our image in the mirror, we know that we are not seeing us in the mirror but our image. When we get knowledge from the guru we are in the wakeful state without the veil of ignorance.

Note: Sri Sundara Chaitanya Swami says Seeing two different things is not Duality(Dvaitam) but not having bhava that all beings are one and the same is Duality(Dvaitam).Here in this stanza sleep mentioned is dreams.In dreams we also dream relations,sorrows etc.If many pots are there to know all are made with mud then it is advaita else if we differentiate then it is dvaita.

As known Ramana Maharshi said many times that walking state and dream state are same.

As sundara chaitanya swami says,in dreams we create the world(drishti-srishti vada) but in waking state world is already created and we see the world.(srishti-drishti vada).everyone dreams are different but waking state is same to everyone.

But our mind is the same in dreams and waking states which is important. So consciousness is our real nature.Knower,known and knowledge i.e subject and object are all false.

Also our body and mind and five senses are also objects which is important as we are knowing about changes in our body and five senses.As in deep sleep we are alive though there is no mind,body,world.

So world is in us rather than we in the world.

Fore more details i suggest to read Adi Shankara's Drik Drusya Vivekam.

http://prashantaboutindia.blogspot.com/2010/03/shankaracharyas-drik-drisya-vivekam.html

Note: Sri Sundara Chaitanya Swami says in english "ok" means only krishna :-)

Beejasyanthari vankuro jagadhidham,
Prang nirvikalpam puna,
Mayakalpitha desa kala kalanaa,
Vaichithrya chithrikrutham,
Mayaveeva vijrumbhayathyapi maha,
Yogeeva yah swechaya,
Thasmai sri guru murthaye nama idham,
Sree dakshinamurthaye., 3

Like the germ inside the seed is its part,
But becomes different after development
The many places and time which are before us,
Are drawn by illusion in the board of life in a peculiar manner,
By a great savant or an expert Siddha,
Who can create them as per their will,
Salutation to the God facing the south,
Who is the greatest teacher.

When the net of illusion is lifted and when we reach the stage of manifestation, we would find that what we think as different is but one and the same.

Note: Sri Sundara Chaitanya Swami says with Dakshinamurthy Stotram we are clear that time and space are not real and hence we cannot accept creation has been done in 7 or 6 or N number of days and that god created water on first day etc etc..Also it seems it was written in that book that god was not clear which he has created in the first 3 days and hence he was ensuring again.6th day it seems that god created sun.It is false theory as without sun if do we know that 5 days are passed? These theories and those books and followers are blind and wrong as known time and space are not real.Person who are intelligent will not believe in these false theroies.Also it seems that it was written that people who don't believe will go to hell which is again false propaganda.

Because though all religions accept god is creator but no one clearly tells what is the material with which he created no one knows. if we accept god created universe with some material like plastic then we need to accept plastic are there before only.

But if we think who created our dreams so we are clear that only our mind is responsible for creation of dreams and waking states but we cannot accept srishti-drishti vada.

Also we cannot accept that god is changing and he has been changed to world etc.Because we say it is only superimposition we are seeing like rope and snake.So only brahman only exists and nothing exists like explained above already chinmudra in our hand where thumb finger is seperate and not attached to any states.

Even Einstein theory also says that time and space are relative.

Yasyaiva sphuranam sadathmakamasath,
Kalparthagam bhasathe,
Sakshaath thathwamaseethi veda vachasa,
Yobodhyathyasrithhan,
Yath saksht karanath bhavenna punara,
Aavrithir bhavambhonidhow,
Thasmai sri guru murthaye nama idham,
Sree dakshinamurthaye., 4

He who exists as the real light of truth,
And shines in the false world of appearance,
And He who teaches disciples the great saying,
“Thou art that” after realizing its import,
Gets away from this cycle of life and death.
Salutation to the God facing the south,
Who is the greatest teacher.

Note: Sri Sundara Chaitanya Swami says “Thou art that” is the brahmastram and ultimate weapon.In sanskrit it means "Tat Tvam Asi". In advaita it means absolute equality of 'tat', the Ultimate Reality, Brahman, and 'tvam', the individual self, jiva.

Nanachidhra ghato dhara sthitha maha,
Deepa prabha bhaswaram,
Jnanam yasya thu chakshuradhi karana,
Dwara bahi spandathe,
Jaanameethi tham eva baandham anubathi,
Yethath samastham jagat,
Thasmai sri guru murthaye nama idham,
Sree dakshinamurthaye., 5

Like the light emanating from a lamp,
Kept in a pot(kunda) with many holes,
Goes out in all directions,
Similarly In the person in whom the wisdom goes out
Through the openings of ear, eye , mouth and thought,
And when that person realizes that ‘I know myself”,
This whole universe shines after Him alone,
Who shines in the consciousness as the knower.
Salutation to the God facing the south,
Who is the greatest teacher.

Our body prevents us from seeing the truth(the light from outside) that we are the Brahman and lets out light though the sensory organs and makes us deceive ourselves by feeling that we are happy. This simile of a pot with holes for the body occurs in many places in Indian philosophy.

Note: Sri Sundara Chaitanya Swami says who speaks spritiual technical terms like karma etc(edo naa karma sir ani aneevallu) without knowing meaning also is fine and we should never blame them.

He blamed people who says all religions are same and he says people who tells these are one who donot know basics in religion.But he says everyone should live together peacefully.

Deham pranam api indryanyapi chalaam,
Budhim cha soonyam vidhu,
Stree balandha jadopamasthvaha mithi,
Brandha brusam vadhina,
Maya sakthi vilasa kalpitha maha,
Vyamoha samharine,
Thasmai sri guru murthaye nama idham,
Sree dakshinamurthaye., 6

Those great philosophers , who think that,
The body, the soul and the fickle intellect,
The concept of emptiness and all other nothingness,
Are nothing but themselves,
Are similar to the women children , blind and the ignorant.
It is only He who can destroy, this veil of ignorance,
And wake us up from this state of deceit.
Salutation to the God facing the south,
Who is the greatest teacher.

This is a sample of the approach of negation in identifying the truth about the concept of self. Senses, the body etc cannot be the absolute truth as they are transient.

Note: Sri Sundara Chaitanya Swami strictly condemns Carvaka school of thought.He questions that if body is really atma why does the dead body does not speak and why cannot we stop our death?

In budhdism one sect called "kshanikha vignana vadam" means atma is only temporary means if i see a flower then i get flower knowledge and later once we forget flower then knowledge is given and so is atma.

In budhdism another sect called "sunyavadam" where they believe that atma is sunyam like deep sleep where nothing remains.

Sri Sundara Chaitanya swami condenms all sects of buddhism though he tells that buddhism is better when compared to other religions.

Rahu grastha divakarendu sadrusho,
Maya samachadanath,
Sanamthra karanopa samharanatho,
Yo abhoot sushuptha pumaan,
Pragaswapsaamithi prabodha samaye,
Yaa prathyabignayathe,
Thasmai sri guru murthaye nama idham,
Sree dakshinamurthaye., 7

Similar to the Sun when being masked by the serpent Rahu,
Knows that it was existing, once the eclipse is over
That man whose senses are suppressed
When he is asleep,
Because of the veil of illusion,
Realizes that he was in the state of sleep,
When he wakes up.
Salutation to the God facing the south,
Who is the greatest teacher.

Similar the sun existing even when there is eclipse, we exist when we are sleeping. This is denial of the Buddhist theory that, when we are asleep there is nothingness.

Note: Sri Sundara Chaitanya Swami says to say we slept happily in deep sleep means we should have experienced it to say we slept happily so sunyam concept of Buddhist is denied completely.Therefore we are sat-chit-ananda as i am existing in all threee states i.e dream,deep sleep,waking state.Therefore i am witness of the 3 states.

Note : Sri Sundara Chaitanya Swami says experience is not really required and only jnana is required which helps to eradicate ignorance.

Our life is always with combination of questions and answers only.In our childhood our parents ask various questions like they ask us to recognise who is father,mother,pen...etc etc..

Later we start asking questions like mother,where did father go outside? amma is food ready? or husband asks wife what is lunch today etc etc.

All our experiences are difference like we have diff experience when we lose our wealth and our experience is diff when we gain more health and our experience is diff when we fail in exams.But all these experiences are experienced by us.

Balyadishwapi jagaradhadishu thadha,
Sarva sva avasthasthaswapi,
Vyavrutha swanuvarthamanamaha,
Mithyanth sphurantham sada,
Svathmaanam pragatikarothi bajatham,
Yo mudraya bhadraya,
Thasmai sri guru murthaye nama idham,
Sree dakshinamurthaye., 8

Salutations to him who shines and exhibits,
Himself by the beatific Chinmudhra of the hand,
That he exists within the humans as self,
Forever and non changing,
Even during the changing states of childhood, youth and old age
And even during the states of sleep, dream and wakefulness.
Salutation to the God facing the south,
Who is the greatest teacher.

The truth as represented by the concept of Brahman, exists always.

In dreams we have only bhokta and no kartha because it is only mind who dreams.

Sri Sundara Chaitanya Swami says one of the big scripture in the world is told in dreams by god.

Brahmins are called Shastri because he is the knower of Shastras.

Viswam pasyathi karya karana thaya,
Swa swami sambandatha,
Sishyacharya thaya thadaiva pithru,
Puthradhyathmana bedatha,
Swapne Jagrathi va ya esha purusho,
Maya Paribramitha,
Thasmai sri guru murthaye nama idham,
Sree dakshinamurthaye., 9

The world sees as cause and effect,
The differences between us and our lord,
The distinction between teacher and the taught,
The distinction between father and son,
And so the man is confused by illusion,
And believes in these differences,
During the times of dream and wakefulness.
Salutation to the God facing the south,
Who is the greatest teacher.

The ignorance of the truth because of the veil of ignorance Maya is reemphasized.

Bhoorambaamsya anilo ambhara,
Maharnadho himamasu puman,
Ithyabhathi characharathmakamidham,
Yasyaiva murthyashtakam,
Nanyath kinchana vidhyathe vimrusathaam,
Yasmath parasmath vibho,
Thasmai sri guru murthaye nama idham,
Sree dakshinamurthaye., 10

To the sake of which supreme Brahman,
The universe is shining as self,
Which is Movable and immovable, with its aspects?
Of water, fire, air, space,
The sun, moon and the individual soul,
And also to those who examine the truth behind,
The meaning of this universe and find,
That it Consists of nothing but,
The God who is every where.
Salutation to the God facing the south,
Who is the greatest teacher.

Sarvathmathvamithi sphutikruthamitham,
Yasmadamushamin sthave,
Thenasya sravanath thadartha mananath,
Dyanascha Sankeerthanath,
Sarvathmathva maha vibhuthi sahitham,
Syadheeswarasthvam svatha,
Siddhyeth thath punarashtadha parinatham,
Chaisvaryamvayhatham., 11

The concept of the Athma,
Which is explained in this poem of praise,
Hearing which, understanding which,
Meditating which and singing which,
One would attain the state of the godliness,
And the great state of self realization,
And also you would get the eight powers of occult,
Without any problems in between.

Appendix

The following three stanzas as well as the first stanza are chanted after the main stotra:-

Chitram Vata tharor mole vruddha,
Sishya, Guror Yuva,
Gurostu mounam vykhyanam,
Sishyasthu china samsaya

It is strange to see,
The very old disciples,
And the very young teacher,
Who sit under a banyan tree,
With the teacher always observing silence,
And the students getting all the doubts cleared.

Om nama pranavarthaya,
Suddha jnanaika moorthaye nama,
Nirmalaya prasanthaya,
Sri Dakshinamurthaye nama.

Salutations to that Dakshinamurthy,
Who is the meaning of the pranava, “om”,
Who is the personification of unalloyed wisdom,
Who is crystal clear in his thought,
And who is the epitome of peace.

Gurave sara lokaanam,
Bishaje bhava roginaam,
Nidhaye sarva vidhyanam,
Sri Dakshinamurthaye nama.

Salutations to that Dakshinamurthy,
Who is the teacher of the entire world,
Who is the doctor to those,
Afflicted by the disease of birth and death,
And who is the treasure hose of all knowledge.