Sri Dhakshina Moorthi

Dakshinamurti, Saivite God of Learning

Dakshinamurti is the Saivite god of learning of South India. The image of the god Daksinamurti can be seen on a place on the south wall of the inner circumambulator passage of all the temples of Lord Siva in South India.

Dakshinamurti is the incarnation of Lord Siva as the preceptor of yoga, music and other sciences. In South India, he is regarded as the bestowal of the ultimate knowledge as per the Saivites. According to one explanation regarding the name `Dakshinamurti`, it is said that when Siva trained the sages (rishis) the science of yoga and knowledge (Jnana), he was seated in front of south and thus he was known as Dakshinamurti. The word `dakshina` in Sanskrit means south. Therefore, in most of the temples, the sculpture of this deity is found facing south.

The god Dakshinamurti is mostly seen in the form of a teacher of the scriptures (Shastras) and seated under a banyan tree on the skin of a tiger. According to the rules of the texts on iconography, this deity must have three eyes and four arms. The right hand of the god Dakshinamurti needs to be in the `Jnana Mudra` and the tips of the index finger and the thumb had to touch to form a ring. There should be some rishis beside him or in front of him, who were willing to learn from this great teacher. One demon named Apasmara Purusha, who represents ignorance, was shown under the feet of the god Dakshinamurti.

One more famous posture of the god Dakshinamurti is in the Yogic form. Here, he is shown in deep meditation with the legs bound with the body with the help of a band called the `yoga-patta`. One temple of the Pallava era of the 8th century A. D. represented the Yoga Dakshinamurti and it is one of the most well known temples of the god. This temple is situated in Kanchipuram of Tamil Nadu state. There are two other temples where the god Dakshinamurti is shown in the yogic posture. One of them is the Siva temple at Tiruvottriyur (Chennai) and at Nanjangodu in Karnataka.

The god Dakshinamurti is known as `Vinadhara Dakshinamurti` as teacher of music, both vocal and instrumental. In this form, he is shown holding a veena very gracefully. Few of the most beautiful pieces of `Vinadhara Dakshinamurti` can be found in the bronzes of Tamil Nadu. All of these belonged to the Chola age, although in most of them the veena is now missing. One of the rare and unique sculptures of Mridanga Dakshinamurti can be seen at Kazhugumalai near Madurai. The deity is usually worshipped on every Thursdays as it is linked with the planet Jupiter. He is also referred as `Guru Vaaram` since Dakshinamurti is regarded to be a very excellent guru (preceptor).

The well-known Advaita philosopher and preceptor, Adi Shankara composed one of the most famous prayers known as the `Dakshinamurti Stothram`. It is now chanted in South India almost everyday. The famous composer Muthuswami Dikshitar composed the song `Sri Daksbinamurti` in raga `Sankarabharanam`. Now, this song is frequently sung in Carnatic music concerts all over the world.
source: http://www.indianetzone.com/39/hindu_gods.htm