Upanishads

Dakshinamurti Upanishad

Krishnayajurveda
group of Upanishads - Shaiva (Shaivite)

Om! May He protect us both together; may He nourish us both together;
May we work together with great energy,
May our studies be energetic and effective;
May we not quarrel with each other (or hate anyone).
Om! May there be Peace within me!
May there be Peace in my surroundings!
May there be Peace in the forces that act upon me!

1. Om. In Brahma-varta (Land of Brahma), under a banyan tree called maha-bhandira, many sages, including Shaunaka, assembled to perform the satra fire sacrifice. They approached the long-lived Markandeya, holding the sacrificial fire, and asked him, "How do you manage to be a chira-jivi (one who is immortal), and how do you always remain in a state of bliss?"

He replied, "It is because of knowing the supreme secret (parama-rahasya) of the principle/truth (tattva) of Shiva."

What is this supreme secret - knowing the truth of Lord Shiva?

Who is the god there? What are the mantras? What is this chant? Because of fidelity (as a manifestation of devotion)? What is this means of knowledge? What is this instrument. Who is sacrificed? What is this time? What is this place?

He said, "That which indirectly made Shiva, whose head (mukha) faces south (dakshina). This is the supreme secret of knowing the essence of Lord Shiva who ultimately rejoices and shines in the bliss of his bliss, taking everything into himself or into that deity (deva). Here are the verses of the secret of the mantra. Sage Brahma is the author of the Dakshinamurti mantra for Medha. Gayatri is the verse. The deity is right-faced. Placing the limbs as per the mantra. Say "Om aadau namah".

Then the position of the Lord. After saying the mantra "Dakshina" one should ascend the steps to the idol (murti).

2. It is by this secret philosophy that Shiva who is Dakshinamurti becomes such that he is not visible to others. He is that God who at the time of the last deluge keeps everything else within himself and shines due to the enjoyment of his own spirit. The secret mantras about him are: the sage is Brahma, the meter is Gayatri and the deity for this mantra is Dakshinamurti.

The first mantra of 24 letters: after saying "om", say "Namo" and then "Bhagavate Dakshinamurti", then the fourth form of "asmad" namely "Mahyam", then "medham Pragnam", then the wind root "ya" added with "ccha", followed by the name of the wife of the fire god "svaha". This is the mantra of 24 letters. It is "Om Namo Bhagavate Dakshinamurtaye Mahyam, Medham Pragnam Prayacha Svaha!"

3. Then dhyanam (meditation). I salute him who is white as crystal, who holds in his hands a string of pearl beads, a pot of nectar which is a form of knowledge, and the mudra (symbol) of wisdom, who associates himself with a snake, who wears the moon on his head and who wears various types of ornaments.

4. The second mantra of nine letters: First pronounce "Om", then the first vowel with visarga and at the end the entire panchakshari (five-syllable) with visarga at the end, and this gives the navakshari mantra (a mantra of nine Sanskrit letters-syllables). This is "Om Aam Aa Shivaya Nama Om!"

5. Then dhyanam. May the three-eyed god who does only good, who holds the sign of protection, the deer and the axe in three hands and keeps the fourth hand on his knee, who has tied the snake to his body, who shines white as milk, who sits under the banyan tree and who is surrounded by sages like Suka, grant us purity of our consciousness.

6. Initiation with the Brahmarshi mantra. While repeating the mantra "brunam", one should repeat the mantra "maya" and "vagbhavam". After uttering the mantra "Dakshina", one should climb the steps to the idol (murti).

Third mantra: Add "Brum Nama", "Maya Bhija", "Vagbhava Bhija", "Dakshinamurtaye" and "Jnanam Dehi Swaha" to Om. The mantra will be: "Om Broom, Namo Hrim Im Dakshinamurtaye Jnanam Dehi Swaha!"

7. Give me knowledge, and after that I must approach the fire. This eighteenth Manu is sanctified in all the Vedic mantras.

8. Then dhyanam. May the serpent-like Lord Dakshinamurti in his real form, whose body is white due to the application of sacred ash, who wears a crescent moon on his head (or moon-faced, i.e. with a round face), who has folded the fingers of one of his hands in jnana-mudra (symbol of wisdom), holds in his hands a chain of beads, a vina (musical instrument) and a book, who wears all ornaments, who wears the skin of an elephant, who resembles the meditating Rama, who sits on the throne of expounding wisdom, and who is served by great sages, always protect us.

9. We should see that lamp of wisdom, which burns with renunciation as oil, with devotion as a wick, and which shines in the full vessel of the state of awakening.

10. In the beginning of creation, Lord Brahma prayed to this Dakshinamurti and gained the ability to create beings and became very happy. He was blessed by getting what he wanted. Therefore this Brahma became a devotee and also one who deserves our devotion.

11. He who understands this philosophy of Shiva with understanding will be freed from all his sins. Those who actually know this will attain salvation.

Om! May He protect us both together; may He nourish us both together;
May we work together with great energy,
May our studies be vigorous and effective;
May we not quarrel with each other (or hate anyone).
Om! Let there be Peace in me!
Let there be Peace in my surroundings!
Let there be Peace in the forces that act upon me!

Thus ends the Dakshinamurti Upanishad, which belongs to the Krishnayajurveda.