DAKSHINA MURTY SHIVA

 

 

Bhagavan Shiva is generally depicted as destructive power among the trinity- while Brahma creates, and Vishnu protects the Universe. Similarly, Shiva is worshipped in a symbolic form- Shiva Lingam. Shiva shrines are the oldest in our land. However, there is a tradition of worshipping him as a benefactor and Guru. This form is Sri Dakshinamurty, with several images installed in Shiva temples mostly in Southern India. Some scholars identify Yogishvara image in Ellora with this form of Shiva.

There are images of Dakshinamurty in many temples more in South India than elsewhere. He has 4 arms, holding Akshamala and Pustakam, and snakes in other two. A Stotram attributed to Adi Shankaracharya describes him as:

चित्रं वटतरो.....  वृद्धाः शिष्याः गुरुर्युवा |

गुरोस्तु मौनं व्याख्यानं शिष्यास्तु छिन्न संशायाः |

It is indeed surprising to see while disciples assembled under the banyan tree are elderly, the teacher is young and his way of teaching is Silence, clearing all doubts of disciples.

Another interesting anecdote of Lord Shiva, in meditation under Yogavata vriksham is described in 4^th Skandham of Srimad Bhagavatam:

तस्मिन् महायोगमये मुमुक्षु शरणे सुराः |

ददृशुः शिवमासीनं त्यक्तामर्शमिवान्तकम् ||

(Srimad Bhagavatam, Sk 4^th, ch. 7, 7 )

After destroying Daksha Yajnam, Rishis saw Lord Shiva, sitting under Yogavata Vriksha, like Lord of Death, as if he is relaxing after dissolution.  Several prominent Maharshis gathered there to listen his exposition of Sacred lore.

However, Puranic stories connected to Bhagavan Shiva have no reference to his Avatar as a Guru, since he is destructive in nature of all evil forces. Teaching in silence however, is an attribute of Lord Buddha, who is termed as ‘avachanam Buddhavachansam’, which clearly says Words of Buddha is Silence. Of course, his disciples are much elderly to him while he was a young man.

There is an earlier commentary on Dakshina Murty Stotram by Adi Shankaracharya’s direct disciple Sri Sureshvaracharya himself, who headed his Pitha at Sringeri, Karnataka after Shankaracharya. His commentary refers more to tenets of Advaita Vedanta, than this form of Shiva.

There are many temples dedicated to Lord Shiva in South and North of India. However, the image of Shiva as Dakshina Murty is worshipped only in South, while there is a Shiva Lingam named Dakshina Murty at the famous shrine of Mahakaleshvar, Ujjayini. Dakshina Murty appears in more than form and posture. At some places, he sports Veena, has Parvati by his side, reclines like Anantashayana, a form of Vishnu.

According to researchers there are several variables in the forms of Dakshina Murty, like Dharma Vyakhyana Murty, Veenadhara Murty, Jnana Murty, Yoga Murty, Kamadahana Murty, based on episodes from Shaiva lore and Purana texts. In all such forms the Lord is seen seated under Banyan tree (Yoga Vatavriksha). Dakshina Murty means God of Wisdom, clarity, and blessing devotees with knowledge of scriptures.

Dakshina Murty images are traced as early as 650 CE, some images called aalamarachelvan and takkinan in Tamil land, during Sangam era. However, such images on Rajagopurams are a little recent as late as 300-400 years, like those on the main tower of Meenakshi temple, Madurai. They can be seen commonly in constructions in later Chola and Pandian rules in South.

In most of above images the Lord is seated in Virasana, Maharajalilasana, in a grand manner with or without attendants. Interesting enough, an image of ardhanari form- with the left part portrayed as Parvati, his consort and right, Dakshina Murty himself. A host of Rishis, his attendants like Virabhadra, 9 rishis on either side along with Agastya. Perhaps, only one such image exists according to studies.

Dakshina Murty is placed at a separate corner of Shiva shrines, keeping his right feet above left, crushing a demon Apasmaara, under him. Normally devotees get their kids’ initiation to learning Alphabets (aksharabhyasam) here, and also pray for removal of Gurugraha Dosham in their horoscope on advice of astrologers.  

Normally, he appears in Meditative pose, teaching many Rishis, some closing their palms in reverence to a Guru ( Anjali bandha). In all such structures of a Dhyana Murty, we see Shiva holding torches on upper hands, and a Japa Mala and books at the lower hands, with four hands in all. Regular features of Shiva with Damaru, Shoola, Pasha and snake around neck are absent. He is in an ideal state of a Meditative Yogi.

However, Dakshina Murty is eulogised in few stotras, Kalpas, with a Dakshinamurty Upanishad in his name, teaching Advaita Vedanta. His leelas find place in Sangam period’s literature in Tamil. He is popular as Lord of wisdom even in several places of worship in Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka in several Shiva shrines.

 

Dakshina Murty image in a temple, Kerala.

UGRA NARASIMHA TEMPLE - KADIRI

  

Sri Ugra Narasimha Swamy temple at Kadiri in Ananta Puram District of Andhra Pradesh, 176 KMs from Bengaluru, has been a house deity of many Telugus, Kannadigas and others in Andhra and Karnataka regions. The grand old temple in this hilly region where several Indian Mulberry trees ( Khadira)  existed in the thick forest.

The town Kadiri bears its name from the Sanskritized version - Khadira, has a recorded history of at least 650 years. There are a few inscriptions on the walls of this temple in Telugu. One such on the southern wall of the shrine records that this was built by one Narasa Nayaka, a Mandalik of Bukka I of early Vijayanagar dynasty dated 1332 AD.

This temple has the main deity Ugra Narasimha, 4^th Avatar of Lord Vishnu, to kill Hiranyakahipu, while his son Prahalada was his great devotee. The black Saligrama  stone image has 16 hands, 8 on either sides, holding Shankha, Chakra and other weapons. Prahlada the prince,  stands with folded hands on his right. Narasimha here holds his enemy Hiranyakashipu ( the demon with golden hued hairs) on his lap, and peeling of his intestine with his nails. This story from the 7^th Skandha of Srimad Bhagavatam narrates how the demon proclaimed himself as supreme, and his son Prahlada,  born to Kayadu, his queen disagreed to follow his arrogant father, as he was a staunch devotee of Lord Vishnu, and was taught Vaishnava practices by the sage Narada, when his queen  Kayadu was carrying him in her womb. When the demon  Hiranyakashipu’s misdeeds on his own son Prahlada, trying  to kill him, and several people of his kingdom reached intolerable, Lord Vishnu manifested from a pillar in his court hall, and saved his devotee.

The inscriptions in the temple belong  mostly to the Vijayanagar period and another of them, dated 1333,  records the gift of a crown  jewel to the idol by one Gopanna,   an officer under Kempanna Odeyar, probably a  contemporary of the great Sri Vaishnava saint, Vedanta Desikar. Another   inscription of 1529 A.D. mentions  the development of the temple by a prominent ruler   of Tadipatri,  Ramanayaka, who  constructed the Vasanta mandapam for the summer festivities, when the Annuual Rathotsavam,  in Vaishakha Month ( March-April)  occurs. adjacent to the prakaram, called Veyyi Kambhala  mandapam, a hall with one thousand pillars,  in which mass feeding is done on festivities of the temple. This is built in Dravidian style with intricate carvings of Dashavataras of Vishnu and stories from Vishnu Purana and Bhagavatam.   Earlier, Krishnadevaraya and his son Tirumalaraya had modified this shrine.  The temple in its present state was renovated a couple of times, the prominent one in 1953.

One such occasion is special Abhishekam ceremony to Lord Narasimha on the day of Swati star, considered as star of his manifestation.   The temple car  is believed  to be the biggest in weight in South India  has erotic carvings. The present  temple was built by  Ranganayudu, a Palegar of Pathapatnam, from the far away Srikakulam, to show his gratitude to the lord for blessing him with a son.

A big banyan tree, near this town has entered Guinness Book of world records for its height. This town has great Telugu Poet Vemana’s Ashram, churches and Masjids as Muslims live here in sizeable numbers.

A Kannada Vaishnava poet  Thippanarya,   is the author of  the popular Hanumadvilasa, a poem, dedicated his poem to Khadri Narasimha,  which was popularly sung during the month of Shravana  and Saturdays,  till recently in Kolar and adjoining districts of Karnataka. He lived in Gudibande, now in Chikkaballapur Disrict as an Accountant with a chieftain in about 1785, and was a staunch devotee of Lord Ugra Narasimha of Kadiri.

He was very humble and kind towards the poor farmers of this semi arid region, and exempted taxes from them during the drought and bad times. This made the Reddy chieftain of the place furious, who put him in jail. He is supposed to have composed Hanumandvilasa, in praise of Hanuman, during his 41  days of imprisonment, when a monkey released him from the jail. This poem used to be sung in houses and temples  during evening Bhajans,  in my childhood.

Temple Timings :  6:30 to 12:45 & 04:30 to 8:30

Best season to visit: All months of the year.

Car Festival & Narasimha Jayanti: March/April- Vaishakha month of Hindu calendar.

Special Abhisheka: Swati star.

How to reach there: By road on Bengaluru- Hyderabad Highway, take a deviation after Gudibande, as shown by the Name plate. Kadiri has a kaccha approachable road from Highway, of 9 Kms.  Drive carefully.  Lodges are available nearby.

 

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UDUPI SRI KRISHNA

 

Sri Krishna statue at Udupi was conscrated by Acharya Madhva, after establishing a firm foundation for his Dvaita Philosophy, travelling across Bharat twice. His clarity of thought about the Supreme Brahman as Vishnu, His supremacy over other dinities was an epoch making appraoach in 13th century. 

The Salirama shila idol of Balakrishna, was dicovered by Madhva near sea shore, Malpe, Udupi. He personally brought this wonderful image of Krishna, which was earlier at Rukmini's personal garden, Dwaraka. It was lying in the sea for a long time, which only Madhva could visualise. This image is a bit unusual form of Krishna, as an 6 year old boy, standing with a post in his hand, as if to guard the cattle. 

The Dhyansloka says: Bhyshmmi- Madhva kararchitam- Bhagavan Krishna worshipped eralier by Rukmini, and now by Madhva at Udupi . The image is worn out due to years of salt contact in sea, hence not clear. Moreover, due to Abhisheka each day with Milk, Honey and curds have made it corroded, otherwise it is a beautiful image of a boy smiling. 

There were earlier rumours about the identity of image as Skanda, Devi and so on, which is utter lie and fantacy. It is Dandadhari Krishna, in his childhood. He has marks of Upavita, crown of a prince, and ear rings.