“Dakshinamurthy”- the form of Shiva facing south or Dakshina is the representation of the Lord as the supreme teacher or Guru. He who unveiled divine wisdom to Brahma and Vishnu, imparted the knowledge of Tantra to Parvati, he is the ultimate and primordial teacher or Adi Guru. Shaded by a Vata-vriksha or Banayan tree, a holy object in Hinduism and an Indian vision of the World Tree or tree of life, Dakshinamurthy in this bronze statue is engaged in imparting wisdom to the sages and ascetics who gather around him, with hands in Namaskar or the gesture of paying obeisance.
The form of Dakshinamurthy is adorned exquisitely, with a distinctive Jatabhara or hair ornamentation, embellished by a serpent, Ganga, and crescent moon. The ever-youthful countenance of Shiva is animated by a third eye and Tripunda, a serpent, and a round earring adorn his ears, a string of beads is his necklace, a Yajnopavita or sacred thread and a Udarbandha or belly belt adorn his torso and he wears a tiger skin garment.
In his four hands, Dakshinamurty carries a drum or drum symbolizing creation, Agni or fire as a source of awakening and annihilation, Veda and the mudra of Abhaya or fearlessness. Under his feet is Apasmara, the demon of ignorance, who is, unlike the trampling of Nataraja in Tandava, is only shadowed by the lotus foot of Dakshinamurthi. Above the Banyan tree sits a parrot, the great Shuka Deva, who is amongst the many receivers of Shiva-gyana (the knowledge of Shiva).
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