Day -98. “Om Shri Sai Dakshina Moorteye Namaha.”

          Shirdi Sai Ashtotramala –Meaning, Meditation and Miracle 

              Day -98. “Om Shri Sai Dakshina Moorteye Namaha.”

Meaning:

Humble salutation to Him who is the incarnation of Lord Shiva –One of the Trimurthies (Shirdi Sai Trust).

Meditation:

Ramana Maharishi wrote: “One meaning of Dakshina (in Sanskrit) is efficient, another meaning is ‘in the heart on the right side of the body’. ‘Amurthy’ means ‘formlessness’.  Dakshinamurthy Sthothram in Sanskrit means’ Hymns in praise of formlessness (Brahmam) sitting on the right side of the heart’.” (Letter 89)

Shiva, in His depiction as Dakshinamurthy, is the embodiment of “Gnan” or Total Awareness and is praised as the Greatest of all Gurus.  He is the Knowledge and thus can dispense Knowledge as Dakshinamurthy. Our ancient Rishis and Sages realised the Paramatman as the Great Guru. To materialise the concept, they adored Shiva as Dakshinamurthy, sitting under a banyan tree, facing south, on a seat covered by the skin of a deer, with His left leg crossed over the right leg resting on the Asura of ignorance, with A Gnana Mudra of the right hand and Abhaya Mudra of the left. We see the murthy of Dakshinamurthy while doing parikrama  on the south facing wall of KarbaGraham  of Lord Shiva almost invariably in all Shiva Temples.  Dakshinamurthy provokes us to the  thoughts of yogic meditation as shown in Gnana Mudra,(The symbol of wisdom) the Atman (Index finger) seeking Paramatman (Thumb), separating itself from “the Arrogance(Ego),Illusion (Maya) and past deeds (Karma)”.This  material depiction is indeed the extension of the spiritual concept of the soul seeking total wisdom or awareness thus realising and identifying itself with Brahmam, God or Guru, for whom it longs for and  whom it belongs to. What a great understanding and material presentation by Rishis!  It appears when Acharyas linked the prayers to Dakshinamurthy to Thursday (Guruwar) and Gurupoornima, they in fact emphasised the need of a Guru to devotee to achieve the state of Total Awareness by the Self and its identification with Brahmam, God or Guru.

Though, Sai Baba looked like a man, three cubits and a half in length, still He dwelt in the hearts of all. Inwardly, He was unattached and indifferent but outwardly, He longed for mass welfare. Though, inwardly, an abode of peace. He looked outwardly restless. Inwardly, He had the state of Brahma; outwardly He seemed engrossed in the world. Sometimes He looked on all with affection and at times He threw stones at them; sometimes He scolded them, while at times He embraced them and was calm, composed, tolerant, and well- balanced.  He always abided and was engrossed in the Self, and was well- disposed towards His Bhaktas. He always sat on one Asan and never travelled. His ‘satka’ was a small stick, which He always carried in His hand. He was calm and thought-free. He never cared for wealth and fame, and lived on alms. Such a life he led. He always uttered “Allah Malik” (God is the real owner). Entire and unbroken was His love for the Bhaktas. He was the mine or store- house for self-knowledge and full of Divine Bliss. Such was the Divine Form of Sai Baba, boundless, endless and undifferentiated. One principle, which envelopes the whole universe (from a stone to Brahma), incarnated in Sai Baba. The really meritorious and fortunate people got this treasure- grove in their hands, while those people, who not knowing the real  worth of Sai Baba, took Him to be a mere human being, were indeed unfortunate.( Shri Sai Satcharita- Ch:10).

Sitting in a simple Masjid in Shirdi, a small village, wearing a Kafni and the leg crossed, on His throne of stone, He taught the world the principles of total devotion to a Guru.  Sai Bhajans resonate across the world on Thursdays.  He is Dakshina Moortaye.