This is one of the forms of Siva. Siva is depicted as sitting on a seat under a banyan tree. His right leg is placed on a demon lying on the ground. His left leg is folded and placed on the seat. Four sages surround Him. He is instructing them on the absolute truth, without opening his mouth, but through his signs. The index finger of His right hand is bent and touching the tip of his thumb. The other three fingers are stretched apart. This sign is interpreted in this way:- The thumb denotes the God and the index finger denotes the man. The other three fingers stand for the three congenital impurities of man viz. arrogance, illusion and bad deeds of the past births. When man detaches himself from these impurities, he reaches God. This article is about the Hindu God. ...

The Sanskrit word Dakshinamurthy literally means the figure facing south. In every Siva temple the stone image of Dakshinamurthy is installed, facing south, on the southern circumambulatory path around the sanctum sanctorum. Since this figure is in meditative posture, devotees prefer this part of the temple to others to meditate.

Dakshinamurthy Ashtakam by Sankaracharya is a laudatory hymn for this form of Siva. Sri Adi Sankara Shri Shankaracharya, Adhi Shankaracharya, or Adi Shankara (the first Shankara in his lineage), reverentially called Bhagavatpada Acharya (the teacher at the feet of Lord), Shankara (approximately 509- 477 BC) [1] was the most famous Advaita philosopher who had a profound influence on the growth of Hinduism through...