Dakshinamurti Upanishad

The Upanishad is structured as a single chapter with 20 verses.^[5][6] The text opens with a prelude, wherein Vedic sages including Sanaka approach sage Markandeya, with firewood in hand,^{[note 1]} and ask him, "how are you so blissful, what is the secret behind your long content life?"^[16][14] Markandeya answers that it is the knowledge of the secret of Shiva, which is knowing the Reality. The sages ask back, what is this Reality? what is the means to it, what is the aid to that knowledge, who is the deity, what offerings, how should one devote oneself to it, at what time and how?^[16][17]

Shiva is the Dakshinamukha, states the text through Markandeya, he as deity is the aid, he is the one into whom the universe will dissolve and into whom all will be absorbed back, he is who shines, he is inherently blissful and happy because he knows his true nature.^[18]

After the prelude, the first three verses of the text describes the iconography of Dakshinamurti, as being of silver color, moon crested near his hair, seated in yoga posture, holding in his various hands a rosary, a vessel of amrita (nectar of eternal life), a book symbolizing knowledge, the Shiva serpent, his forehead and body marked with holy ash, with axe, deer and sages surrounding him, as he sits under a banyan-fig tree.^[19][20]

The verse 4 of the text represents his alternate iconography as holding a vina (musical instrument).^[21] Dakshinamurti, asserts verse 5 of the text, is the essential meaning of the Vedas.^[22][23]

True devotion, defines the Upanishad, is to meditate before Dakshinamurti, with the constant thought of "I am He", that is "I am identical with Shiva".^[22] The means to secret knowledge of Shiva, states the text, is to concentrate and realize that Shiva is no different than oneself, that all bodily human action, in one's life, is an offering to Shiva.^[22] The best time to worship this Reality, asserts the text, is in all three states of consciousness – during action when one is awake, during rest when one is dreaming in sleep, and in the state of deep sleep.^[22][24]

The gathered sages, states the text, then ask Markadeya for the form and manifestation of Shiva, and who should be the worshipper?^[24][25] The worshipper, asserts the text, is one who seeks the lamp of wisdom, within whom is the oil of indifference to that which is the worldly superficiality, who has the wick of devotion for the light of knowledge.^[24][25] Once the darkness within is dispelled, Shiva becomes manifested in the worshipper, states the Upanishad.^[24][25] Shiva, asserts the text, then dwells in the devotee as his Self, the bliss, the wisdom, and he is free of all notions of duality.^[25]

This is the secret doctrine of Shiva, the Reality. He who studies it, is delivered from all sins, and is the one who attains kaivalya, asserts the text.^[26][27]

• AM Sastri (2001). Dakshinamurti stotra of Sri Sankaracharya and Dakshinamurti Upanishad with Sri Sureswaracharya's Manasollasa and Pranava Vartika. Samata (Original: 1920). ISBN 978-8185208091. OCLC 604013222.
• Deussen, Paul (1997). Sixty Upanishads of the Veda. Motilal Banarsidass. ISBN 978-81-208-1467-7.
• Hattangadi, Sunder (2000). "दक्षिणामूर्त्युपनिषत् (Daksinamurti Upanishad)" (PDF) (in Sanskrit). Retrieved 29 February 2016.
• H Ramamoorthy and Nome (2009). Nome (ed.). Advaita Devatam God of Nonduality. SAT, Santa Cruz CA. ISBN 978-0970366795.
• Rao, T. A. Gopinatha (1997). Elements of Hindu Iconography. Motilal Banarsidass. ISBN 978-81-208-0877-5.
• Tinoco, Carlos Alberto (1997). Upanishads. IBRASA. ISBN 978-85-348-0040-2.