A nice episode concerning Lord Dakshinamurti

[Guest guest]

Namaste Advaitins,

 

Here is a nice episode connected with Sridakshinamurti:

The Parameshthi Acharya, Jagadguru Sri Sacchidaananda Shivaabhinava

Nrisimha bhaarati SwaminaH, the 33rd pontiff of the Sringeri Peetham,

prior to leaving on a tour, once told the Pandits of the Mutt: 'I

will state the fourth quarter of a verse. I would be glad if you

compose and append to it the first three quarters'. Sri Narasimha

Shastry was a vidyarthi in the Mutt Paathashaala. His characteristic

was that he used to keep in memory, with great faith, whatever words

came from the lips of the Jagadguru. He thought, 'He has now given

something to the teachers' and bore what was said in mind. What did

the Guru say:

 

mudrA kAchana muktidAnanipuNA nidrAti jAgarti vA ||

(A figure is seated in front. Is he asleep or awake?)

 

There is reason for this doubt. The entity is competent to give even

liberation. However, on seeing the figure, it is not clear whether he

is giving advice or is asleep.

 

The Jagadguru gave this portion and left on a tour. Shri Narasimha

Shastry, who later became the next Pontiff as Sri Chandrashekhara

Bharati SwaminaH, thought, 'Let me see if I can complete the verse.

He succeeded in doing so and kept the completed verse with him.

 

While on tour, the Guru had the habit of asking for the answer papers

of the students of the Pathashala, perusing them and determining the

competence of the students. In the course of his going through the

answer sheets, he also saw Shri Shastry's answer papers. He got the

impression, 'This Narasimha Shastry is extremely intelligent.'

Almost completing his tour, he camped near Belagola. Distinguished

persons came and reverentially beheld Him. Shri Shastry too was

present to behold his Guru.

 

The Guru asked, 'I had give you, four years ago, a verse for you to

complete. Who all have completed it?' Though unlike the others,

Shri Shastry had completed it, he was shy and afraid to say so.

However, someone nearby said, 'This boy has done it'. The Guru

remarked, 'Has this boy done it? Read the verse'.

 

kShoNIbhR^idvarasAnuvarti-vaTavR^ikShAdhaH-pradeshasthitA

mudrApustakamaunayuk shamayutaa nAsAgradR^iShTissadaa |

pArAsharyasutaadimaan-munivarAn-sambodhayantI param

mudrA kAchana muktidAnanipuNA nidrAti jAgarti vA ||

 

Shri Shastry had great devotion to Dakshinamurti, a manifestation of

Shiva. The Parameshti acharya too had devotion to Shiva. He had

tried to complete the verse in terms of Shiva but His composition, as

it turned out, referred to Vishnu. So, He was slightly dissatisfied

with His own composition. Sri Narasimha Shastry, on the other hand,

had completed the given portion in terms of Dakshinamurti.

 

What is the meaning of the verse? Where does Dakshinamurti abide?

 

kShoNIbhR^idvarasAnuvarti-vaTavR^ikShAdhaH-pradeshasthitA

 

He dwells on the Himalaya mountain. There is a big banyan tree

there and He is seated in the shade of that tree. How is He seated?

 

mudrApustakamaunayuk shamayutaa nAsAgradR^iShTissadaa |

 

In one hand, He has the Chinmudra (the sign of knowledge in which the

tips of the thumb and the index finger touch and the others are

straight). In another hand, He has a book. He has mastered all the

senses and so His body is motionless. In accordance with the

utterance of Kalidasa, 'kEnApi kAmena tapashchachAra' 'desirous of

something, He performed penance', the Lord has, in the mode of

penance, directed His gaze at the tip of His nose. His eyes are

three-fourth closed. They are only slightly open. There are some

people who sleep with their eyes partly open. Thus, it seems as if He

is sleeping while seated. Yet, if we decided to say that He is indeed

sleeping, it will be difficult to reconcile this position with:

 

pArAsharyasutaadimaan-munivarAn-sambodhayantI param

 

Param means Brahman, which is superior to everything. About

Dakshinamurti it is said:

Gurostu maunam vyAkhyAnam, shiShyAstu cchinnasamshayaaH (silence is

the mode of the Guru's exposition but the doubts of the disciples are

rent asunder.) There is no need for the disciple to ask any

question. There is no need for the Guru to verbalize any reply. If

one is seated in front of the Guru, Shakti paata takes place; that

is, the power that is in the Guru descends on the disciple. As for

the disciple's doubts:

bhidyate hR^idayagranthishchhidyante sarvasamshayAH (The knot of the

heart is broken and all doubts completely vanish.) tasmin dR^ishTe

parAvarE (All this automatically happens on one seeing the Supreme).

 

Dakshinamurti, purely by His grace, fulfills the desire of Shuka and

others to know the truth and grants them knowledge. What do the

disciples of Dakshinamurti, such as Shuka, say? Each avers, 'On my

coming to Your presence, all my doubts have been cleared. I have

received instruction about realization of Brahman.' If Dakshinamurti

were to teach, He must be awake.

 

mudrA kAchana muktidAnanipuNA nidrAti jAgarti vA ||

 

Therefore, I am unable t say whether this figure, who is comptent to

confer liberation, is asleep or awake. This is the meaning of the

verse.

 

The Jagadguru was extremely happy and felt, 'This boy is so

competent. I wanted to complete the verse to refer to Shiva but that

did not happen; this boy has done it'. His glance fell on the

exalted disciple.

 

(Sourced from the book: Divine Discourses)

Pranams to all,

subbu

[Guest guest]

advaitin, "subrahmanian_v"

<subrahmanian_v wrote:

>

> Namaste Advaitins,

>

>

> kShoNIbhR^idvarasAnuvarti-vaTavR^ikShAdhaH-pradeshasthitA

> mudrApustakamaunayuk shamayutaa nAsAgradR^iShTissadaa |

> pArAsharyasutaadimaan-munivarAn-sambodhayantI param

> mudrA kAchana muktidAnanipuNA nidrAti jAgarti vA ||

>

> Shri Shastry had great devotion to Dakshinamurti, a manifestation

of

> Shiva. The Parameshti acharya too had devotion to Shiva. He had

> tried to complete the verse in terms of Shiva but His composition,

as

> it turned out, referred to Vishnu. So, He was slightly

dissatisfied

> with His own composition. Sri Narasimha Shastry, on the other

hand,

> had completed the given portion in terms of Dakshinamurti.

>

> > (Sourced from the book: Divine Discourses)

>

> Pranams to all,

> subbu

>

Namaste all

 

Wonderful, Subbuji, Thanks for bringing to us this shloka on the

Guru of all Gurus.

 

PraNAms to all advaitins.

profvk