Dakshinamurti Ashtakam
दक्षिणामूर्ति अष्टकम्
Origin & Story
Traditional · Vrishabhadeva · Classical
The Dakshinamurti Ashtakam is traditionally ascribed to Vrishabhadeva. Eight verses to Dakshinamurti — Shiva as the supreme silent Guru, the youthful teacher who imparts the highest knowledge of the Self through silence to the aged sages at His feet.
✦ As told in scripture
It is said that to recite the Dakshinamurti Ashtakam with a sincere and devoted heart is to draw near to the grace of the Lord, who never forsakes those who lovingly call upon Him.
The Mantra
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अगणितगुणगणमप्रमेमाद्यं सकलजगत्स्थितिसम्यमादिहेतुम् । उपरतमनोयोगिहृन्मन्दिरम्तं सततमहं दक्षिणामूर्तिमीडे ॥ १॥ निरवधिसुखमिष्टदातारमीड्यं नतजनमनस्तापभेदैकदक्षम् । भवविपिनदवाग्निनामधेयं सततमहं दक्षिणामूर्तिमीडे ॥ २॥ त्रिभुवनगुरुमागमैकप्रमाणं त्रिजगत्कारणसूत्रयोगमायम् । रविशतभास्वरमीहितप्रधानं सततमहं दक्षिणामूर्तिमीडे ॥ ३॥ अविरतभवभावनादिदूरं पदपद्मद्वयभाविनामदूरम् । भवजलधिसुतारणमङ्घ्रिपोतं सततमहं दक्षिणामूर्तिमीडे ॥ ४॥ कृतनिलयमनिशं वटाकमूले निगमशिखाव्रातबोधितैकरूपम् । धृतमुद्राङ्गुळिगम्यचारुरूपं सततमहं दक्षिणामूर्तिमीडे ॥ ५॥ द्रुहिणसुतपूजिताङ्घ्रिपद्मं पदपद्मानतमोक्षदानदक्षम् । कृतगुरुकुलवासयोगिमित्रं सततमहं दक्षिणामूर्तिमीडे ॥ ६॥ यतिवरहृदये सदा विभान्तं रतिपतिशतकोटिसुन्दराङ्गमाद्यम् । परहितनिरतात्मनं सुसेव्यं सततमहं दक्षिणामूर्तिमीडे ॥ ७॥ स्मितधवळविकासिताननाब्जं श्रुतिसुलभं वृषभाधिरूढगात्रम् । सितजलजसुशोभिदेहकान्तिं सततमहं दक्षिणामूर्तिमीडे ॥ ८॥ वृषभकृतमिदमिष्टसिद्धिदं गुरुवरदेवसन्निधौ पठेद्यः । सकलदुरितदुःखवर्गहानिं व्रजति चिरं ज्ञानवान् शम्भुलोकम् ॥ ९॥ इति श्रीव्ऱ्^षभदेवविरचितं श्रीदक्षिणामूर्त्यष्टकं सम्पूर्णम् ।
agaṇitaguṇagaṇamapramemādyaṃ sakalajagatsthitisamyamādihetum | uparatamanoyogihṛnmandiramtaṃ satatamahaṃ dakṣiṇāmūrtimīḍe || 1|| niravadhisukhamiṣṭadātāramīḍyaṃ natajanamanastāpabhedaikadakṣam | bhavavipinadavāgnināmadheyaṃ satatamahaṃ dakṣiṇāmūrtimīḍe || 2|| tribhuvanagurumāgamaikapramāṇaṃ trijagatkāraṇasūtrayogamāyam | raviśatabhāsvaramīhitapradhānaṃ satatamahaṃ dakṣiṇāmūrtimīḍe || 3|| aviratabhavabhāvanādidūraṃ padapadmadvayabhāvināmadūram | bhavajaladhisutāraṇamaṅghripotaṃ satatamahaṃ dakṣiṇāmūrtimīḍe || 4|| kṛtanilayamaniśaṃ vaṭākamūle nigamaśikhāvrātabodhitaikarūpam | dhṛtamudrāṅgul̤igamyacārurūpaṃ satatamahaṃ dakṣiṇāmūrtimīḍe || 5|| druhiṇasutapūjitāṅghripadmaṃ padapadmānatamokṣadānadakṣam | kṛtagurukulavāsayogimitraṃ satatamahaṃ dakṣiṇāmūrtimīḍe || 6|| yativarahṛdaye sadā vibhāntaṃ ratipatiśatakoṭisundarāṅgamādyam | parahitaniratātmanaṃ susevyaṃ satatamahaṃ dakṣiṇāmūrtimīḍe || 7|| smitadhaval̤avikāsitānanābjaṃ śrutisulabhaṃ vṛṣabhādhirūḍhagātram | sitajalajasuśobhidehakāntiṃ satatamahaṃ dakṣiṇāmūrtimīḍe || 8|| vṛṣabhakṛtamidamiṣṭasiddhidaṃ guruvaradevasannidhau paṭhedyaḥ | sakaladuritaduḥkhavargahāniṃ vrajati ciraṃ jñānavān śambhulokam || 9|| iti śrīvṟ^ṣabhadevaviracitaṃ śrīdakṣiṇāmūrtyaṣṭakaṃ sampūrṇam |
Meaning:Eight verses to Dakshinamurti — Shiva as the supreme silent Guru, the youthful teacher who imparts the highest knowledge of the Self through silence to the aged sages at His feet.
Benefits of Chanting Dakshinamurti Ashtakam
Recitation of the Dakshinamurti Ashtakam is held to bring the grace, blessings and protection of the Lord.
Cultivates devotion, calms the mind and steadies the heart in the Lord’s remembrance.
Most auspicious on Mondays, and during Maha Shivaratri, Pradosh and the month of Shravan.
A short, melodious hymn that anyone can learn and recite daily with faith.
How to Chant Dakshinamurti Ashtakam
Bathe and sit facing east or north before an image of the deity. Light a lamp and recite the Dakshinamurti Ashtakam slowly and with devotion. It may be chanted daily, or especially during Maha Shivaratri, Pradosh and the month of Shravan. Conclude with a prayer for grace and protection.
Frequently Asked Questions
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