shivadakshinamurtigurudhyana

𑌬𑍍𑌰𑌹𑍍𑌮𑌾𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌂 𑌪𑌰𑌮𑌸𑍁𑌖𑌦𑌂 (𑌗𑍁𑌰𑍁 / 𑌦𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌿𑌣𑌾𑌮𑍂𑌰𑍍𑌤𑌿 𑌧𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌨)

ब्रह्मानन्दं परमसुखदं (गुरु / दक्षिणामूर्ति ध्यान) in Grantha · 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

🕉️ hindu·📿 3× repetitions·🕐 At the beginning of meditation, scriptural study or teaching; Guru Purnima; Thursday (Guru's day) mornings·📜 Traditional Guru-stotra / Dakshinamurti dhyana shloka (Advaita Vedanta tradition)

Read in your language / script

हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ English සිංහල𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

Origin & Story

Traditional Guru-stotra / Dakshinamurti dhyana shloka (Advaita Vedanta tradition) · Unknown (traditional; widely used in Vedantic and monastic lineages) · Classical / medieval

This single dhyana verse is among the most frequently recited Guru salutations in the Advaita and broader Sanatana tradition. It is closely associated with Dakshinamurti — the form of Shiva seated under the banyan tree who, by his very silence, dispelled the doubts of the aged sages who came to him as students. The verse compresses the entire Vedantic vision of the Guru: he is not merely a person but the awareness that is identical with Brahman, the witness of all minds, beyond opposites and gunas.

✦ As told in scripture

Tradition holds that the four eternal Kumaras, though aged sages, were instantly liberated from doubt by the silent teaching of Dakshinamurti seated beneath the banyan tree; reciting this verse with devotion is said to invoke that same wordless grace, dissolving ignorance in the heart of the sincere seeker.

0all time

The Mantra

Tap any line — or the ▶ button — to hear it recited

𑌬𑍍𑌰𑌹𑍍𑌮𑌾𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌂 𑌪𑌰𑌮𑌸𑍁𑌖𑌦𑌂 𑌕𑍇𑌵𑌲𑌂 𑌜𑍍𑌞𑌾𑌨𑌮𑍂𑌰𑍍𑌤𑌿𑌂 𑌦𑍍𑌵𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌤𑍀𑌤𑌂 𑌗𑌗𑌨𑌸𑌦𑍃𑌶𑌂 𑌤𑌤𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌮𑌸𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌦𑌿𑌲𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍍𑌯𑌮𑍍। 𑌏𑌕𑌂 𑌨𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌯𑌂 𑌵𑌿𑌮𑌲𑌮𑌚𑌲𑌂 𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌧𑍀𑌸𑌾𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌿𑌭𑍂𑌤𑌂 𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌤𑍀𑌤𑌂 𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌗𑍁𑌣𑌰𑌹𑌿𑌤𑌂 𑌸𑌦𑍍𑌗𑍁𑌰𑍁𑌂 𑌤𑌂 𑌨𑌮𑌾𑌮𑌿॥

Brahmānandaṃ paramasukhadaṃ kevalaṃ jñānamūrtiṃ Dvandvātītaṃ gaganasadṛśaṃ tattvamasyādilakṣyam Ekaṃ nityaṃ vimalam achalaṃ sarvadhīsākṣibhūtaṃ Bhāvātītaṃ triguṇarahitaṃ sadguruṃ taṃ namāmi

Meaning:जो ब्रह्म का आनन्दस्वरूप, परम सुख का दाता, केवल (अद्वितीय) और ज्ञान की साक्षात् मूर्ति हैं; जो द्वन्द्वों से परे, आकाश के समान व्यापक एवं निर्लेप, तथा 'तत्त्वमसि' आदि महावाक्यों के लक्ष्य हैं; जो एक, नित्य, निर्मल और अचल हैं, समस्त बुद्धियों के साक्षी, भावों से अतीत और तीनों गुणों से रहित हैं — उन सद्गुरु को मैं प्रणाम करता हूँ।

Word-by-Word Meaning

Click any word to hear its pronunciation

𑌬𑍍𑌰𑌹𑍍𑌮𑌾𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌂🔊BrahmānandaṃOf the bliss of Brahman; whose form is the joy of the Absolute

𑌪𑌰𑌮𑌸𑍁𑌖𑌦𑌂🔊ParamasukhadaṃThe bestower of supreme happiness

𑌕𑍇𑌵𑌲𑌂🔊KevalaṃThe One alone, absolute, without a second

𑌜𑍍𑌞𑌾𑌨𑌮𑍂𑌰𑍍𑌤𑌿𑌂🔊JñānamūrtiṃThe very embodiment of knowledge/wisdom

𑌦𑍍𑌵𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌤𑍀𑌤𑌂🔊DvandvātītaṃBeyond all pairs of opposites (pleasure-pain, heat-cold)

𑌗𑌗𑌨𑌸𑌦𑍃𑌶𑌂🔊GaganasadṛśaṃLike the sky — all-pervading, untouched, infinite

𑌤𑌤𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌮𑌸𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌦𑌿𑌲𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍍𑌯𑌮𑍍🔊TattvamasyādilakṣyamThe goal indicated by the great sayings such as 'Tat Tvam Asi' (That Thou Art)

𑌏𑌕𑌂🔊EkaṃThe One, non-dual

𑌨𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌯𑌂🔊NityaṃEternal, ever-existing

𑌵𑌿𑌮𑌲𑌮𑍍🔊VimalamPure, spotless, untainted

𑌅𑌚𑌲𑌂🔊AchalaṃImmovable, unchanging, steady

𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌧𑍀𑌸𑌾𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌿𑌭𑍂𑌤𑌂🔊SarvadhīsākṣibhūtaṃThe witness of all intellects and states of mind

𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌤𑍀𑌤𑌂🔊BhāvātītaṃBeyond all modes of becoming and conception

𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌗𑍁𑌣𑌰𑌹𑌿𑌤𑌂🔊TriguṇarahitaṃFree from the three gunas (sattva, rajas, tamas)

𑌸𑌦𑍍𑌗𑍁𑌰𑍁𑌂🔊SadguruṃThe true Guru (the inner Self / Dakshinamurti)

𑌤𑌂 𑌨𑌮𑌾𑌮𑌿🔊Taṃ namāmiTo Him I bow / I offer my salutations

Benefits of Chanting ब्रह्मानन्दं परमसुखदं (गुरु / दक्षिणामूर्ति ध्यान)

✦

Invokes the grace and presence of the Sadguru before study or meditation

✦

Settles the mind into the awareness of the witnessing Self (sakshi-bhava)

✦

Considered ideal for Vedanta study, as it embodies the mahavakya 'Tat Tvam Asi'

✦

Cultivates inner stillness and reverence (the silent teaching of Dakshinamurti)

✦

Removes spiritual ignorance and deepens discernment between the real and unreal

✦

Brings a sense of supreme peace by turning attention to that which is beyond the three gunas

How to Chant ब्रह्मानन्दं परमसुखदं (गुरु / दक्षिणामूर्ति ध्यान)

Repetitions3times

Best TimeAt the beginning of meditation, scriptural study or teaching; Guru Purnima; Thursday (Guru's day) mornings

Sit calmly facing east or north. Chant the verse slowly three times with closed eyes, letting the mind rest on the meaning of each phrase — especially 'Sarvadhi-sakshibhutam' (the witness of all thought). It is traditionally recited as the opening prayer before Vedanta lessons, before meeting one's Guru, and before silent meditation on Dakshinamurti, the teacher who teaches in silence.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete ब्रह्मानन्दं परमसुखदं (गुरु / दक्षिणामूर्ति ध्यान) written in the Grantha script — the same Sanskrit/Hindi verses, transliterated character-by-character so you can read and chant comfortably. Tap any line (or the ▶ button) to hear it recited aloud.

Yes — only the script changes; the words and their meaning are the original. The verse-by-verse meaning, benefits and how-to-chant guidance on this page apply exactly the same.

The verse salutes the Sadguru — the true Guru — described as one with the formless Absolute (Brahman). In tradition this is identified with Lord Dakshinamurti, the youthful, silent form of Shiva who teaches the highest knowledge through stillness.

Because it places the seeker in the right attitude — humility before the Guru and remembrance that the Self is the witness of all thoughts. It is a classic opening prayer (dhyana shloka) for Vedanta classes and meditation.

It means the Guru is the very 'goal' or truth pointed to by the great Upanishadic sayings (mahavakyas) such as 'Tat Tvam Asi' — 'That Thou Art' — which reveal the identity of the individual self with the Absolute.

No. It can be chanted by anyone. The 'Guru' here is ultimately the inner light of awareness; the verse helps even a solitary seeker turn within toward that witnessing presence.