Sankara, the Apostle of Oneness, had
prescribed the Fourfold Yoga for CosmicUnion. He advocated the traditional Method of studying under a Guru
for Self Actualisation. Mortals consider Self Actualisation to be a " so
elusive and so distant a Goal", but the effort is worth it as the Divine
Crown is indeed priceless !
He composed poems, the Eightfold Verse about the Master ( Dakshina Moorthy
Ashatakam ), extolling the Lord who had come to him in the form of the
Master. Indian tradition holds that the Master is the representative of the
Lord, or rather the Lord Himself !
Unto Him, who is indeed all this
Who has manifested as the Triad
Universe, Ego, Supreme Relative
As the Teacher Supreme to teach
Verities divine ineffable
The Lord of Wisdom great
The Lustrous Form facing South
Unto Him, be this millionfold saluation !
Viswam darpana drusyamana nagari,
Thulyam nijantargatham,
Pasyannathmani mayaya bahirivoth,
Bhutham yatha nidraya,
Ya sakshath kuruthe prabodha samaye,
Swathmanameva dwayam,
Thasmai sri guru murthaye nama idham,
Sree Dakshinamurthaye.
Similar to the mirror image of a town
So is this Universe seen in Self !
What exists outside is inside
The living lordly regal Self !
Ultimately this is actualised
In the state of Enlightenment
That I am That Non-dual Self
To Thee whose Grace is all,, I bow !
Beejasyanthari vankuro jagadhidham,
Prang nirvikalpam puna,
Mayakalpitha desa kala kalanaa,
Vaichithrya chithrikrutham,
Mayaveeva vijrumbhayathyapi maha,
Yogeeva yah swechaya,
Thasmai sri guru murthaye nama idham,
Sree dakshinamurthaye.
The Universe existed as seed
Prior to Thy Manifestation !
Universe exists in the Universal Mind
Conditioned by Space, Time, Causality
Yasyaiva sphuranam sadathmakamasath,
To Thee whose Grace is all,, I bow !
Thy Manifestation is manifold
Like the Yogi who manifests at will,
Thou manifested this Universe
To Thee whose Grace is all,, I bow !
Kalparthagam bhasathe,
Sakshaath thathwamaseethi veda vachasa,
Yobodhyathyasrithhan,
Yath saksht karanath bhavenna punara,
Aavrithir bhavambhonidhow,
Thasmai sri guru murthaye nama idham,
Sree dakshinamurthaye.
Thee who exists as the Effulgence Supreme
Who alone shines in this World of Appearance
Thou manifests as Teacher Supreme
Who instructs students " That Art Thou "
Whose instruction can redeem
One from this ocean of worldliness
And the cycles of birth and death
To Thee whose Grace is all,, I bow !
Deham pranam api indryanyapi chalaam,
Budhim cha soonyam vidhu,
Stree balandha jadopamasthvaha mithi,
Brandha brusam vadhina,
Maya sakthi vilasa kalpitha maha,
Vyamoha samharine,
Thasmai sri guru murthaye nama idham,
Sree dakshinamurthaye.
Some philosopers think the body is Truth
Others intellect and the Soul
Others Emptiness and Void
Are they not similar to the ignorant ?'
The blind, women and children ?
Ignorance is only destroyed by Thee
Cosmic Illusion is destroyed by Thee
To Thee whose Grace is all,, I bow !
Rahu grastha divakarendu sadrusho,
Maya samachadanath,
Sanamthra karanopa samharanatho,
Yo abhoot sushuptha pumaan,
Pragaswapsaamithi prabodha samaye,
Yaa prathyabignayathe,
Thasmai sri guru murthaye nama idham,
Sree dakshinamurthaye.
Similar to Sol and Luna after being eclipsed,
Know that they are existing still !
Similar to the dreamer whose dream
Created problems galore for him.
Realises that all was but a dream !
Feels blissful after waking up
Ultimatelty realises " I am He ".
Balyadishwapi jagaradhadishu thadha,
Sarva sva avasthasthaswapi,
Vyavrutha swanuvarthamanamaha ,
Mithyanth sphurantham sada,
Svathmaanam pragatikarothi bajatham,
Yo mudraya bhadraya,
Thasmai sri guru murthaye nama idham,
Sree dakshinamurthaye
To Thee, who shines and exhibits
By the sacred Chinmudra of the hand
That He exists as the Self in all
As the supreme, lordly Self
Everlasting and Unchanging
Witnessing youth, childhood, old age,
Even during the triune states relative
To Thee whose Grace is all, I bow
Viswam pasyathi karya karana thaya,
Swa swami sambandatha,
Sishyacharya thaya thadaiva pithru,
Puthradhyathmana bedatha,
Swapne Jagrathi va ya esha purusho,
Maya Paribramitha,
Thasmai sri guru murthaye nama idham,
Sree dakshinamurthaye.
Diversity holds absolute sway !
World is Cause and Effect
We are different from the Lord
Teacher and taught are different
Father and son are different
Confounded by Illusion
All see great diversity
Unable to see Unity divine !
Cosmos spring into view
Simultaneously with the Seer
World appears multiform
Ego is deluded in states triune
Waking, dreaming and dreamless sleep
And confers experience of Unity !
Bhoorambaamsya anilo ambhara,
Maharnadho himamasu puman,
Ithyabhathi characharathmakamidham,
Yasyaiva murthyashtakam,
Nanyath kinchana vidhyathe vimrusathaam,
Yasmath parasmath vibho,
Thasmai sri guru murthaye nama idham,
Sree dakshinamurthaye.
Universe shines as Self
Which is mutable and Immutable?
Which is mobile and Immobile ?
The Elemental Five
Soul, Sol and Luna
Or the Immutable Self ?
The Truth seekers find
The Absolute is everywhere !
That it is Being Knowledge Bliss
The eternal triad which the Universe is
And which we are in actuality
Thy magnificent eightfold Form
As Being, Knowledge,Bliss
As Life, Mind, Matter, Supermind
And finally as Love Immortal
Who causeth universe visible and invisible
And Whose Grace liberates Man
Showing all this " I Am That I Am'
To Thee whose Grace is all, I bow
Who has manifested as Lord Guru,
Whose wisdom transcends terms human,
Who shineth as Sole
witness,
To the Lord in the form of my Master, I bow !
