(1) Name of an Upanishad from 108 Upanishad.
(2) Lord Dakshinaamoorti is Lord Shiv who manifested himself as the first teacher. It is said in the Puraan that Lord Brahmaa, the Creator, in the beginning of Creation created four progeny out of his mind, known as the Sanatkumaar: Sanak, Sanandan, Sanaatan and Sanatkumaar. It is also said that Brahmaa Jee asked them to join him in the task of creation. However, since they were born from Brahmaa's Tap and were renunciates by nature and even at that age possessed a keen desire to know the truth, they set out in the Northern direction in search of the Truth and performed penance for it. Pleased with them, Lord Shiv appeared before them as a teacher, seated under a banyan tree, facing the south, and imparted Brahm Vidyaa (knowledge of Brahm) to them.

It is said that Lord Dakshinaamoorti revealed the Truth, which is the identity between the Jeev (the individual) and Brahm (the limitless). Thus, Lord Shiv, as Dakshinaamoorti, is the presiding deity of knowledge. The truth is that the Lord is the source of all knowledge, beginning with the Ved which are a body of knowledge that is revealed to the Rishi. Dakshinaamoorti, thus symbolizes knowledge and is a very appropriate altar of worship for seekers of knowledge.

The Meaning of the Word Lord Dakshinaamoorti

The word Dakshinaamoorti can be understood in several different ways.

(1) Dakshin means south and Moorti means form. So Dakshinaamoorti means the "one who is facing South". The teacher is facing south while imparting knowledge and the disciples are facing north.
(2) Dakshinaamoorti Upanishad defines the word Dakshin as the enlightened mind. According to this definition, Dakshinaamoorti is the one whose form or truth (Moorti) is perceived by an enlightened mind (Dakshin).
(3) The word Dakshinaamoorti can also be seen as made up of two words: Dakshin and A-moorti. Dakshin means able, skillful, and competent, and A-Moorti means formless. The Lord who is formless in his true nature is also the competent creator, sustainer, and dissolver of this universe through the power of Maayaa.
(4) Dakshin also means Anukool, favorable or kindly disposed. Lord Dakshinaamoorti is always kindly disposed to his devotees and seekers of knowledge. He imparts the knowledge with love and compassion, that is why he is called Dakshinaamoorti.

The Form of Lord Dakshinaamoorti
Dakshinaamoorti is shown seated under a banyan tree, surrounded by his disciples. The Lord has four hands. In his lower right hand, he shows the Chinmudraa and also holds a Jap Maalaa. In his upper right hand, the Lord is holding a Damaroo (a small drum) and a Paash, a noose. In his upper left hand, there is fire and in the lower left hand, a book. The Sun and the Moon adorn the crown of the Lord. In his matted locks the maiden figure represents the Ganagaa. In his right ear, the Lord wears a man’s earring, and in his left ear, a woman’s earring. He is adorned with necklaces and armlets, a belt, and bracelets. His left foot is resting on his right thigh (in the posture called Veraasan) and his right foot presses a dwarf-like figure called Apasmaar.

The Lord supports this Universe made of the five basic elements: Space, Air, Fire, Water, and Earth. The drum symbolizes the element space, since it produces sound, and the flying matted locks held in place by a Bandhanaa, symbolize the air. The element fire is shown in one hand, the Gangaa flowing from the Lord’s head stands for water. The entire form of the body of the Lord is made of the element earth. The Sun represents all luminaries, and the Moon, all planets. The Damaroo, the small drum (which stands for the element Space), also symbolizes Creation, whereas Fire stands for destruction, including the destruction of ignorance. The various ornaments represent the glories of the Lord.

The banyan tree under which Lord Dakshinaamoorti is sitting represents Sansaar which has no beginning. However, Sansaar has an end. Being Mithyaa (Maayaa), its reality is in Brahm, the root, and therefore, Lord Dakshinaamoorti is shown as seated at the root of the tree. The Chinmudraa is a symbol for the knowledge of the identity of the individual and the Lord, which puts and end to Sansaar. The book in the lower left hand is the Ved. The Jap Maalaa, is a symbol for all religious disciplines. The Bull, on which the Lord rides, stands for Dharm, justice, and also Maayaa, which the Lord wields. His name is Nandee (meaning joyful) or Nandikeshwar (the Lord of Joy). Lord Shiv here is Ardh Naareeshwar, half male and half female, representing Purush and Prakriti form, the cause of Creation. This is symbolized in Lord Dakshinaamoorti by a male earring in the right ear and a female earring in the left. The figure held in check under the right foot of Lord Dakshinaamoorti is called Apasmaar, representing all obstacles to our pursuits.

Since Dakshinaamoorti is the source of spiritual knowledge, seekers always invoke his grace for Medhaa, power to inquire and to learn; and for Pragyaa, clear knowledge of the self.