page_title: Dakshinamurthy
section_title: Temples
hierarchical_section_title: Dakshinamurthy / Temples
caption_attribution_description: Kapaleeshwarar Temple, Chennai, March 2008
context_page_description: Dhakshinamoorthy Sanskrit: दक्षिणामूर्ति is an aspect of the Hindu god Shiva as a guru of all types of knowledge. This aspect of Lord Paramasiva Convected to Paramaguru is his personification as the supreme or the ultimate awareness, understanding and knowledge. This form represents Shiva as a teacher of yoga, music, and wisdom, and giving exposition on the shastras. He is worshipped as the god of wisdom, complete and rewarding meditation. As per scriptures, if a person doesn't have a Paramaguru, then they can consider and worship Lord Dhakshinamoorthy as their Guru. Eventually they will be blessed with a human Self-Realised Guru, if they are worthy.
context_section_description: Even though the idol of Dakshinamurthy is installed in every Shiva temple, there are only a few temples where Dakshinamurthy is the chief deity. 
  Only one of the twelve Jyotirlingas is Dakshinamurthy, the Mahakaleshwar in Ujjain. Being the only Dakshinmurthy Jyotirlinga, It holds special importance for Shaivites as a site of learning.
  A 112 feet, South-facing Adiyogi Shiva statue (Adiyogi  –  The Source of Yoga) along with a linga called "Yogeshwar Linga" was consecrated by Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, and inaugurated by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 24, 2017. It is located at the Isha Yoga Center in Coimbatore, India. The South-facing Adiyogi is seen as a representation of Dakshinamurthy, and is considered the Adi Guru or the first Guru.
  Sree Dakshinamurthy Temple at Sukapuram, Edapal Taluk in Malappuram District, Kerala. Pratishtha was done by Suka Maharshi. Estimated 1500 years Old
  The deity at the famous Shiva temple in Vaikom town in Kottayam district of Kerala is worshipped as Dakshinamurthy in the morning, Kirathamurthy in the afternoon and as Umamaheshwara in the evening.
  Ettumanoor Mahadevar Temple in Kerala, where the deity enshrined in the form of a Shivalingam is considered as Dakshinamurthy
  Alangudi, Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu
  Sree Dakshinamurthy Temple at Pattamangalam village, in Sivagangai District, Tamil Nadu. It is estimated that this temple is nearly 500 years old.
  In the Sivanandeswarar temple in Thirupanthurai, Tanjore, Tamil Nadu, He is depicted in the Ardhanari form.
  In Thirupulivanam, we can find Dakshinamurthy in the form of Ardhanariswara. This temple is on the Uthiramerur-Kanchipuram road, 5 km from Uthiramerur, near Chennai.
  In March 2007, a big temple of Lord Dakshinamurty (the first in Maharashtra) was created in the Shrutisagar Ashram, about 30 km from Pune
  Pragya Dakshinamoorthy at Chibavananda Ashram in Theni, western Tamil Nadu
  In Suchindram Thanumalaya temple (5 km from Nagercoil, Kanyakumari Dist.), contrary to tradition, Dakshinamurthy is worshipped instead of Ganesh/Vinayaka. Ganesha statue comes last in the worship line.
  In Thiruvotriyur, Chennai a dedicated temple to Dhakshinamoorthy exists. It is unique as the Lord faces north and is aptly called VadaGurusthalam (the guru's place of north).
  The oldest Dakshnimurthy temple is situated in Poonthottam village in Thiruvarur, Tamil Nadu. It is estimated that this temple is nearly 1000 years old and the idol of the lord was fixed on the day of mahakumbamela that took place 1000 years ago
  Dakshinamurthy temple at Vellave near Taliparambu (Kannur District, Kerala), This is a swayambhoo temple (self evolved) of Dakshinamurthi. This temple is situated 4 km away from the famous Rajarajeshwara Temple, Taliparamba
  Panaickal Sree Dakshinamurthy temple at Kadakkarappally, Cherthala Thaluk in Alappuzha District, Kerala
  Since 2002, Mauritius has seen its one and only Lord Dakshinamurthy Temple located on the east coast at Palmar on the Indian Ocean, in the compound of Arsha Vidya Ashram. The deity has occupied a place in the Ashram since 1994 but in 2002, a temple was built according to the rules of shahastra nama to give an altar to the Lord.
  One of the temples in the United States dedicated to Lord Dakshinamurthy is located at Arsha Vidya Gurukulam in Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania.
  Adiyogi  –  The Abode of Yoga is a 30,000 square foot space located at the Isha Institute of Inner-sciences, Tennessee, USA. It houses a 21 feet statue of Adiyogi Shiva (which is seen as representation of Dakshinamurthy),  along with a Shivalinga consecrated by Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev in September 2015.
  Gurusthalam at Thiruvallur, Tamil Nad Shree Yoga Gnana Dhakshanamoorthy Peetam
caption: The Gopuram of Kapaleeshwarar temple, Chennai depicts two sculptures of Dakshinamurthy: one playing the veena, another in a meditative state.
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