Yogadakshinamurti

Yoga Dakshinamurti is an aspect of Shiva as a guru (teacher) of yoga.

Representation

In his aspect as Yoga Dakshinamurti, Shiva is generally represented in any of the two styles described as under: -

*He is represented sitting in padmasan posture and engrossed in meditation. He is shown as having four arms. His four arms are depicted in different ways. In the upper right hand he holds his trident (trishula); he carries a bowl of human skull in his upper left hand; the lower right hand is shown in chinmudra; and the lower left hand is raised to his chest.

*In another representation, he is shown as sitting under a banyan tree. His one leg rests on the ground, while the other is on his thigh, with the help of a Yogapatta. His four arms are shown in different ways. He carries an akshamala in his upper right hand; the upper left hand is shown as carrying fire; the lower right hand is depicted in dyanamudra; and the lower left hand is shown in abhayamudra. Below his seat, two deers are shown squatting, and a cobra wound around his right arm looks towards him.

References

*"Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend" (ISBN 0-500-51088-1) by Anna Dallapiccola