Sadhus Reminiscences of Raman Maharshi

Author(s): Arunachal Sadhu
Publisher: Ramanasramam Tiruvannamalai

Page 67

A Sadhu's Reminiscences of Ramana Maharshi
61
In every South Indian Siva temple, on the southern wall, is found an image of Dakshinamurti (the god facing the south) to whom daily worship is offered. He sits under a banyan tree. At his feet are his four disciples. His left leg rests across his right knee and his right foot is placed on a figure representing the ego. He has four arms. One hand blessing with the mystic sign known as the Chinmudra, the other three holding respectively a torch (enlightenment), a book (wisdom), and the drum (or damaru, the creative sound).
His story is as follows: Brahma was tired of creating and wanted to retire, so he created the four Kumaras to take his place. But these did not in the least wish to take over but demanded instead initiation from him into the secret of how to gain liberation. This their father refused. So they left him and went in search of this somewhere else. They eventually encountered an awe-inspiring figure seated under a banyan tree. Here they remained and received the instruction they were seeking, which was given in silence. In silence, because no word can express that which is beyond all words and no mind can grasp that which is beyond mind. Silence is the most perfect teaching of all.
Dakshinamurti is known as the silent Guru, the Guru of all Gurus. Though he is daily worshipped in every Siva temple in the South he has few temples of his own. Dakshinamurti is an aspect of the ascetic Siva.
As an example of how eloquent silence can be for the sincere seeker, the following episode which I personally