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India: Shiva as Dakshinamurthy or Jnana Dakshinamurti, Lord of Knowledge, Tamil Nadu, 16th century

India: Shiva as Dakshinamurthy or Jnana Dakshinamurti, Lord of Knowledge, Tamil Nadu, 16th century

Dakshinamurthy or Jnana Dakshinamurti(Tamil: டக்ஷினமுர்த்தி, Sanskrit: दक्षिणामूर्ति ((Dakṣiṇāmūrti)) is an aspect of Shiva as a guru (teacher) of all types of knowledge, particularly the jnana. This aspect of Shiva is his personification as the supreme or the ultimate awareness, understanding and knowledge.

This form represents Shiva in his aspect 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. This form of Shiva is popular in the southern states of India especially Tamil Nadu.

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