In the cultural heritage of India two streams viz, Pravirtti and Nivritti based on the Vedas are flowing. For these two streams the original canal is Lord Siva in the form of Uma and Mahesvara. This form indicates the path or Pravirtti. For the path of Nivritti the form of Dakshinamurthy is the original source. In Northern India, when many temples were razed to the ground, during the Mughal period, the tradition of Dakshinamurthy came to fade.

From Bengal to Baluchi and Kashmir to Kerala, the upasana of Dakshinamurthy is observed to this day. Yet the scarcity of temples for external worship of Dakshinamurthy are very few.

His Holiness Satchidanandagiri has constructed a temple of Dakshinamurthy near the old temple of Siddhantha Mani where he himself meditated upon Dakshinamurthy. Probably this is the Advaita Mutt referred to as Dakshinamurthy Mutt, at Kasi.

The Guruparampara of Dakshinamurthy Mutt also called Dhruvesvara Mutt, Varanasi is as follows:

1. Managiri

2. Meghagiri

3. Ramagiri

4. Satchidanandagiri

5. Amarendragiri

6. Manishagiri

7. Ramananda Giri

8. Nrisimha Giri

9. Niranjana Giri

10. Krishnananda Giri

(Prepared from ‘Gandivam’-Chaitra Sukla Prathama, 24-3-1974 By Sri Anantananendra Saraswati)