Letters from Sri Ramanasramam, by Suri Nagamma

Bhagavan has been identified with Dakshinamurthy.

embodiment of silence, the problem was how to describe
silence. He therefore analysed the three attributes of silence,
namely, Srishti (creation) Sthithi (preservation) and Laya
(dissolution) and thus offered his salutations to
Dakshinamurthy. Dakshinamurthy is the embodiment of
these three attributes which do not have any discernible
characteristics or distinguishing marks. How else can silence
be eulogised?”
Taking up the thread of the conversation a devotee said,
“Dandapani Swami told us several years back that on a
Mahasivarathri
2
day, devotees gathered around Bhagavan
saying, ‘Bhagavan must explain to us today the meaning of
“Dakshinamurthy Ashtakam” (Eight Slokas in Praise of
Dakshinamurthy). Bhagavan however, sat in silence, smiling.

After waiting for some time the devotees went away feeling
that, by his continued silence, Bhagavan had taught them
that silence alone was the true meaning of those slokas. Is
that a fact?”
Bhagavan (with a smile): “Yes. That is true.”
I (with some surprise): “So that means Bhagavan gave
a silent commentary?”
Bhagavan: “Yes. It was a silent commentary.”
Another devotee: “Mouna means abiding in the Self,
isn’t it?”
Bhagavan: “Yes. That is so. Without abiding in the Self,
how could it be mouna (silence)?”
Devotee: “That is just what I am asking. Would it be
mouna if one were to completely refrain from speech without
at the same time having an awareness of the Self and abiding
therein?”
2
Great Night of Siva (in February each year).

Bhagavan: “How could real mouna be achieved? Some
people say that they are observing mouna by keeping their
mouths shut but at the same time they go on writing
something or other on bits of paper or on a slate. Is not that
another form of activity of the mind?”
Another devotee: “Is there then no benefit at all in
refraining from speech?”
Bhagavan: “A person may refrain from speech in order
to avoid the obstacles of the outer world, but he should not
consider that to be an end in itself. True Silence is really
endless speech; there is no such thing as attaining it because
it is always present. All you have to do is to remove the
worldly cobwebs that enshroud it; there is no question of
attaining it.”
While we were thus engaged in discussions, someone
said that a broadcasting company was thinking of
recording Bhagavan’s voice. Bhagavan laughed and said,
“Oho! You don’t say so! But my voice is Silence, isn’t it?
How can they record Silence? That which Is, is Silence.

Who could record it?”
The devotees sat quiet, exchanging glances and there
was absolute silence in the hall. Bhagavan, the embodiment
of Dakshinamurthy, sat in the Attitude of Silence (mouna
mudra) facing southwards.

3
That living image, his body, was
radiant with the Light of the Self. Today is indeed a
memorable day.

3
One meaning of the name Dakshinamurthy is ‘The Southward
facing’. The Guru (teacher) is the spiritual North Pole and,
therefore, traditionally faces south.