Dakshinamurthy is the Primal Guru. When Brahma created the four primal men called Sanaka, Sanatana, Sanantana and Sanat Kumara, instead of taking up the life of householders (grihasthas) they all went on to become renunciates (sannyasis) and started searching for the Truth.



Pleased by their penance, Shiva Himself came down in the form of Dakshinamurthy and blessed Enlightenment upon them. The scriptures say that Dakshinamurthy Himself comes down time and again in the form of the Master to bestow Enlightenment upon mankind.