The ‘Dakshinamurti’ idol of Shiva depicts him in which from?

The correct answer is A) Teacher. Dakshinamurti is Shiva in his form as the supreme guru, shown facing south, which is the direction of teaching and of the wisdom that frees the soul. The usual image shows him seated under a banyan tree, with four sages such as Sanaka, Sanandana, Sanatana and Sanatkumara listening in silence. The lesson is conveyed without words, which is why the form is tied to jnana and Shaiva philosophy.

• B) Dancing: This is Nataraja, the cosmic dancer who performs the Ananda Tandava. Chola bronzes of Nataraja are the classic example.
• C) Reclining: A reclining divine figure is Vishnu as Anantashayana. Shiva is not depicted reclining in the Dakshinamurti form.
• D) Meditating: He is seated in a yogic posture, which is why this option tempts aspirants. But the defining iconographic idea is that he teaches, and the image is named for that role.

For Mains, this idol links to Shaiva philosophy, the guru-shishya tradition and the iconography studied under Indian art and culture. Temple sculpture of the Chola and Pallava periods and the niche images in South Indian temples show how such forms encoded doctrine.

Trap: Students see the seated, eyes-half-closed posture and pick Meditating. Remember that the name Dakshinamurti points to the teaching role, and that the sages around him are the key visual clue.