He said: That constitutes knowledge of the Highest Secret,--of S'iva, the Reality--by which Siva, the Dakshinamukha, [**] becomes intuited. He is the Deity who, at the time of universal dissolution, absorbs all into Himself, and who shines and delights in the happiness of His own inherent bliss.

[Here the Upanishad mentions five mantras, [*+] containing respectively 24, 9, 18, 12, and 32 syllables, and recommends a contemplation of the Deity in one or another of His forms [*++] described as follows:]

1. I adore the three-eyed, moon-crested Dakshinamurti who is of pebble and silver colour, holding in the hands a rosary of pearls, a vessel of nectar, a book and the symbol of wisdom; having a serpent for his girdle, and putting on various ornaments.

2. May the milk-white three-eyed Primal Being (Bhava) grant us purity of thought, He who, seated at the foot of a fig tree, surrounded by S'uka and other sages, holding in the hands the symbol of the blessed wisdom, with axe and deer,--one of the hands resting on the knees, the

loins girdled round by a mighty serpent, a digit of the moon enclosed in His clotted hair!

3. May Dakshinamurti, the Gracious Lord, ever protect us, His body white with ashes, wearing a digit of the moon, with the lotus-like hands shining with the symbol of wisdom, a rosary, a lute, and a book; handsome with the yogic bell, seated in the posture of an expositor, surrounded by hosts of mighty sages, with serpents on, and clad in hide!

4. I adore Him who in His hands holds a via, a book and a rosary, with a cloudlike throat, who is rich in gifts, girdled by a mighty serpent, resorted to by S'uka and other sages; who has made the foot of a fig tree His abode.

5. I contemplate, for the attainment of the highest end, the Supreme Guru, the spouse of Bhavani, the serene-faced Primal Being, He who is spoken of in all the Vedas (the first utterances), whose

hands shine with the symbol (of wisdom), with a book and fire and a serpent, who, bedecked with garlands of pearls and a crown blazing forth brilliant with the digit of the moon, resides at the foot of a fig tree and removes the ignorance of all.

Devotion [**] consists in firmly dwelling in the constant thought that "I am He [*+]." Repetition of the mantra as inseparate from Him constitutes the means to that knowledge. To he concentrated in thought upon Him exclusively proves an effective aid to it. The dedicating of all bodily activity (to Him) forms the offering. The three states of consciousness (dhamans or avasthas, such as jagrat, svapna, and sushupti) are the proper time for it. The proper place is the twelve-pointed seat (i.e., the. sahasrara or thousand-spoked wheel in the cavity of the head).

Then again they asked Him as follows, full of faith: How comes His manifestation? What is His form? And who is His worshipper?