Lord Dattatreya
Origin
As per the Markandeya Purana, in ancient times, there was a debauched Brahmin named Kausika, who had a chaste and pious wife called Sandili. Inspite of her husband’s bad character she considered him as her Lord. Kausika, however, was attached to a harlot in the town and spent most of his time in her company. One day when Kausika had no money left with him, he was pushed out of the harlot’s house. He returned home with a broken heart and a maimed and worn out body. Sandili received him warmly. Days passed in her husband’s service and in spite of what had happened earlier, Kausika requested his wife to lead him to the harlot, as he was smitten by her. Sandili, obedient as ever, carried her ornaments on one hand, Kausika who was maimed on the other shoulder and started for the harlot’s house one dark night.
On the way it so happened that a sage Mandavya, who was hanged without any offence by the soldiers of the ruling king, was lying there alive on account of his Yogic powers. This sage was hurt by the body of Kausika who was on the shoulder of Sandili who walked in the darkness of the night. The sage cursed the person that he would leave the world at Sun-rise. On hearing this, Sandili was shocked. She sent a touching appeal to the Sun, not to rise at all so that her husband could not die. The sun complied with the wish of this chaste woman and the activities of the world were consequently stopped. The gods in heaven could not get their share (Havih) as sacrifices were not performed by the people. Thus the entire cycle of sacrifices, rain, grain and such other mundane routines came to a standstill and there was great chaos all over the universe.
The gods then went to Vishnu who directed them to propitiate Anasuya who was a chaste woman and who was performing a great penance with her husband Atri the mind-born son of Brahma. Accordingly, all gods with Brahma, Vishnu and Shankar as their heads, went to the hermitage of Atri and Anasuya and requested Anasuya, the great Sati, to help them. The kind-hearted Anasuya showed her readiness to accompany them though she was quite aware of the powers of gods to do anything they desired.
Anasuya met Sandili and free and pleasant conversation between the two great Satis ensued centering round the theme of a wife's devotion to her husband. She finally won over the heart of Sandili and told her the mission of her coming over there explaining how for her sake alone the entire universe was in trouble. Sandili agreed to consider the problem favorably but was worried for her life without her husband. Anasuya promised her that she would see to it that her husband would get a new life. Sandili cheered the world with the light of the sun while Anasuya preserved the life of the husband of Sandili by her power of chastity. The gods who appreciated Anasuya's services asked her to ask for a boon of her choice. After great hesitation she asked that the three principal gods – Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh should be born as sons to her and that she and her husband should be exempted from the cycle of birth and death. The gods granted the boon and departed.
As time went by one day Atri received Anasuya who just having finished the period of four days of her menstruation had come to pay respects by falling at the feet of her husband, and there, at the moment arose a light from the eyes of Atri which served as seed for the three mind-born sons who were Soma, Datta and Durvas. Soma was a partial incarnation of Brahma, Datta of Vishnu and Durvas of Shankar who was born, it is said, only after seven days as he had to meet with great trouble from the Haihayas.
Thus the three divinities took their births and fulfilled the promise given to Anasuya. Afterwards Soma went to heaven and Durvas moved all over the world. Dattatreya wishing to be without attachment left home.
Thus the three divinities took their births and fulfilled the promise given to Anasuya. Afterwards Soma went to heaven and Durvas moved all over the world. Dattatreya wishing to be without attachment left home.
As per the Bhavisyat Purana, the three gods with inspiration from their respective wives who were jealous of Anasuya's ever-increasing fame, go to test her chastity and ask her to serve them quite naked. Here Atri is present when the gods came to test her. Anasuya sprinkles over the gods the water that washed the feet of Atri and thus turns them into babies.
The Shree GuruCharitra traces the origin of Dattatreya in a Pauranic form. But there is no reference to the jealousy of the wives of the three gods. Here it is said that the gods, with Indra as their head went to the three principal gods and requested them to put a check to the powerful penance which was gaining in strength due to chastity and faithfulness of Anasuya for they themselves were afraid of her curse.
Symbolism
The typical form in which the Shree Datta appears is that of an ascetic with 3 heads & 6 arms. Shree Datta’s 3 heads and 6 hands symbolize unification of the trinity – Bramha, Vishnu and Shiva. His whole body is covered with Vibhuti (holy ash). He has an aura of a rising Sun around him and has lustrous Jatta (long hair) tied in a knot over his head. He is dressed in a deer skin and is a radiant and assuring figure for the devotees. His arms are seen to be holding various objects each of which has a spiritual connotation. Thus, he is seen with a Japa-mala (rosary), Kamandalu (holy pot), Damaru (holy musical instrument), Trishul (trident), Shankh (conch) and Sudharshana-chakra (a holy weapon). He is accompanied by a cow and four dogs.
The Cow is called 'Kamadhenu', the wish fulfilling cow. In the Vedic symbolism, the cow stands for the creation and also for our planet Earth. The connotation is that the Earth, because of the great burden on her and the rise of Adharma, has taken the form of a cow and is protected by Shree Datta. The four dogs represent the four Vedas. They also represent the four Yugas and the four states of existence.The four Vedas are – Rig Veda, Sama Veda, Yajur Veda and Atharva Veda. The fouy Yugas are - Krita, Treta, Dwapara and KaliYug.
The Cow is called 'Kamadhenu', the wish fulfilling cow. In the Vedic symbolism, the cow stands for the creation and also for our planet Earth. The connotation is that the Earth, because of the great burden on her and the rise of Adharma, has taken the form of a cow and is protected by Shree Datta. The four dogs represent the four Vedas. They also represent the four Yugas and the four states of existence.The four Vedas are – Rig Veda, Sama Veda, Yajur Veda and Atharva Veda. The fouy Yugas are - Krita, Treta, Dwapara and KaliYug.
The Trishul (trident) in Shree Datta’s hand ndicates that he has transcended the three-Gunas, which constitute the illusory world - Sattva (Purity and divine Knowledge) Raja (Activity and Passion), Tama (Ignorance and Inertia).
The Sudharshana-Chakra (disc) indicates that Shree Datta is beyond the cycles of time i.e. past, present and the future and his holding of 'Sudharshana-Chakra' means that he is the controller of time.
The Shankh (conch) represents the eternal sound 'OM’ – which is the manifestation of the soul and the life principle within the cosmos. OM is the word of power. It is the sacred symbol of Brahman or God. OM consists of A, U, M, and an Ardhamatra. OM is infinity. OM is eternity. OM is immortality. OM is Sat-Chit-Ananda (existence, consciousness and bliss absolute). In the beginning there was the word; the word was with God; the word itself was God. This is OM. The whole world also has come out of OM. OM is the Source of all power.
The Gadha(Mace) is symbolic of the instrument that subjugates pride. Shree Datta bestows humility to his devotees, He never punishes his devotees, he is compassionate enough to teach the essentiality of humbleness without punishing. The seeming punishment sometimes is a skilful uplifting of the devotee.
The Japa-mala (rosary) worn by Shree Datta reminds us that our primary duty is chanting Mantra (sacred name of Lord), meditation and surrender to God, and that our Moksha (liberation from the cycle of birth and death) depends on this discipline alone.
The Kamandalu (Water Carrier) is in essence the life carrier.
The Sudharshana-Chakra (disc) indicates that Shree Datta is beyond the cycles of time i.e. past, present and the future and his holding of 'Sudharshana-Chakra' means that he is the controller of time.
The Shankh (conch) represents the eternal sound 'OM’ – which is the manifestation of the soul and the life principle within the cosmos. OM is the word of power. It is the sacred symbol of Brahman or God. OM consists of A, U, M, and an Ardhamatra. OM is infinity. OM is eternity. OM is immortality. OM is Sat-Chit-Ananda (existence, consciousness and bliss absolute). In the beginning there was the word; the word was with God; the word itself was God. This is OM. The whole world also has come out of OM. OM is the Source of all power.
The Gadha(Mace) is symbolic of the instrument that subjugates pride. Shree Datta bestows humility to his devotees, He never punishes his devotees, he is compassionate enough to teach the essentiality of humbleness without punishing. The seeming punishment sometimes is a skilful uplifting of the devotee.
The Japa-mala (rosary) worn by Shree Datta reminds us that our primary duty is chanting Mantra (sacred name of Lord), meditation and surrender to God, and that our Moksha (liberation from the cycle of birth and death) depends on this discipline alone.
The Kamandalu (Water Carrier) is in essence the life carrier.
Teachings
Shree Datta is considered as an Adiguru. He is Shree Vishnu, Paramatma, who has come down on earth to guide his devotees and lead them to moksha. However, In spite of being a Guru himself, Shree Datta made 24 gurus from nature and thus set an example that it is possible to learn something from everyone however small they may be. Information about the 24 gurus made by Shree Datta is available in this page.
Throughout ancient times Shree Datta has taught his disciples the Universal Truth. To Kartavirya Arjun he gave the benediction of a thousand arms. However, when Arjuna got tired of material life he went back to Shree Datta and requested him to teach him the way to true happiness and liberation. Shree Datta then taught him the essence of the brahmadnyan. When Parshuram had rid the world of all the kshatriyas he went to Shree Datta to understand the true meaning of life and that's when Shree Datta expounded the Tripura Rahasya to Rama. Through stories and anecdotes the Lord explained the entire essence of Advaita Vedanta to Rama. King Alarka was instructed by his mother Madalsa to become a disciple of Shree Datta on Mahurgadh and he was also taught the principles of Advaita and thus became a jivanmukta.
In Kaliyug, in the form of Shreepad Shreevallabha, who is a brahmachari avatar, Shree Datta taught the principles of yoga to numerous yogis. Then, later, in the form of Shree Narsimha Saraswati, who is a sanyasi avatar, he taught his disciples the right way of living (dharma).
Shree Datta is avinashi - he is present through all the four yugas.
We are indeed blessed to be at his lotus feet.
"AVADHOOT CHINTAN SHREE GURUDEV DATTA"
Throughout ancient times Shree Datta has taught his disciples the Universal Truth. To Kartavirya Arjun he gave the benediction of a thousand arms. However, when Arjuna got tired of material life he went back to Shree Datta and requested him to teach him the way to true happiness and liberation. Shree Datta then taught him the essence of the brahmadnyan. When Parshuram had rid the world of all the kshatriyas he went to Shree Datta to understand the true meaning of life and that's when Shree Datta expounded the Tripura Rahasya to Rama. Through stories and anecdotes the Lord explained the entire essence of Advaita Vedanta to Rama. King Alarka was instructed by his mother Madalsa to become a disciple of Shree Datta on Mahurgadh and he was also taught the principles of Advaita and thus became a jivanmukta.
In Kaliyug, in the form of Shreepad Shreevallabha, who is a brahmachari avatar, Shree Datta taught the principles of yoga to numerous yogis. Then, later, in the form of Shree Narsimha Saraswati, who is a sanyasi avatar, he taught his disciples the right way of living (dharma).
Shree Datta is avinashi - he is present through all the four yugas.
We are indeed blessed to be at his lotus feet.
"AVADHOOT CHINTAN SHREE GURUDEV DATTA"
