SRI DATTATREYA

SRI DATTATREYA

Sri DATTATREYA is considered as the oldest deity references to whom are found in the epics the Mahabharatha and the Ramayana. According to Dattatreya Upanishad of Adharvaveda he can appear as a child,and madman to help his devotees to attain moksha. He is considered as a ‘yoga purusha’ and is believed to have sixteen avatars or incarnations according to “Sri Dattatreya Shodasavatara Charitani” of Vasudevananda Saraswathi. Anasuya,daughter of Kardma Prajapati and wife of sage Atri fondly desired a son and the sage performed severe penance for a hundred years! Pleased with his faith and concentration all the three deities, Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswara presented themselves before the sage. Wondering at the appearance of the Trinity at the same time, sage Atri wanted to know the purpose of their arrival. He wanted a son equal to God in all respects from the greatest of Gods! With a smile on their faces the Gods replied that they are equal and represent the Absolute Brahman. Each God blessed the sage with a son and thus Brahma granted the Moon or Chandra while Vishnu gave  Datta and Siva granted sage Durvasa as Atri,s sons!

Datta means 'given’. Atreya means ‘the son of Atri’. Though a combination of the Trinity, Dattatreya is considered as the avatar of Vishnu. His siblings are the Moon and the sage Durvasa. In the Nath traditions he is considered as the avatar of Siva. He is also revered as ‘Adi Guru’ -- ‘Lord of Yoga’ exhibiting tantric traits. Dattatreya is also believed to be the author of “ “Tripura Rahasya”, a treatise on Advaita vedanta, given to the great sage Parasurama. Sri Dattatreya’s birthplace is in Tamilnadu near Tirumurthy Malai, Udumalapet, Coimbatore District. Sri Amanalingeswarar Temple at Dhali is said to be his place of birth. A few people dispute it and say that he was born in the jungles of Kashmir near the Amarnath cave. He traveled over Karnataka, Andhra,Maharashtra and Gujarat. He is considered as an Avadhuta and had realized himself at Gangapura in Karnataka. It is said that he performed severe tapas for twelve thousand years on Mount Girnar!! Swami Vivekananda points out that the Mount is sacred because of this penance!

There is an interesting story regarding the birth of Sri Dattatreya. Having heard of the  renowned chastity of Anasuya,wife of sage Atri, Brahma, Vishnu,and Siva wanted to test her! They came to Atri’s ashram in disguise as sadhus.They were received with due respect and offered hospitality. They agreed to have food in the ashram on condition that Anasuya should serve food without clothes! Sensing the trick being played by the gods, chaste Anasuya agreed to the condition!! She prayed to her husband Atri that her chastity should not be outraged on account of the condition laid down by the sadhus! The fake sadhus came after bath and sat for food. Anasuya brought some holy water and sprinkled it on the three sadhus when lo! behold! the three sadhus were transformed into three crying babies!!!  She then took them up, fed the babies, put them in cradles and looked after them. This went on for a while. Not finding their husbands in Brahma Loka, Vakunta and Kailash respectively, goddesses Saraswathi, Lakshmi and Parvati were much worried.They knew what had happened and arrived at the ashram of sage Atri. They felt sorry for what their husbands had done and requested Anasuya to restore their spouses! Taking a lenient view on the great gods, Anasuya again sprinkled  some holy water on the three babies when the three Gods regained their original form!They wondered at the purity and chastity of Anasuya and granted her request for a son! All the Gods combined into one form with three heads representing Brahma, Vishnu and Siva! The Devis were very happy to get back their husbands and returned to their places!

There are a number of traditions in the worship of  Sri Dattatreya. A few of them are 1 Puranic 2 Mahanubhav, 3 Sri Gurucharitra, 4 Sakalamat Sampradaya, 5, Avadhuta Panth and others. In the Puranic tradition we find Kartaviryarjuna, king Yadu and even sage Parasurama as the disciples of Sri Dattatreya. In the Mahanubhava tradition, started by Chakradar Swamy we find references to the Bhagavata. Gurucharitra follows from Sripadavallabha and Narasimha Swamy. Sakalamat, started by Manic Prabhu is for all faiths irrespective of  caste, creed, color and community. Avadhut Panth was started by Panth Maharaj Bale Kundrikar.

Sri Dattatreya is represented with six hands with the lowest two having mala or garland and kamandalu( vessel for water). The middle pair hold ‘ damaru’(sound producing) and the trisula or the trident. The top two hands wield the holy Sankh or conch and the Chakra or disc. Sometimes Gada or mace is also shown.Sri Dattatreya is shown always with a cow in the background and four dogs near his feet. The dogs, many say, represent the four Vedas! But that is disputed by Ramakrishna Saraswathi,disciple of Narasimha Saraswathi. He says that the dogs should not be interpreted as the Vedas! They are similar to beings attracted to God Dattatreya! There are a number of Temples and Shrines built and dedicated to Lord Dattatreya all over India  and devotees throng to offer worship to him. The Datta Peetam in Mysore with Sri Ganapathi Sachidananda Swami as its head is famous in South India. May Lord Sri Dattatreya shower his blessings on all of us!