Dattatreya
Salutation to Lord Dattatreya who created the universe, who is predominate for existence and destruction and is saviour from the bonds of sorrows of life.
Dattatreya Upanishad in Atharvana Veda mentions this avatar. He preached Sri Vidya upaasana (Tripura rahasya) to Parasurama in Tretayuga. He also preached Ashtanga yoga (the eightfold path of yoga). He had preached the dharma of providing food and alms to the needy in Kaliyuga.
It is believed that ‘Datta’ in the guise of Bhikshu (seeker of food) visits the people’s homes even today to preach the importance of righteousness to them. Lord is also visualized in splendorous form emitting light of truth, wisdom and dharma.
Adornments
‘Datta’ adorns himself with the trident, drum, conch, chakra, kamandal and a rosary (garland). The endowments indicate that the trident kills the ego, the drum awakens the soul and removes ignorance while the conch blows out the inherent talents and the Japa mala represents the eternal remembrance of God. The Chakra indicates the life cycle.
Three heads of the Lord illustrate the gunas (nature) of human beings, Sattva, Rajo and Tamo. His six hands represent yama, niyama, sama, dama, daya and shanti. Kamadhenu represents five elements of nature and the dogs represent human passions of Iccha (desire), Vasana (fondness), Asha (lust) and Trishna (mirage).
Lord has command over all these instincts of human beings to which the beings get attracted, very easily. Devotees can alleviate these problems by adoring him.
He is always accompanied by four dogs, representing the protection of Vedas which always substantiates a righteous path to the people. Kamadhenu in the form of a pure white cow represents purity at heart, mind and action.
Cow is considered the most subservient animal expounding in itself all gods, devatas, and spiritual embodiments. Lord is always seated under the Audumbara tree. It is a celestial tree showering nectar and providing solace to the people.
Works by Dattatreya
Avadhoota Gita is a great treatise of Advaita Vedanta and he was also considered as the guru for tantra vidya. He pronounced Bhakti Yoga (devotion) and Jnana yoga (knowledge) in his works. He also composed Jivanmukta Gita which speaks about the need for Jnanam (knowledge) and Hartayana Samhita which speaks about Tantra and another dissertation called Dattatreya Tantra.
He initiated Datta parampara (Sectary) which promotes the importance of Guru. He exemplified that we can consider anyone a guru, it could be the elements of earth, animals, pets or nature. Lessons can be learnt from any source and he always pronounced that he had twenty-four gurus. He was free from intolerance or prejudice of any kind.
He advises the seekers of truth to learn from any source which will help them to attain salvation.
Teachings by Dattatreya
Dattaguru was a great philosopher who preached the true meaning of tyaga (sacrifice). He renounced everything. Lord pronounces in Dattatreya Upanishad, “not by action, not by progeny, nor even by self, but renunciation alone is immortality attained.
Real renunciation is giving up of mine and not mere abandoning of duties. Living a selfless life requires giving up one’s ego. Lord Krishna in Bhagavad Gita advises Arjuna, “Leave everything unto me. Just do your duty”.
“The essence of whole Vedanta is this knowledge, this supreme knowledge, that I am by nature the formless, all-pervasive self”. Datta himself pronounces this in Avadhoota Gita. Datta is regarded as a Guru and a living human being even today. His devotees acknowledge him as “Dattatreya thrimurthi roopa, tribhuvana lokaarakshakaa.”
He is the removal of all sins of the devotees
Jagatutapathi karthre cha |
Sthithi samharah ethave |
Bhava paasa vimukhthaya |
Dathathreya namosthuthe ||
