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Hence it can be really called ‘An Encyclopedia’ of Shri Datta. It has
five parts and the fourth part depicts elaborately the biographies of
sixteen Avatars of Shri Datta, based on the Sanskrit script of revered
Vasudevanand Saraswati. The devotees of Shri Datta may keenly desire to
know about these Avatars and so I am attempting to give this account in
brief.
FIRST AVATAR - YOGIRAJ
After the creation of this universe the living beings had to suffer
from miseries as per their past actions. This made Brahmadeo anxious and
so he surrendered to Shri Vishnu, the Lord of the universe saying,“Dattoham Dattoham”
(I give myself). Shri Vishnu appeared before Brahmadeo and advised him
to practise yoga and know the eternal principle whereby he was relieved
of the miseries, and had the peace of mind. Those, who recite“Dattoham Dattomam”, will also gain the same fruit.
This Avatar took place on Kartik Shuddha 15, Krittika Nakshatra, Wednesday, first prahar at sun-rise.This Avatar
propogated yoga, hence it is known as ‘Yogeshwar’ or ‘Yogiraj’. He
looked most charming, delicate and snowwhite in colour. Like Shri
Krishna, he had one head and four hands.
SECOND AVATAR - ATRIVARAD
When Atri lived as a
grahastha, he had many sons. They were learned and erudite; but he
longed to have a son, who would be famous in all the three lokas and
would guide the people to attain the highest goal of life. He,
therefore, observed severe penance on the Riksha mountain. Due to the
lustre of his penance, the three lokas suffered from heat and all the
creatures and birds became uneasy. All the Gods, Rishi-munis approached
Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh. Then Brahma, riding on hans, Vishnu on garud
and Mahesh on nandi appeared before Atri and roused him from his
meditation. Atri bowed to them and said, “I adored only one God then who
are you three ?” The three Gods said, “We are the same whom you aimed
at. We appear in three forms; but we are one. Maya (illusion) is
threefold sattwa, raj and tamas. Raj creates, sattwa protects and tam
destroys. These three powers are prominent. Parmatma possesses all these
three powers.” Atri was blessed with a son by the three Gods as
desired. Hence this Avatar is known as ‘Atrivarad’. He had lustre like
hot gold and a smiling face. This Avatar appeared on Kartik Vadya
Pratipada, Rohini Nakshatra, Thursday, first prahar and first muhurta.
He had one or three heads and held Brahma’s garland and kamandalu in the
lower two hands, God Shiva’s drum and trishul in the middle two hands
and Vishnu’s shankha and chakra in the upper two hands.
THIRD AVATAR - SHRI DATTATREYA
Bhagwan Shri Hari
appeared before Atri as a boy on the Kartik Vadya 2, Mrug Nakshatra,
Friday at sun-rise on the first muhurta. He looked bluish as Indranil in
colour. His face was pleasant as the moon, his four hands possessed
shankha, chakra, gada and padma. Vibhuti was applied on his body and he
had locks of hair on his head. He appeared saying, “Dattoham”. Atri and
Anasuya said, “We shall not be content till you take birth from us.”
Being pleased with their speech, he entered in the heart of Atri as a
spark of lightening and afterwards took birth as a son of Anasuya.
FOURTH AVATAR - KALAGNI SHAMAN
Amongst the sixteen
Avatars of Shri Datta, this fourth Avatar is regarded as most prominent.
Due to the hard penance at the Riksha hill, Atri looked very bright and
his body became too hot. Bhagwan Shri Hari came to Atri to cool down his
heat. Due to this achievement this Avatar is known as ‘Kalagnishaman’.
When Atri opened his eyes, he saw before him the most loving Anasuya.
The bright lustre of his eyes entered in the body of Anasuya on
Margshirsh Shuddha 7 and nine month’s period was completed in 9 days
(one day being or ritatithi) and the Divine Form appeared before Anasuya
on Kartik 15. Anasuya wondered to see this. She entreated the God in
humility saying, “I shall not be content until you take birth as a human
being from my womb.” Subsequently Shri Hari appeared as a newly born
baby and lay on her bedstead. At this time it was Mrug Nakshatra and the
moon was just rising. Durwas and Chandra also were born at the same
time.
FIFTH AVATAR - YOGIJAN VALLABHA
When Shri Dattatreya
appeared at Anasuya’s ashram, Indra followed by the Gods, Rishi-munis,
Gandharvas, Charanas, Yogis and saints came to see him. Knowing their
eagerness, Shri Datta appeared as a boy and advised them about yoga. He
said, “I have no body, no time. I am devoid of birth and death. I take
various forms to bless the devotees. Though these acts are transitory
this does not affect my tatvic state.” This Avatar is known for the
propagation of yogapath and for removing the obstacles coming in the way
and blessing the followers of yoga. This Avatar is, therefore, known as
‘Yogijan Vallabha’.
SIXTH AVATAR - LEELA VISHWAMBHAR
There
was a great famine in the country. Animals could not get food and
water. So they were reduced to boney skeletons. Thieves and dacoits
looted the public. Rishi-munis could not perform their rites and
sacrifices were stopped. Rishi-munis, Brahmins etc. surrendered to Shri
Datta, who was lying in the laps of Anasuya and feeding on her breast.
Hearing the prayers of the people, Shri Datta appeared as Leela
Vishwambhar before them and offered to them food, clothes and provisions
and satisfied them all. This was achieved easily and hence he is known
as ‘Leela Vishwambhar’. One day Shri Datta addressed the devotees as
follows, “This life is like a vast forest. Ahankar is like a big
mountain surrounded by big trees, creepers and plants. Kama i.e. cupid
is a fierce lion, krodha (anger) is an enraged serpent, vasana (desires)
are great lakes. Those, who cannot swim in the water, get drowned.”
Shri Datta then changed this scene. The devotees, therefore, asked,
“Where is the fierce forest ?” Shri Datta replied smilingly, “It has
immersed whence it was created. It comes into existence due to ignorance
and when it is wiped off, it vanishes. Those, who remember me, get rid
of the family miseries. All this physical world is destroyable and Atma,
which is at the root, is only lasting.” The devotees enquired, “How is
the Atma ?” Shri Datta replied, “I am that Atma. I am known by good
action and intense devotion.”
SEVENTH AVATAR-SIDDHARAJ
Shri Datta Guru appeared as a boy named Vishwambhar in the Badri
forest, where several siddhas were observing penance of different sorts.
Some had achieved siddhis and were enjoying many pleasures. Some
believed in God, while some did not. Vishwambhar sat in a corner in the
assembly of the siddhas. Seeing the lustrous boy, the siddhas asked him,
“Who are you ?”
“Shri Datta.” I am not discernible.
- Q. “Which is your abode ?”
- A. “I have no abode. No one is my master.”
- Q. “Which is your yoga ? What is the mode of your study ?”
- A. “Mine is Chitra yoga and there is no special mode of my study.”
- Q. “Which is your mudra ?”
- A. “Mine is a compassionate niranjani mudra.”
- Q. “What do you see in this mudra ?”
- A. “I see what is beyond meditation.
My aim is that principle which is beyond the threefold meditations,
meditator and the object of meditation.”
- Q. “Which is your path ?”
- A. “My path is that which gives realisation of the Shivatattva (eternal principle).”
While this dialogue was
going on, 11 Rudras, 12 Adityas, 49 Rudraganas, Rishis, Munis,
Sadhyadeo, Gandharva, Yaksha, Kinnar etc. were passing through the sky.
Their motion being hindered, they all came down on the floor of
Badrivan. All the siddhas wondered to see this. Each siddha said that
because of his penace, their motion was hindered and they came down on
the earth.
Shri Datta, in the body-form, said, “Why do you struggle ? One, who
can remove the hindrance of their motion and allow them to go through
the sky, will be the best siddha.’’
All agreed to this and each one came forward and said one after
another, “I have removed the obstacle in your movement. You can go to
your places.’’ But none of them could move a bit.
Then Shri Datta said, “Oh you Rishi-munis and others, you may
please go to your places as the hindrance in your movement has since
been removed.” Hearing this, all those who had descended, bowed to Shri
Datta and flew away in the sky. Seeing this, all the siddhas realised
that the boy Yogi was the Parmatma. They, therefore, gave up their
vanity and surrendered to him.
The boy Yogi, Shri Datta, said, “I am ‘Siddharaj’, ‘Yogiraj’. I am
called ‘Hari’ being Kalagnishaman and remover of miseries. While
thinking about Atma and in order to attain me, one should study mantras.
I am Mantraraj, undestroyable and Parabrahma. All the universe
is under my control; but I am controlled by mantras. All mantras,
studied as per due procedure, give siddhi (power of doing certain
things) to sadhak.” Saying this, he further told them some mantras and
their procedure. This is known as ‘Siddha Rajagam’. Shri Datta told this
again, about 500 years ago, to his great favourite devotee Dasopant of
Ambejogai (Maharashtra), who has preserved it in a written script. The
publication of ‘Siddha Rajagam’ will be truly most valuable and
appreciable.
This Avatar took place on Magh Shuddha 15 on Magh Nakshatra in the morning when it is the time of the cows
The love for children and intense mercifulness of Shri Datta are observed in this Avatar.
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