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Bhagwan Shri Dattatreya is known as Avinashi (non-destroyable),
Siddharaj, Yogiraj etc. He has been ever advising and guiding his
devotees in the worldly and spiritual affairs, yogasadhana and devotion
to God. He had many Avatars from Vedic times to date. Of these, sixteen
Avatars are regarded as the chief ones.
‘Shri Gurucharitra’ is a great volume in Marathi in ovi form, which
depicts the life-mission of Shripad Shri Vallabha and Shri Narsinha
Saraswati, the two Avatars of Datta which took place in the Kaliyug. In
the fourth chapter of this volume, the account of the birth of Shri
Datta under the parentage of Atri-Anasuya in Krityug has been given.
This is the fifth Avatar amongst the above mentioned sixteen Avatars.
The celebration of the birth days of the sixteen Avatars of Shri Datta,
was introduced at Ambejogai (Marathwada), Maharashtra by Shri Datta’s
great favourite devotee Shri Dasopant. This was recorded by the revered
Vasudevanand Saraswati, another great devotee of Shri Datta and he wrote
in Sanskrit ‘Shri Dattatreya Shodash Avatar Jayanti Kalp’.
Mahamahopadhyaya Pandit Pandurang-shastri Goswamy has written a most
erudite precious volume ‘Dattopasana Kalpadrum’ in
Marathi to depict all the information about Shri Dattatreya from Vedic
times.
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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.
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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I am looking to buy this book.
ReplyDeleteNot internet copy. Do u know where can I get it