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Parayan

Written by

Santhipriya
(nr j1945@ gma il. com)

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“ I bow to Lord Dattatreya who is Sadguru, the absolute, personification of
pure knowledge, beyond duality (of you and me), all pervasive, pure, eternal,
the embodiment of Parabrahman, bestower of supreme happiness and bliss,
beyond mind, body and attributes of the Trigunas namely Sattva, Rajas and
Tamas.”

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 Introduction
Lord Dattatreya embodiment of three prime divines- Lord Shiva, Lord Brahma
and Lord Vishnu incarnated in this universe with three heads, body smeared
with ash, the divine Cow Kamadhenu standing behind and four Dogs under his
feet and wandered in the appearance of an Avadhoot.

Maharishi Suthaga who gave discourses on the divines to the sages and saints
in the Naimisaranya forest reportedly mentioned the incarnation of Lord
Dattatreya as sixth incarnation of Lord Vishnu contrary to the views of others
who believe that the sixth incarnate of Lord Vishnu was Lord Parasurama. Many
are not aware that the divines have the power to take more than one
incarnation in the same era, contemporary to each other for some specific
reasons, since all those manifestations were from the divine energies of the
Prime divines but appeared in different forms.

The story of Lord Dattatreya is mentioned in Garuda Purana, Brahmanda Purana

and other sacred scripts of Hinduism. Devotees believe Lord Dattatreya to be
the Principal Guru (Master Guru of Gurus) from whom the subsequent lineage
of Perfect Masters called Gurus emerged as decedents of Lord Dattatreya. He
is adored by the Nath sampradaya in Northern India, who consider themselves
to be in the lineage of Lord Dattatreya. They claim him to be Adi Guru (Principal
Guru) whose fame spread across Maharashtra and Karnataka.

The lineage of Guru Parambara emerged only after the manifestation of Lord
Dattatreya. Sadguru or spiritual masters like Shirdi Saibaba, Sree Pada

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Vallabha, Shri Nrusimha Saraswathi, Shri Gajanan Maharaj, Shri Timbe Swami
and Shri Manik Prabhu were the Sadgurus who manifested in his lineage. The
literal meaning of the word Lord Dattatreya is - Datta (Given) and Atreya (son
of the sage Athri), suggesting the one who has given himself away as the son
of sage Athri for welfare of the universe was Lord Dattatreya. Some say that
Datta means the one who gave and since he gave himself for the welfare of the
universe he was called Lord Dattatreya.

Prayer or worship is considered to be an integral part of the Hindu religion.

Worship are of two types. The first is through a ritual called Pooja, which
everyone would not be able to perform due to several restrictions and
regulations prescribed. Initiation from a master (Guru) is required to perform
certain Poojas. Otherwise the Poojas can be performed either directly or with
the help of pundits. It is important that the mantras are to be chanted with
proper pronouncement of hymns (mantras) or pronouncement of each word,
lest it may result in negative impact. The second form of worship is reading or
recital called Parayan. The story of certain divines or spiritual masters are read
or recited from the holy/sacred books called Parayan books for specific period
of time prescribed for each of them.

Few centuries before, which was post Vedic period, the worship of divines
through recital or reading the stories of spiritual masters in silence from the
Parayan books called Parayan Pooja was practiced which subsequently spread
to many places facilitating almost everyone to easily adapt and practice for
fulfilment of their desires. The Parayan Pooja was initiated by saints and sages
of yester years for the benefit of common mankind and soon spread widely
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though it is not known when this worship pattern was introduced or who put it
into practice.

In the worship through Parayan, two kinds of Parayan was in vague. One
involved individual Parayan wherein the individuals read or chanted the
contents of the sacred books in silence in their Pooja hall or home. The other
one is called group Parayan, in which many devotees either assembling in one
place or participated in the Parayan sitting at home, reading or reciting the
contents of the Parayan books at a specific period of time announced for the
group Parayan. Although both methods have their own regulations and
restrictions, the easiest form of offering worship was to continuously read or
recite the entire life story of some of the spiritual masters called Mahans or the
life story of certain deities for specific period of days prescribed for them. The
mass belief was that by performing Parayan Pooja one’s desire gets fulfilled.
Initially sacred/holy Hindu texts like Shrimad Bhagavata, Chandi Saptha Sathi,
Soundaryalahiri, Lakshmi Purana, Sita Kalyana, Thirupughazh, and
Thiruvasagam, some parts of the Ramayana, some parts of Mahabharata,
Bhagavad Gita, Guru Gita, Guru Govindam, Kandashashti and Kanthar Anubhuti
were recited in the name of Parayan because the verses in them were simpler
to read or recite. Some in them were daily recited, some once a week and some
others recited once a month.

When this cult was in practice, few centuries ago the recital of stories of certain
enlightened souls called Mahans too emerged in the name of Parayan. Perhaps
recital of Guru Charithra or Guru Samhita was the first in the line of such
practice. Guru Charithra or Guru Samhita written in the 14th or 15th century was
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the sacred book written, originally in Marathi language, in the form of the
conversation between Shri Narasimha Saraswathi, and his disciple called
Namdharak, which recounts the life of Lord Dattatreya and Sripada Srivallabha.

Few centuries later, the life story of Shri Shirdi Saibaba and Lord
Venkatachalapathi Charithra became the most popular Parayan book for their
devotees. Although the story of Lord Dattatreya had also been read and recited
in the name of Parayan, and lectured through discourses called Satsang initially
it did not receive wide acceptance in most of the Southern parts of India,
reasons for which is unknown. However the life story of Lord Dattatreya were
read or recited in the form of Parayan in the state of Maharashtra, parts of
Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. It was also no secret that the stories of certain
divines read as Parayan were confined to select sect of close group of people
who were the followers of those deities. Perhaps for the same reason the life
story of Lord Dattatreya had also not spread in many parts of southern region.
It was in only after the establishment of the Datta Peetha, the year 1971, in a
small village called Senthamangalam that the glory of Lord Dattatreya began
to spread in Tamilnadu while Shri Ganapathi Sachithanantha Swamigal of
Mysore Datta Peet has been responsible for spreading the glory of Lord
Dattatreya far and wide.

The practice of recital or reading the Parayan books were done:

 to get the wishes or desires fulfilled
 relieved from health issues, to beget progeny or related issues
 to alleviate the problems or sufferings encountered

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  to beget good education/knowledge/focus in studies /to secure good
results in some field.
 for success in employment and interviews
 financial, material, emotional, family and relationship related issues.
 in pursuit of spiritual path
 to overcome pride, ego, control over worldly materials and sensations.
 for peace and harmony in their family.

Depending upon the nature of one’s problem, the Parayan books were read or
recited for a period of 7 days (one chapter a day for 7 days or full book once a
day for seven days) to 49 days (same book read again and again 7 times) as
prescribed for recital in those Parayan books. Generally it is stated that the
contents in the Parayan books are to be completely read or recited within a
day. However if one does not find sufficient time to complete the reading in a
day’s time, it could also be read or recited as per their convenience diving them
into 3 to 4 divisions, but within the prescribed period of days stipulated. The
practice of reading or recital of Parayan Books have been initially spread by
sages and saints amongst the public at various periods of time.

How do one feel when engaged in the recital or reading of the Parayan book?
During Parayan the readers wavering mind comes under control over the
worldly objects and sensations and they feel as if they were in tranquil. Due to
severe sufferings encountered on account of several issues, the mind gets
corrupt surrounded with negative thoughts. When the energy waves of the
negative feelings gets released from the body, which happens, the negative
waves contaminate the good energies surrounding them, further exerting a
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subtle effect on those around corrupting their mind too. Therefore it is
necessary that infusion of positive energy would be the best solution to face
the challenges effectively with clear thoughts and to overcome and encounter
the problems which lay beyond ones’ control to rectify them with right
approach. Therefore the best way to infuse positive energy was derived by
engaged in the process of Parayan wherein ones concentration remained
confined to only on -Mahans or Deities- thereby driving away other unwanted
thoughts.

One may wonder whether the intended mental strength is derived instantly on
commencing the process of Parayan. Certainly not to be expected, however if
not from the very first day of the commencement of the recital, at least in the
next few days one would certainly realize noticeable tranquil of mind in which
stage the negative feelings begin to vanish occupied by positive thoughts
which releases positive energy from the one engaged in the recital. This is
comparable to the philosophies of meditative waves which travel and penetrate
into the mind of those whose favourable act is needed to readdress the
grievances or penetrate into the mind of those, whose parting of ways caused
mental agony thereby energizing their mind to think positively to realize the
truth and lay platform for peace, wherever they may be staying. This is only a
small example to explain the power of recital or reading the Parayan books with
absolute faith and devotion.

Because the impact of thought waves lay foundation to beget positive energy
which lead one to reach the feet of divine to get redressed of their problems,
the recital or reading of Parayan books were adapted for specific period of time
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in which period the power of chants of words or scripts carry the plea or request
of the reader in the form of their mind energy waves and release them at the
feet of specific divines whose mercy or grace was needed for reversal of their
sufferings. The divines too who are always compassionate, when receive the
justified demand of the reciter in the form of the reciter’s energy waves fallen
at their feet, they ensure the wishes succeed. This the basic philosophy, belief
and principle of the Parayan process of worship that has been introduced has
been as explained above and is left to the individuals to believe or disbelieve
such philosophies and practices and to adapt the Parayan process to derive
the real fruits of Parayan.

Even though there were no apparent regulations on how the Parayan books is
to be read or recited continuously from beginning to end without break, all that
were told were based on word of mouth spread information only. There were
strong reasons to believe that the recital or reading of the entire book could
also be performed by dividing them into few parts, but should be completed
within the prescribed period of time stipulated for the recital.

While it is said that the life story of Lord Venkatachalapathy is to be completed

within 90 days, the recitation period for Parayan books are in the order of seven
days or multiples of seven. That means reading or recitation of the complete
book- seven times within a day or completed within seven days by reading or
reciting some divisions of the book per day and completed within seven days,
or the entire book to be completely read seven times within seven days and so
on. Remember performing the Parayan should be limited to one request at a
time and for multiple requests, that much multiple recital would be needed.
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When I tried to understand why the logic of seven has been prescribed, I
realized that seven has been the most important number in many ways. A week
has seven days, seven planets, seven sages who were initially born as Saptha
rishis, seven oceans, Rainbow on sky which has seven colours, seven important
virgin deities, seven universes within the cosmos, music comprises of seven
tones, seven stages to attain the power of Kundalini etc. Therefore it could have
been the reason for prescribing seven times/days/multiples of seven for the
recital of Parayan books. It could also be because the story of Lord Dattatreya
and Shri Pada Shri Vallabha has been rendered in seven days by Shri Narasimha
Saraswathi Swamiji to his disciple Namadakhara, the number seven may have
gained importance for the recital of the Parayan books.

What is the benefit one derive out of reciting the Parayan book of Lord
Dattatreya? Besides in fulfilment of wishes as cited in pre para seven above,
recital of the Parayan book of Lord Dattatreya also remove Pithru Dosha (Sins
caused for neglecting ancestors), bring peace and harmony in the family,
eradicate the ill effects of evil souls like Ghosts and spirits and also lead into
the path of enlightenment called wisdom.

In view of above reasons I have compiled the life story of Lord Dattatreya in
seven parts for easy recital or to perform Parayan spread over to seven days,
one chapter a day.

While in service I encountered several strange events in my life. It is not known

why or how they happened. This book had also been written in one such
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situation when I was attracted by the very name of Lord Dattatreya who deeply
entrenched himself into my heart.

During many years of my service in Dewas, a small district in Madhya Pradesh,

few of my Maratha friends used to visit Lord Dattatreya temple and perhaps
my association with them was the reason why I was attracted toward Lord
Dattatreya. Those were the days when I would delighted hearing the name of
Lord Dattatreya and I made it a practice to visit a very old Lord Dattatreya
temple in a small village called Bamankedha on way to Ujjain from Dewas. It
was in that temple my attachment with Lord Dattatreya grew stronger.

I do not remember the year when in one of the Tamil Magazines namely
Kalavalli, edited by Shri Nagaraja Sharma, a serial on Lord Dattatreya was
getting published. I was a regular subscriber of the said magazine to read the
story on Lord Dattatreya. When I read in the story unknowingly I was further
attracted by the names of Renuka Devi, Lord Dattatreya, Lord Parasurama and
Gooseberry tree called Nellie Maram in Tamil etc which prominently appear in
the story of Lord Dattatreya. Unfortunately the Magazine discontinued its
publication midway. Once when I went to Bangalore on an official duty, I
happened to get a book on Lord Dattatreya written by his holiness Ganapathi
Sachithanantha Swamigal of Mysore Datta Peet. Attracted by the Swamiji, when
I met him in person along with my wife to receive his blessings to write a book
on Lord Dattatreya. In the meanwhile I purchased few other books on Lord
Datta and read them besides collecting some information through websites.
Finally with all the inputs in hand including that of the book written by his

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Holiness Sree Sree Sree Ganapathi Sachithanantha Swamigal, I wrote the
Parayan book on Lord Dattatreya in Tamil and published it in my website.
Jai Datta Deva

Santhipriya
(N.R. Jayaraman)
Email:nrj1945 @gmail.com )

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 First day Parayan
Om Dattatreyaaya Vidmahe

Yogeeswaraaya Deemahey
Thanno Datta Prachothayaath

Creation of cosmic
According to Soundaryalahiri and Sakthi Puranas, the two sacred Hindu texts,
only an unknown soul namely Paramatman existed trillionth and millionth years
ago when even the cosmic was unborn. The unknown soul also called
Parasakthi, was embodiment of three male divines-Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu and
Lord Brahma.

Once when Paramatman decided to create the cosmos consisting of fourteen

worlds, three prime divines namely Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma
emerged out of metaphysical Parasakthi. Once out from Parasakthi, Lord
Brahma, the designated power of creation wasted no time in evolving the
universe consisting of twelve worlds. Following three worlds, he released
countless matters and other beings of different nature, both static and moving,
besides human beings.

Lord Brahma brought out eternal sages and Saptha Maharishis such as
Angirasa, Margasi, Krathu, Athri, Vashishta, Palasa and Pulasthiya as his mind
sons (Manasa Puthras in Sanskrit). Maharishi Athri was second amongst the
seven mind sons of Lord Brahma. Then in instalments emerged, several beings

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of different nature from Lord Brahma. Simultaneously Maharishi Kartha
Prajapathi, greatest amongst the sages too came out from another side of Lord
Brahma.

Several hundred centuries passed after the cosmos was created and the
creatures began to live sans ethos, uncivilised and led life of their own.
Watching the fast deteriorating lifestyle of humans, Lord Brahma was
concerned about the future of the universe. He realized that in order to stem
the tide of fast eroding ethos amongst the humans and to draw them into the
path of civility, a manifestation was urgently needed. Taking into consideration
the basic tenets written in the scriptures and after considering several other
aspects, he realized that only by someone who get birth through Maharishi
Athri would be able to stem the malady and draw the humans into the path of
civility.

Marriage of Sage Athri

Maharishi Athri was celibacy, but it was destined that only through a virtuous
son to be born to him and his wife, fast deteriorating values getting destroyed
in the cosmos could be stemmed. Therefore the first task was to explain to the
Maharishi the extent of eroding values and maladies spreading in the universe,
the need of incarnate to bring back the golden era, the truth of destiny and
then to finally convince him to get married to bring out an incarnate through
him. Unless he was sufficiently convinced, he would refuse to enter into the act
of marriage. Next difficult task was to find a suitable partner to the Maharishi.
After analysing all aspects and options in depth, Lord Brahma zeroed in on a

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good plan of action which would end up with the marriage of the Maharishi
with a suitable partner.

Kartha Prajapathi the greatest amongst the sages too emerged from one of the
sides of Lord Brahma when cosmos was created. Many years later, he married
one of the great grand-daughters of Lord Brahma himself and gave birth to
nine girls. One amongst the nine daughters was Anusuya, the simplest,
disciplined and virtuous woman. Lord Brahma believed that if she could be
persuaded to marry Athri Maharishi, then the son to be born to them would
end the eroding moral values in the universe and ensure the humans tread into
the path of spiritual power. He therefore set the ball of action roll in that
direction.

By enacting several divine plays, though Lord Brahma got Anusuya married to
Maharishi Athri, destiny denied any offspring to the married couple for several
thousands of years after their marriage contrary to the expectations of Lord
Brahma who expected a child from them very soon. Though the couple too
were saddened by the denial of progeny, yet both continued to perform their
daily rituals without murmur or display of sadness. At one stage, standing on
one leg, Maharishi Athri undertook severe penance for thousands of years
praying for a progeny possessing similar qualities of Lord Trimurtis.

The Celestials wondered the absolute will power of the Maharishi who carried
on the penance standing on one leg for several hundred years. Lord Brahma
thought that though he was one of the three different prime deities with three
different aspects -Lord Shiva-Vishnu and Brahma, it was the right time to
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appear before Maharishi Athri in the form of Trimurtis, and grant him the boon
he wished, to save the universe.

Events moved fast as envisaged by Lord Brahma and the Trimurtis appeared
before the Maharishi to grant the boon the Maharishi desired in fulfilment of
his penance – a progeny embodied with all aspects of them. However it was
Lord Vishnu who took birth as the prime son of Athri for certain reason which
is narrated in later part of the story. The Athri-Anusuya couple were delighted
that their wish had been fulfilled. While Anusuya, symbol of chastity was simple,
Maharishi Athri always appeared with a Rudraksha beaded mala on neck, a
Kamandal (a mendicant's water pot) and a Stick or club in each of his hands.

The greatness of Maharishi Athri

The greatness of Maharishi Athri is glorified by a legend. Once Maharishi
Vashishta and Maharishi Vishwamitra turned into bitter rivals. Both of them
claimed to be supreme than the other. Kalmashapada, one of the Kings went
to the forest for hunting and on way chanced to meet Sage Sakthi, the son of
Maharishi Vashishtha. The Sage was unknown to the King and they have also
not met before. Therefore the King passed by the side of the Sage without
offering even the courteous respect expected by every saint. Sage Sakthi felt
that the King had deliberately insulted him by not showing him the basic
respect due and therefor cursed the King to turn into a Rakshasa (Demon).
Kalmashapada felt hurt by the uncalled for curse from Sage Sakthi and
approached Maharishi Vishwamitra seeking his help to redeem the curse and
to take revenge on Sage Sakthi. As Maharishi Vishwamitra was waiting for such

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an opportunity to take revenge on Maharishi Vashishta, he quickly extended
support to Kalmashapada by converting him into a cannibalistic rakshasa who
swallowed humans. Once Kalmashapada turned into a cannibalistic rakshasa,
he swallowed all the sons of Maharishi Vashishtha thus wiping out his entire
family. Having lost all his sons, distressed Maharishi Vashishtha sat in penance
unable to overcome the grief.

Sage Sakthi’s wife was pregnant when the tragedy occurred and in the next few
months delivered a son. When her son grew up and learnt of the grief befallen
on his family due to the act of Kalmashapada who was still in the form of a
cannibalistic rakshasa, in rage, to settle the score with him the son of Sage
Sakthi commenced a special Yagya which if succeeded would wipe out the
entire clan of Demons irrespective of good or bad amongst them. Maharishi
Athri who learnt of the ongoing Yagya foresaw that it would further widen the
already raging enmity between the two great Maharishis and endanger peace
in the world of sages and saints. He therefore met the son of Sage Sakthi who
was performing the Yagya, and apprised him of the consequences of the Yagya
if successfully completed. Upon his counselling, Sage Sakthi’s son agreed to
abandon the Yagya to reduce the tension between the two Maharishis.

Another incident portraying the greatness and glory of Maharishi Athri

occurred. Once the Devas (Celestials) and Asuras were engaged in a bitter
battle which lasted for several years. In the battle that ensued, thousands of
arrows fired by both Asuras and Devas blocked the rays of Lord Surya and Lord
Chandra from falling on earth thus plunging the entire universe into darkness.
Unable to fight in the darkness, the stumbled forces of Celestials approached
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Athri Maharishi seeking his support. Exercising the extraordinary yogic power
enjoined by him, Maharishi Athri himself turned into alternate moon and Sun
and threw bright rays over the universe dispelling the darkness which enabled
the Celestial forces to re-group, take control of the battle and to drive way the
asuras to achieve victory.

The Story of Anusuya

If Maharishi Athri had such great reputation, Anusuya’s greatness too was in no
way lesser than her husband. She was the celebrated chaste woman in the
universe then. Many divines who re-incarnated in earth took birth through few
mothers and ended incarnation after fulfilling the purpose for which they were
born. Anusuya was the lone woman who in a matter of few moment
transformed the Trimurtis -Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva- into her
children and nursed them with her milk without giving birth to them from her
body. The story of the divine child, ever eternal with infinite wisdom, thus
converted by her is found mention in Markandeya Purana.

A Brahmin by name Kaushika, over period of time became a leper by virtue of

past sins and lost his entire wealth to a prostitute out of lust. He was afflicted
with the dreaded disease because of the long association with the prostitute.
The positive side in his life was his marriage with Leelavathi, who was very
virtuous and a chaste woman. Though fully aware of the immorality of her
husband, she served him faithfully, fulfilling every desire of him because the
woman in those days considered their husband to be their prime deity. Her

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chastity and virtuousness was none less to that of Anusuya, the most chaste
and virtuous wife of Maharishi Athri in those period of time.

Once Leelavathy’s husband chanced to see the same prostitute with whom he
had spent a major chunk in life and desired to be in her company for some
more time. He requested his wife to take him to her at least once. Since
Leelavathi felt that the paramount duty of a wife was to keep the husband
happy, in the late of night she carried her husband on her shoulder and
proceeded to the house of that prostitute. It was dark in the night with no lights.
While walking, she tripped on the road side and her husband’s legs hit on Sage
Mandavya who was already lying in pool of blood, fighting for his life having
been impaled over a sharp edged wood on mere suspicion of co-conspirator
of a crime which he did not commit. How did sage Mandavya lay wounded
there?

When Sage Mandavya was on intense penance in silence, some thieves chased
by the Palace guards ran through the place where the sage was observing
penance and escaped through the bushes around him. The Palace guards who
came chasing the robbers could not find the thieves and unaware of the sage
observing penance in silence, they asked the sage which way the robbers ran.
When the sage did not answer them as he was in intense meditation, the guards
wrongly assumed him to be one of the conspirator of the crime.

Angered over his silence, they not only insulted him by severely beating him
but also on the orders of the King thrust him over a sharp edged trident, pushed
the profusely bleeding saint on to the road side and went away. As Leelavathi
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carrying her husband on her shoulders passed through that place, mistakenly
the legs of her husband hit the body of the sage in the pitch of darkness.

Already wreathed in pain, Sage Mandavya mistook it as deliberate act of insult

and cursed Kaushika that his head would burst to pieces when the Sun raised
in the morning. Leelavathi knew very well that the curses of the sages would
not go in vain and as and when the Sun raised in the morning, her husband
would meet death. Therefore in order to nullify the curse, she ordered by way
of another curse that the Lord of Sun would not raise in the morning.

Due to steadfast and righteous life of chaste woman Leelavathi and her virtue,
the Lord of sun did not rise at the end of the night nor dare to defy her thus
sending shockwaves all over the universe.

Want of Sun rays caused massive destruction to the creatures and plants all
over the universe. Panicked sages and saints urgently assembled to find a
solution to end the ticklish problem and ultimately realized that the curse of a
virtuous and chaste woman could be ended only with the power of another
equally powerful chaste woman and therefore approached Anusuya with a
request to solve the ticklish issue with amicable solution and ensure that the
Sun rose again to save the universe.

Respecting the request of the sages and saints, Anusuya reached out to
Leelavathi, gently apprised her how the universe suffered for want of sun light
and convinced her to withdraw her curse. Leelavathi acceded to the advice of
Anusuya which led to the raising of the Sun in the morning and the universe
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was saved from destruction. However when the Sun rose, Kaushika fell dead of
skull explosion on the curse of the sage, but chaste woman Anusuya with her
power of chaste revived the life of Kaushika as promised to Leelavathi. Celestial
forces showered flowers from heaven on Anusuya for having played the rightful
role to end the problem. The Trimurtis on their part appeared before Anusuya
and asked her what boon she desired. She had no hesitation in seeking an
offspring as desired by her husband Athri and the Trimurtis too happily granted
the boon since they were aware that they were only going to be born to her.

The Divine Play of Trimurtis

Hearing the fame and popularity of Anusuya through the Celestials and others
in heaven, wives of Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva became jealous
and wanted to test the strength of her devotion to husband. Maharishi Narad
too now and then went to them and added fuel to their feelings of fire.
Therefore to test Anusuya in the first instance they sent few iron balls in
disguise of peanuts and asked Sage Narad to take it to Anusuya and get the
iron peanuts roasted like peanuts. With the power of her chaste, Anusuya was
able to even roast those iron balls and sent them back to the three Devis
heightening the anger and jealousy over her.

Unable to digest their defeat, the three Devis again fell into the trap of Sage
Narad and as per his advice decided to send their husbands to Anusuya,
embodiment of chastity to test the strength of devotion to her husband. Trickily
they roped in their husbands into their scheme of action. They often compared
the divine powers of their husbands with that of the powers possessed by

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Anusuya and enraged their ego. They praised the power of Anusuya telling that
her power of chaste was greater than the divine powers possessed by the three
supreme Lords. Hit by the ego, the Trimurtis too waited for an appropriate time
to test the conjugal fidelity of Anusuya and to prove the opinion of their wives
to be wrong.

One day while Maharishi Athri before undertaking daily tapas, had gone to take
bath in the river in routine manner’ the Trimurtis in guise of Saints went to his
cottage of the Maharishi and asked for Biksha (the customary food that
Brahmins or saints would beg for from householders) to satiate their hunger.
Anusuya knew that denial of food to mendicants seeking alms is a greater sin
and therefore welcomed them with offer of food.

However she could not guess the real intention of the Trimurtis and invited
them inside, got them seated, prepared food and came from inside to serve
the food. They refused to accept the ready to serve food unless she divested
herself of all her clothes and gave them the biksha in undressed state. Only in
front of her baby a woman can undress, hence when the saints demanded her
to undress and serve the food, Anusuya was shocked. Appearing undressed
before anyone other than their husband tantamount to loss of modesty.

Though Anusuya was bewildered by the strange condition of the Trimurtis in

disguise of saints, she instantly realized that denial of food to the mendicants
would be greatest sin. Therefore intelligently she closed her eyes, prayed to her
husband, and with powers gained by her devotion to her husband, she turned
the Trimurtis into new born babies, and nursed them with her milk with
23
motherly affection. By then Maharishi Athri too had returned home. Anusuya
narrated the entire play of the Trimurtis even as Maharishi Athri through his
mind power quickly visualised everything since he was one amongst the
greatest Saptha rishis.

Many years passed. The delighted couple -Anusuya and Athri Maharishi –
brought up the children with care and warmth while the wives of the Trimurtis
were worried that their husbands had not returned back. They contacted
Maharishi Narad and requested him to find out where their husbands had
gone. When Sage Narad reached the hermitage of Athri Maharishi he was
shocked to see the condition of the Trimurtis, who were transformed into child,
playing with the Maharishi couple. He ran back and informed Goddess Lakshmi,
Goddess Saraswathi and Goddess Parvathi, the condition of their Lords.

When the goddesses learnt of the predicament of their husbands, they ran to
Anusuya, begged for forgiveness and requested her to return their husbands.
Anusuya taking pity on the three Goddesses acceded to their request and with
the very same powers gained by her devotion to her husband, she brought
back the Trimurtis into their original form. The happy Lords appeared before
Anusuya in the form of three headed Lord Dattatreya, embodiment of three
Lords and went back to their abodes promising to get birth to her at an
appropriate time.

The birth of Lord Dattatreya

As time passed, the three Lords got birth to Anusuya as her sons. While Lord

24
Shiva took birth as Maharishi Durvasa possessed with the qualities of Tamas,
Lord Brahma possessed with the qualities of Rajas took birth through the eyes
of Maharishi Athri and Lord Vishnu with the qualities of Satva took birth as Lord
Dattatreya for a specific reason.

In ancient time, a king named Kashyaban ruled the universe with tyranny. He
had a son named Kashyap. Once Devas under the command of Lord Indira
fought a fierce battle with Asuras and Kashyap died in the battle even as the
war continued nonstop for many years under the leadership of several Kings of
Asura clan. The Asuric forces were guided by Sage Sukra. Unable to gulp the
repeated defeat of Asuric forces at the hands of Lord Indira, Sage Sukra went
to Himalayas and sat in intense penance seeking boon from Lord Shiva to
defeat Lord Indira.

Angered by the penance of Sage Sukra, Lord Vishnu killed his mother when
Sage Brigu was also present on that spot. Sage Brigu got annoyed on the act
of Lord Vishnu slaughtering a hapless lone woman, mother of his colleague
sage. Unable to accept the cowardly act of Lord Vishnu, he cursed that Lord
Vishnu would take countless births on earth in the form of human to atone the
sin. Hence Lord Vishnu had to take birth as Lord Dattatreya. Lord Dattatreya
born to Anusuya and Athri Maharishi couple grew up as an entirely different
child in nature and behaviour compared to other normal children.

The Life and Iconographical attributes of Lord Dattatreya

The life style of Lord Dattatreya was quite different compared to that of a

25
normal child. His behaviour and attitude were in contrast to his outwardly
appearance. He led a monastic life, renounced worldly attachments and spent
most of his time wandering around mountains and jungles, far away from
home. As an Avadhoot he was the supreme reality of truth, the perfect master
who had realized the absolute truth and reached zenith of spiritual attainment
with mastery over Vedas. He possessed highest Yogic powers, though they
were never displayed outwardly. Indeed his incarnation as an Avadhoot was
meant for the welfare of the universe and to spread Gnana (wisdom). Only
those who understood the truth of his incarnation turned into his disciple. Lord
Dattatreya had the habit of testing the steadfastness and intensity of devotion
of his devotees in various ways before accepting them as his disciples. The
yogic achievements and divine plays displayed by him were beyond the
comprehension of even Rishis and Sages who penanced over thousands of
years. He would deliberately appear before others as uncouth, half naked,
sometimes like lunatic biting pieces of mutton, liquor bottles in hand, or
engaged in indecent acts with women etc to test the seekers who reached out
him to become his disciples.

Not every one of the seekers who came to him relished the divine plays and
few of them went away disgusted without understanding the intention of the
Lord who wantonly tested them. They were unaware of who he was, or why he
was behaving so, but those who knew and heard of his divine plays were firm
in surrender and stood steadfast irrespective of how the Lord tested them and
became his disciple. Lord Dattatreya always enjoyed testing his disciples in
many ways.

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Lord Dattatreya was a wandering Avadhoot with extraordinary insights and
knowledge freed of all attachments. His soul was sacred and pure, independent
of physical body consisting of flesh and blood. He was mysterious monk
beyond the imagination and comprehension of others. He was beyond
comprehension and unpredictable. Nobody could predict where he would go,
how, why and when. One had seen him in the form of uncouth or half naked
wandering beggar covered with stinking, dirty, torn clothes followed by few
dogs. Sometimes one would even see a sacred Cow standing by his side. He
was often seen immersed in lakes and ponds for several hours meditating or
even lying in solitude in the cemeteries or river beds.
Lord Dattatreya, embodiment of Lords Brahma Vishnu and Shiva, always
appeared as a great Avadhoot moving from place to place since he had taken
birth as human. Body covered with deer’s skin, smeared with holy ashes
brought from the cemeteries and the aura (halo) of rays around his otherwise
calm and composed face were his attributes. He always preferred to live under
the holy Audumbar (also called fig or Gooseberry tree) tree.

Significance of the Symbols of Lord Dattatreya

It will be interesting to know the significance of the figurative symbols he
carried or which stood surrounding him.

 The divine wish fulfilling Cow called Kamadhenu representing creation

and the planet earth symbolise that the Lord is compassionate to his
devotees and fulfilled their desires besides shielding the universe and
dharma (righteousness).

27
 Four dogs were sublime symbols of four Vedas under his command.
 Trident portray that he destroys one’s ego and Trigunas namely Satva,
Tamas and Rajas
 Tambourine (anything hollow with something rattling inside) to
symbolise that he destroys the pride and ignorance by awakening ones
conscience.
 The Sudarshan Chakra to symbolize that he is Omnipresence, infinite and
controller of the cosmic, ever eternal beyond time.
 Conch that resonates inner soul with the pranava sound Aum and
represents eternal sound AUM which is source of all power
 Ash symbolizing that every beginning has an end
 Begging bowl ( Bhiksha Vessel) to preach what could be spared should
be shared with others
 Japamala (Rosary) to tell one to internally keep praying and chanting the
name of god.

Digambara, Digambara, Sree Padha Vallabha Digambara

Digambara, Digambara, Sri Dattadeva Digambara

Om Shri Dattatreya Guruve Namaha

28
 Second day Parayan
Om Dattatreyaaya Vidmahe

Yogeeswaraaya Deemahey
Thanno Datta Prachothayaath

Who was Lord Dattatreya? King Yadu’s doubt

One of the stories found in the Bhagavata Purana is the story of King Yadu, who
inspired by Lord Dattatreya became his disciple. Before he became his devotee,
he had not heard of the glory of Lord Dattatreya and therefore when heard of
the Lord, the King was curious to know about Lord Dattatreya who was
wandering in guise of an Avadhoot.

Lord Dattatreya who passed through the stages of childhood and adolescent,
left home and wandered freely spending most of his life in forests and places
surrounding the mountains. He would deliberately appear before others as an
uncouth beggar or lunatic, half naked, engaged in indecent acts with women
around him etc. In order to preach that the pure atman in one’s body has no
relevance to their outward body, he would deliberately behave differently in
front of others and accepted the seekers as his disciples only after testing their
mental fitness in several ways before allowing them to enter into the spiritual
path through him. Fully aware that he was a perfect Yogi and an Avadhoot,
several Rishis and sages were in search of him to beget initiation to the path of
enlightenment.

Once Lord Dattatreya was walking through the streets in a Kingdom ruled by

29
the King from Yadukula. It was the same land where Lord Krishna incarnated
several centuries later. In those period of time, the Kings used to make surprise
and sudden visits to different places in guise of stranger, beggar or in some
other form to personally see the conditions of their states and folks. In one such
inspection, the King saw Lord Dattatreya who was in guise of a beggar moving
around freely and happily, humming some songs as he walked. He did not
know that the happy moving beggar was Lord Dattatreya in guise of a beggar
but thrilled to find aura of glow radiating from the face of a beggar who was
moving around in his state without display of any concern on his poverty or
beggary life.

After following him and noticing his activities, the intelligent King would not
believe him to be a beggar, and became suspicious on the beggar who was
wandering freely and happily as if he was the ruler of the land even though the
land belonged to him (King). The King thought ‘I have immense wealth and
fleet of slaves and servants to work under my command. All comforts needed
in one’s life is abundantly available to me, still everlasting peace and eternal
happiness eludes me, whereas how this destitute beggar who has nothing for
the next moment, has such radiance around his face and wandering freely and
fearlessly, showing no sorts of worries on his face’

Suspicion growing, the King followed the Lord in disguise of a beggar

observing every act of him out of curiosity. The King too was intelligent, a
learned scholar, hence was able to gauge the reality on ground to some extent
and therefore closely followed the beggar, doubts on the beggar still looming
large in him. Finally unable to supress his anxiety, the King went near the beggar
30
and in all humbleness introduced himself as ruler of the land and asked the
lord in disguise of beggar to reveal the true nature of him since the glow from
his face and his behavioural pattern does not speak of a beggar but only that
of an enlightened soul. Lord in disguise of a beggar casually replied ‘Oh King,
why are you comparing a destitute like me, roaming aimlessly all over the land
and forest in search of food to satiate the hunger with that of enlightened
souls?’ The casual reply from the Lord further heightened the suspicion of the
King who thought ‘He has not bothered to exchange pleasantries even after I
revealed my identity….he display no fear while talking to a King of my
stature….he speaks to me as if I am his friend…his behaviour does not speak of
a beggar…..he is certainly hiding something on himself’. Without showing the
raging confusions, but unable to supress his doubt, unrelenting King repeatedly
requested the Lord in disguise of a beggar to reveal the true identity of him
since he was not convinced with the confession and felt that he was
intentionally hiding something from him. The anxious King again and again
pleaded with the beggar to dispel doubts on him.

The calm and composed Lord in guise of a beggar said ‘Oh’ King, you are the
ruler of the land and knower of everything in your Kingdom. What is there to
hide from you and I am unable to understand what truth you feel that I am
hiding?’

Now the manner in which the beggar again replied and continued to walk in
between displaying acts of indecency and lunatic behaviour firmly convinced
the King that he may not be a beggar but one of the greatest Yogi deliberately
wandering in the form of a crazy person displaying crazy acts to divert his
31
attention. The King understood that for some reason, the Lord was concealing
the true identity as he was conversing fearlessly expressing everything in cool
mood. There was no display of arrogance but only displayed soberness
expected out of a learned scholar.

The King relentlessly pursued with his demand ‘Swami there is nothing in the
land that a King of my stature do not have. We have vast land under our
command, everything to satiate hunger, lead life in pleasure, thousands of
slaves to attend to our orders at the wink of command. Even though I too have
everything under my command as a King of this vast Kingdom, yet eternal
peace eludes me. I am wander in search of saints and sages to take me into the
pure land of bliss. In such a situation I am still unable to reconcile to the fact
how a beggar like you is able to move freely and fearlessly and fully self-
contented. Please accept my salutation and kindly tell me the secret of your
happiness and who you are and who your master (Guru) is.

Lord Dattatreya in disguise of a beggar ignored the King and continued to walk
after warning him not to waste his time and attempt to stop him any further,
but even then, the King continued to walk behind him and at stage blocked the
passage of the beggar, firmly held his hands and legs and requested him to
clear his doubts. Lord Dattatreya was pleased with the attitude of the King who
was free of arrogance and vanity. Moreover even when the King was pushed
away, ignoring the insult, he continued to walk behind the Lord to get his
doubts cleared without reacting angrily nor went away. Though the Lord was
aware that the King respected the sadhus and saints, was polite, virtuous and
honest in all respects, still he tested him variously. Pleased with the politeness
32
and graceful approach of the King, compassionate Lord Dattatreya appeared
before him in the form of an Avadhoot and took the King to an isolated place,
got him seated facing him and in the calm and serene atmosphere, began to
speak.

The Lord said ‘Oh King, listen to me carefully. Only few moments back, you
claimed to have everything, a King of your stature may need for comfort and
pleasure. What you see as luxury is illusion in physical form. The physical body
itself is an illusion. Possessing everything for pleasure and comfort may be a
status symbol to Kings of your stature, but as far as I am concerned, none of
them would enhance my status. On the other hand they get recognition when
they are around me. My soul is free of all desires. Hence I am able to move
mentally satisfied and able to remain in a world of bliss. You are eager to know
who I am, is it not? Hear carefully all that I am going to tell you which would
dispel your doubts.

As if his head has been banged against a hard subject, the King wondered ‘what
a wonderful philosophy so simply told by him’. In rapt attention, the King began
to listen to Lord Dattatreya who continued to speak further.

‘Oh, King, while creating the cosmos, Paramatman had also created creatures
of several nature, single legged creatures to those with arms and legs. Only
humans have been embodied with something unique- Jeevathma which is soul
and power to self-analyse the philosophy of atman and Paramatma through
meditation. However many like you who cannot realize the truth run behind
enlightened souls to understand the said philosophy.
33
The outer body of illusion is made up of mere flesh and blood which represent
outwardly while the independent and invisible atman which activate your mind
and feelings reside inside the body invisible even to you. As expressed by you,
think of the agony the lifeless body encounter, still on hunting what is not
available to it. The body keep longing for more and more lifeless bodies. Even
after getting married, begetting progenies, big family, all sorts of pleasure and
comfort, wealth and servants, the unsatisfied body desirous to beget more and
more pleasures search for them without an end. Why, why such craving? Is it
because of attachment or abundant desires? Can you explain? When humans
have the unique power to think, why do they refrain from thinking within the
reasons for the abundant attachment and desires? While everyone know that
the illusionary body is not immortal, then why fail to abandon craving for more
and more illusionary pleasures. Unfortunately nobody wants to do it’.

The Gurus of Lord Dattatreya

Lord still in guise of an Avadhoot continued ‘It is not important to know who
this Avadhoot is. My own Atman is my Guru, yet, I got wisdom through 24
individuals, who were my Gurus. They were the ones who were intertwined with
nature in this universe and who taught me what life is. As Lord Dattatreya
continued, the King in a state of bliss sat in meditative silence, carefully listening
to the master. The names of the Gurus mentioned to the King by Lord
Dattatreya were: Earth, Air, Sky, Water, Fire, Moon, Sun, Pigeon, Python, Ocean,
Moth (Candle flies), Honey Bee, Elephant, Honey gatherer, Deer, Fish, Prostitute,
Raven (Jungle crow), Child, Maiden, Weapon maker, Spider and a Beetle.
Lord began to reveal the attributes of his Gurus.

34
Earth:- Those who live on her, whether they praised, insulted or even abused
her, she absorbed everything with patience, still rendering whatever help was
needed from her. She taught me what the patience was.
Air: The air travel freely embracing each and everything that comes on its way,
yet remain independent and uninfluenced by their qualities. Embracing
everyone in contact, the air continue to travel freely. What the Air taught me
was that one should not get influenced by others under any circumstances but
retain their own identity.
Sky: - The all-pervading Sky remain calm in spite of the stars, clouds, rain, or
lightening pass through her. None of their presence alter her position or her
appearance. This taught me a lesson that the all-pervading Atman or the Soul
should remain of its own, calm and uninfluenced by act of others.
Water: - The quality of natural water is her purity. Even when debris or filth are
thrown on the water, over period of time the impurities get pushed under her
feet, and the water becomes clean again. What I learnt from water was that a
Yogi should not only retain purity of mind but also purify the minds of those
who come to him.
Fire: - The fire burns down whichever material is put into the fire without a
trace and the brightness of the flame depends upon the amount or type of
material put in her. What it taught me was that a Yogi should also glow with
splendour by the knowledge gained by him, and help others get freed of their
sins without himself getting defiled.
Moon: - The moon by itself is always complete in her form though waxing and
waning of moon takes place by acts of nature, which is unreal. What it taught
me was that the Atman inside one’s body should also remain unaffected by the
changes over the outer body.
35
Sun: - The all-pervading Sun remains the same everywhere. It absorbs the
water from earth and sends back the same on to her at appropriate time in the
form of rain. What the Sun taught me was the knowledge gained by one should
be shared with others and not to be retained within. Though the bodies may
be different, the Atman called soul is the same in each of them.
Pigeon: - Once a small pigeon got trapped into the net of a fowler and seeing
her condition, the mother and father pigeons in the guise of protecting their
children went and got trapped in the same net. What I learnt from the act of
those pigeons was attachment is the root cause of suffering and agony.
Python: - The python’s nature is not that of a hunter or a food gatherer. Big or
small, whichever prey go near her will be consumed by the Python. It will not
look for any more prey for many more days and wait till another prey gets
trapped. I learned from Python how to remain content with what you have and
what you get.
Ocean:- No matter how many rivers flow and merge into it, the sea never cross
the shores, nor dries up even if the water from the rivers do not flow into her.
What I learnt from the ocean was that a Yogi should continue to perform duties
without falling prey to the emotions or feelings under any circumstances.
Moth (Candle flies):- Attracted by the brightness of the flame of the lighted
candle or other lamps, the moth goes near them and fall prey to the flame of
fire. The lesson I learnt was that a Yogi should not get himself destroyed or
attracted by the external beauty of sensual pleasure.
Honey bee: - The honeybee hops from flower to flower to collect nectar many
times a day without defacing or destroying the beauty of the flowers. What it
taught me was that one should shed laziness and garner wealth or knowledge
without harassing others.
36
Elephant: - In order to catch the elephants, the hunters keep dummy female
elephants in the pits. The male elephants blinded by sensual lust run towards
those dummies to catch them and fall into the pit and get trapped. The act of
the elephants taught me that a Yogi should not get perish in the lust of women.
Honey gatherer: - The honey gatherer drives away the honey bees by raising
smoke around the heaves and takes away the honey which had been collected
by the bees from different sources. What it taught me was that excess treasure
if created will neither give pleasure to the one who hoarded it, nor help the
needy but will be taken away by someone else.
Deer: - The ever alert deer attracted by music gets trapped into the hands of
the hunter. What it taught me was that a Yogi should not get lost into the
external pleasures like music and dances.
Fish: - The life of a Yogi should not be like a fish which fall easy victim to the
bait. The first enemy which overpowers the senses of a person is taste for food.
The fate of fishes which fall prey for baits taught me a lesson that a Yogi should
first learn to control the sense of taste in order to attain success in their spiritual
endeavour.
Prostitute:- Pingala was a prostitute engaged in the trade of prostitution for
many years and one day, tired of looking for customers, she left the trade and
entered into the spiritual path content with what she had and led life of peace
thereafter. I learnt from her that a Yogi too should develop abandonment of
desires which lead to contentment.
Raven (Jungle crow):- A raven carrying a piece of meat was chased by other
birds to grab the piece of meat she carried and while snatching, the raven was
beaten by them. When the raven dropped the piece of meat to escape from
the attackers, the birds flew down to look for the piece of meat thrown away.
37
What it taught me was that by abandoning unwanted desires, one can remain
happy.
Child: - As long as the child is in the lap of her/ his mother, they will remain
calm without having any other thoughts. Similar to a child, a Yogi should also
fully surrender himself to the Lord and remain blissful.
Maiden: - The bangles wore by a maiden collecting husk made noise. When
she removed all the bangles and continued the act of collecting husk, the noise
stopped. What I learnt from the maiden was living among many will create
discord, disturbance and lead to disputes, finally disturbing ones’ meditation.
Weapon maker: - If you see the artisan making weapons, you could see them
engaged in the process of making weapons without getting distracted. What it
taught me was that the Yogi should develop intense mind control while
meditating which will keep him in the state of tranquil.
Snake:-The snakes have no permanent abode to live and they keep changing
their habitation for their own protection. The habit of the snakes taught me
that a Yogi should also keep moving instead of living in a permanent home of
his own.
Spider: - A spider build its own web, keep playing within the web for some
days and then swallow the web to recreate another. I realized that the act of
spider was similar to that of Paramatman who create the cosmic and destroy it
to recreate fresh cosmic after enacting several divine plays.
Beetle: - The beetle keep her own worm in the nest and does not allow it to
come out till it grows up to turn into a beetle. It taught me a lesson that if a
Yogi merge himself with Atman (Soul) by constantly contemplating on it and
give up attachment over the body, he can attain Moksha or liberation.

38
Lord Dattatreya continued ‘Oh King, our body itself is an illusion. The body
consist of multiple organs and still we continue to add boundless desires into
the body of illusion. All our miseries stem from lust and sensual pleasures. Not
to remain alone, he gets married, produce children and attempt to amass
wealth. Though one know that the physical body is not immortal and bound to
perish any day, they keep adding more comfort and luxury to it. Therefore
instead of living in the state of illusion, I preferred to live detached from
everything and hence able to roam around freely like all pervading
Paramatman.

Tears of joy overflowing from the eyes, mentally enlightened King fell at the
feet of the Lord sitting in guise of an Avadhoot uttering ‘wonderful…wonderful’
and pleaded with him to at least now reveal his true identity. Pleased with the
King, Lord Dattatreya appeared before him in his true blazing form. Learning
from the Lord what life is meant to be, the King Yadu became his true disciple,
disciplined devotee and lived in mental peace for the rest of his life.

Digambara, Digambara, Sree Padha Vallabha Digambara

Digambara, Digambara, Sri Dattadeva Digambara

Om Shri Dattatreya Guruve Namaha

39
 Third day Parayan
Om Dattatreyaaya Vidmahe

Yogeeswaraaya Deemahey
Thanno Datta Prachothayaath

Story of Karthaveeryan
Markandeya Purana describe how Lord Dattatreya had been compassionate to
those who surrendered at his feet true fully. Nothing happens without a reason
in this world as may be seen from the stories of those who have perished of
their own or got destroyed through some of the divine incarnates, even when
they carried boons of invincibility. If the stories of Karthaveeryan, Lord
Parasurama, and Goddess Renuka Devi had not been included in the life story
of Lord Dattatreya, the glory of Lord Dattatreya would not have known to the
universe fully. Only by the role of Karthaveeryan, the glory of Lord Parasurama
and Goddess Renuka Devi came to light.

Karthaveeryan of Surya dynasty was born to King Krithaveerya and his wife
Suganthi. They belonged to Kshatriya caste. Jaiswal community settled in the
northern India is stated to be in their lineage, and their Guru was Bhargava who
belonged to Brahmin community in the lineage of Sage Brigu. The Kshatriyas
too were highly knowledged, well versed in Vedic studies as they were learned
scholars similar to Brahmins. Because of their good physical structures, they
became warriors and rulers of some of the Kingdoms and took part in the wars,
while the Brahmins served in the capacity of advisors in their Kingdom. The
Kings of Surya dynasty were philanthropists too. Veeran was the family name
40
of King Krithaveerya who in his previous birth was Sampan, born in a poor
family and carried a curse from sage Svayana. As per the curse Sampan would
get rebirth and remain mentally agonised because his son in his next birth.

As per the curse Sampan took birth as Krithaveerya in his next birth.
Krithaveerya was a well learned scholar and a great warrior ruler of a huge
Kingdom. He successfully performed several Yagnas and in one of the famous
Yagnas performed –Somaveda Yagya- he generously gave donations and gifts
even to sages like Maharishi Brigu. Further, Krithaveerya decorated the council
of ministers of Lord Yama. Unfortunately due to the curse he carried, every child
born to him died once born. At one stage aging Krithaveerya was worried that
he had no heir to take over the Kingdom after his demise. Therefore as advised
by the council of ministers, he decided to consult Maharishi Yagyavalyar and
Sage Brihaspati to find some solution to end the vacuum likely to arise out of
the curse incurred by him in his previous birth. Since Krithaveerya was afraid to
directly meet Maharishi Yagyavalyar, he sent his wife, to meet the wife of
Maharishi Yagyavalyar as both of them were close friends to each other.
Maharishi Yagyavalyar had two wives namely Maithreyi and Kalyani and
amongst the two, Maithreyi was intelligent and a learned scholar. Therefore
Krithaveerya’s wife met Maithreyi and after offering respects to her, she
narrated the ordeal they were undergoing on account of the curse given by
Sage Svayana in the previous birth of Krithaveerya. She cried that none of the
children born to her survived because of the curse and sought her help to
redeem the curse. Maithreyi suggested her to perform a specific ritual which if
performed rigorously with purity of mind, the effect of the curse would come
to an end.
41
In the meanwhile Krithaveerya too met Maharishi Brihaspati who suggested
him perform a Vrath called ‘Surya Vrath’ and initiated the Surya mantra to him.
The Surya mantra which the Maharishi initiated to Krithaveerya was actually
initiated to Maharishi Brihaspati by none other than Lord Dattatreya himself.
The Maharishi suggested that the mantra be chanted and Lord Dattatreya
worshipped to get relief from the curse. On reaching home, Krithaveerya and
his wife exchanged the suggestions received by them and from next day
onwards they began to perform the rituals as suggested including chanting of
the mantra initiated by Maharishi Brihaspati which resulted in Krithaveerya’s
wife getting conceived again.

Though the child born to them survived, the saddest part was that she could
deliver only a disabled child. Nonetheless, the couple were happy that with the
blessings of Lord Dattatreya, at least they were blessed with a son who survived.
The reason for the child getting birth as disabled had a story of its own. What
was it?

In one of the previous births, the child born with deformities was one of the
veteran fighter in the battalion of Lord Vishnu. His name was Sudarshan, who
occupied the pivotal position in the battalion of Lord Mahavishnu. Those were
the days when Lord Vishnu had to frequently wage war against several Asuric
forces to destroy them for universal peace and in every one of the wars fought
and won, Sudarshan’s contribution was highly significant. This made Sudarshan
feel that he was mainly responsible for the victory of the Lord in the wars
fought. Not content with such a feeling, he projected a heroic image before
others too. When it was noticed by the Lord, he hoped that Sudarshan would
42
come to his senses and dispel the imaginary feelings of pride to understand
the power of the Lord Vishnu. When Lord Vishnu noticed Sudarshan’s pride
had reached to the point of no return, he called Sudarshan and after
admonishing him, cursed that in the next birth, he (Sudarshan) would be born
disabled and meet death at his hands (lord Vishnu). Thus Sudarshan took birth
as Karthaveeryan with deformities. He was also anointed as Arjun. Except
disability, Karthaveeryan excelled in every other field. Meanwhile his father
Krithaveerya died agonised on the disability of Karthaveeryan. Krithaveerya’s
parents were philanthropists and most charitable personalities who generously
gave donations and gifts to needy. The continuous philanthropy led to the
dwindling of their wealth while the Brahmins who were beneficiaries of those
gifts and donations slowly turned richer. With passage of time when Kshatriya’s
wealth dwindled, they struggled in their life and approached Brahmins who
were benefitted by them seeking their help. But the Brahmins refrained from
helping them in any manner. This put the seed of enmity between the Brahmins
and Kshatriyas who began to oppose each other as time passed.

The Kshatriyas being warrior took revenge on the Brahmins by looting their
properties and humiliating them in public. Unable to withstand the torments
and humiliations from Kshatriyas, the Brahmins ran away from the areas under
domination of the Kshatriyas and settled in and around Himalayas. In one such
climate, Maharishi Athri was born in the clan of Brigu and Krithaveerya born in
the clan of Kshatriyas even as the enmity between the Brahmins and Kshatriyas
continued on high note.

After the death of Krithaveerya, the council of ministers compelled disabled

43
Karthaveeryan to take over the reins of power. Though initially disabled
Karthaveeryan was reluctant to take over the administration citing his disability,
the council of ministers exerted pressure on him and persuaded him to take
over the kingship. One of the ministers in the council of ministers, Garga
advised Karthaveeryan to meet Lord Dattatreya to seek his blessings to get
freed of disability. Heeding to the advice of Garga, Karthaveeryan after taking
over the reins of administration proceeded to meet Lord Dattatreya.

Lord Dattatreya who was in guise of an Avadhoot, was revered, respected

Avadhoot then and held in high esteem by the Rishis and Saints. Before
proceeding to meet Lord Dattatreya, King Karthaveeryan met Sage Garga and
took more inputs on the Lord. Sage Garga told him that Lord Dattatreya was
incarnate of Lord Vishnu and used to come to river Narmada to take bath and
if he was worshipped with purity of mind in all sincerity, he would certainly
bestow the seekers what they sought from him without hesitation. In the
meanwhile Sage Narad too advised Karthaveeryan to perform a Yagya called
‘Pathradeepa Pratiksha’ on the bank of river Narmada. Rishis and saints had
also advised Karthaveeryan that Lord Dattatreya would not easily allow the
seekers to identify him and would deliberately appear in the form of half-naked
or uncouth or drunkard or lunatic biting dirty meat, holding bottles of toddy
in hands or still worse engaged in indecent acts surrounded by demireps.
Therefore Karthaveeryan should maintain strong will to identify the Lord from
amongst such group of people as would be wandering everywhere in any form.

Karthaveeryan who was only twelve years old, went to the bank of river
Narmada, took bath, performed suggested Yagya and began looking for Lord
44
Dattatreya. After searching the Lord at various places, finally he reached the
foothill of a mountain where Lord Dattatreya’s ashram was seen. As cautioned
by everyone, though Karthaveeryan found the Avadhoot in awkward posture,
he went near him determined and expressed his desire to serve him to beget
his blessings. Further he eulogized Lord Dattatreya with many hymns and
verses even as Lord Dattatreya knew the real purpose for which Karthaveeryan
had come. Nevertheless he wanted to test his determination of Karthaveeryan
further and to display to the universe that only true seekers, highly devoted to
him would be acceptable to him.

Though Karthaveeryan was disabled, wantonly Lord Dattatreya gave him

arduous tasks and duties without allowing him to take sufficient rest.
Karthaveeryan did not feel frustrated in any manner and happily continued to
perform the duties given by the Lord. He brought flowers, fruits and vegetables
from far off places as ordered, massaged the legs of the Lord for several hours
etc. Even then sometimes Lord Dattatreya used to be harsh on him by abusing
him in bad words, ate entire food prepared for both leaving nothing for
Karthaveeryan to eat thus made him starve. Karthaveeryan neither lost hope
nor the faith, but continued to serve the Lord without grimace. Ultimately Lord
Dattatreya pleased with his devotion, took pity on his disability and one day in
an act of surprise, and appeared before him in his true blazing form.

Waiting for such an opportunity, Karthaveeryan fell at his feet of the Lord,
prostrated many times chanting that it was the greatest moment in his life. He
prayed to Lord Dattatreya to give him firm hands and legs to move around
freely and face his enemies to drive them away. Because of his disability he was
45
unable to fulfil his duty as a King to his folks protecting their lives. He further
sought boon for enormous wealth and the very name of him (Karthaveeryan)
should be nightmare to those indulging in evil acts. He pleaded for the
blessings of the Lord to beget good advisors to guide him all the time and to
rule over the land with energised vigour and in all fairness. In the event he
deviated from the path of virtue and fairness, someone stronger than him
should dethrone him. He pleaded with Lord Dattatreya to grant him the boons
thus sought.

Lord Dattatreya pleased with his plea not only granted all the boons he sought,
but further gave him a special magic car, which can take him anywhere in the
universe. After receiving the boons, when Karthaveeryan was returning back,
an unknown voice cautioned him ‘fool, do not feel glee over the boons you
have received. You begot all those only by the grace of the Brahmins without
whose support a Kshatriya King like you would not be able to rule the land’.
The unknown voice, ominous sign though disturbed the mood and caused
tension in the mind of Karthaveeryan, he could guess that it was the voice of
Lord Vayu who was jealous over his fame and glory.

Thereafter Karthaveeryan frequently visited the hermitage of Lord Dattatreya,

offered salutation and prayers and took his advice on crucial issues and ruled
the nation freely, fairly and fearlessly maintaining high value of tradition,
without deviating from the path of truth and virtue. Mahishmati was the name
of Kingdom he ruled, and it is said that his rule extended beyond 85,000 years.
He was also called Arjun, hence in ‘Shri Datta Charithra’, one would read Lord
Dattatreya often referring Karthaveeryan as Arjuna. The folks of his land lived
46
happily, so also the Celestials who were happy lots under his rule. His fame
went up so high that the folks of his land began to treat him as divine angel.
Envious Lankan King Ravan when heard of the fame of Karthaveeryan, under
the guise ‘Dig Vijay’ (tour of triumph on all sides), he invaded many lands and
reached the Kingdom under the rule of Karthaveeryan to wage the war.
Karthaveeryan decided to crush the arrogance and vanity of Ravan who was
then considered to be the most powerful and invincible King on earth.

Ravan was not in Srilanka as he was on invasion spree and as usual when Ravan
on his sojourn went to River Narmada to take bath, incidentally Karthaveeryan
too went there to take bath in the same River. Ravanan used to perform pooja
to a Shiva Ling in the midst of the river whenever the flow of the River was very
low. Karthaveeryan who knew of it, held the river flow on the upper stage of
the river with his unaccountable strong hands, placing them like a dam and
while Ravan was performing the Pooja to the Shiv Ling, he suddenly released
the water by taking away his hands to allow the river flow in fury as if the dam
had breached. When the river flew in might, the Shiva Ling held in the hands of
Ravan submerged into the river water. Infuriated over the mindless act of
Karthaveeryan, Ravan attacked Karthaveeryan and in the fierce battle that
ensued, mighty Ravan, ardent devotee of Lord Shiva, was taken prisoner and
imprisoned by Karthaveeryan. However at the request of sage Pulastya,
Karthaveeryan released Ravan from captivity and sent him back.

Many years passed thereafter. Karthaveeryan continued to rule the land with
caution keeping public welfare utmost in mind. He enforced his folks perform
Anakalakshmi Vrath all over his land. Whenever he got spare time, he never
47
failed to visit the ashram of Lord Dattatreya and spent several hours performing
Pooja to the Lord. However unknown fear started engulfing his mind ever since
he attempted to probe the philosophy of the life which itself he felt was an
illusion, even though he was not in need of anything in life. He could not keep
under control the urge to get his nagging doubt cleared and at one stage,
vexed with the materialistic world, Karthaveeryan decided to renounce the
Kingdom and settle in the hermitage of Lord Dattatreya permanently.

On reaching the hermitage of Lord Dattatreya, he saw the Lord seated with
closed eyes as if he was in intense meditation or engrossed with some other
thoughts. Karthaveeryan could not guess it. Therefore he decided to wait till
the Lord opened his eyes and sat there silently meditating and offering worship
to the Lord in his heart. In between he prostrated at the feet of the Lord from
a distance without disturbing him. Entire day passed, but Lord Dattatreya did
not open his eyes while Karthaveeryan remained eulogizing the Lord with
hymns and chants of sthotras (mantras) in silence.

He wept at heart in silence ‘Salutations to thee my Lord, thou art destroyed

mine pride and arrogance. Thou art is Lord of joy, intellect who bestow highest
bliss. When thou art is incomprehensible even to sages and rishis, how would
me in the world of illusion be able to understand thee? Oh, Lord accept
salutation of mine who has surrendered at thine feet….. Release mine from the
bonds of life….whatever mine desired, thee granted in abundance. Me, find this
life to be illusion came here to surrender at thine feet …Oh Maha yogi, Lord of
Lords, kindly open thine eyes and bless this poor’ Even then, Lord Datta did not
open his eyes.
48
In the next few days, even as Karthaveeryan was still sitting there waiting to
meet the Lord, several Rishi and Saints visited the hermitage to offer their
salutations and respects to Lord Dattatreya. Those who visited the Lord did not
bother to look at the King Karthaveeryan nor go near him to exchange
pleasantries even as Karthaveeryan sat in a corner watching in silence whatever
were happening around him in the ashram. One fine morning, Lord Dattatreya
opened his eyes, went to the river side along with Rishis, sages and saints, took
bath and returned back ignoring Karthaveeryan. On return Lord Dattatreya
completed his daily rituals and again sat in silence with closed eyes while
Karthaveeryan still continued to remain seated in the same corner, tears rolling
down from his cheeks on being neglected by the Lord. In a spark of a moment,
Lord turned towards him and signalled him to come near. As tears from his
eyes flew like a river, Karthaveeryan went near the Lord and fell in his feet
weeping uncontrollably.

Lord Datta lifted him gently and asked him on the purpose of his visit. The King
said ‘Lord, what more is needed as you have showered everything I needed
......You have already bestowed more than what I am worthy of, made me enjoy
pleasures in life, gave me more strength, gave enough wealth, but what I lack
now is mental peace and tranquil as I frequently get disturbed with mindless
thoughts. I am in search of something unknown which will give me peace,
nagging urge to go to somewhere but the destination is unknown. If I ask
anything further, I would be the greatest sinner. In the name of etiquette,
tradition and culture, I am being advised frequently to follow several rites and
rituals thus pushing me to perplexity, unable to decide which one to follow.
49
While on one side everyone portray you as Parabrahman, your behaviour is far
different to what is being told. When I came here, I saw you deeply engrossed
in meditation. If you were Parabrahman who could be greater than you…..in
that case on whom do you meditate? I am unable to choose the correct path
for enlightenment ….. Oh Lord, I want to go somewhere and sit on mindful
meditating to beget peace.

A big aura of glow surrounded the face of Lord Dattatreya. The Rishis and saints
anxiously awaited the next move of the Lord even as Lord Dattatreya began
telling Karthaveeryan ‘Arjuna, today you have occupied a special place in my
heart. I keenly observed every moment of yours ever since you came and
accepted the eulogized hymns chanted in silence. You are keen to know on
whom I was meditating and who the greater soul than me was. At appropriate
time I will reveal everything. I am meditating on the soul which reside within
me. Let me tell you some stories which would clear your doubts. As long as one
keep performing his duties sincerely, honestly, true to conscience he would get
liberated and enter into the path of salvation’. Lord Dattatreya enlightened
Karthaveeryan with several short stories and asked ‘Arjuna have you been able
to absorb what I said so long? They were not mere stories meant for pass time,
but reveal the secrets of the soul residing in one’s body. The whole world is an
illusion. Sitting in the dark and searching for the light is an act of foolishness.
Instead you must learn the art of knowing what we desire to see. Absorb with
devotion what the Guru (Master) preach, try to understand deeper meanings in
them, etch them deep in your heart and lead life of purity freed of attachments.
When you unite your Atman (individual self or soul) with Brahman (the
Absolute) then at that stage everything would become clear to you’.
50
Karthaveeryan listened with rapt attention what Lord Dattatreya said. Tears
rolling down from eyes, he said ‘Lord, after talking to you my mind is filled with
inner joy and happiness which I am unable to express, but at the same time the
unknown reasoned uneasiness too haunt me. Oh Lord, what should I do now?’

Lord Dattatreya said ‘Arjuna only because your mind is not firm and wavering,
you are unable to etch in your heart what I preached so long. Therefore control
your mind by practicing Pranamaya, the exercise of breath control which would
merge your feelings with mind. The first step for it is breathing exercise. When
you perfect the art of Pranamaya, and keep recollecting what the Guru had
taught, you would slowly enter into the path of tranquil and further perfecting
Pranamaya would take you to the state of Brahman at which stage you attain
paranormal powers called Siddhi. Thereafter you will attain salvation. You claim
to be detached, at the same time you are also in search of peace and tranquil
both of which are contradictory to each other. If you really need peace then
sit alone inside the cave below that mountain and meditate and recollect in
mind whatever I preached you which will automatically take you to the state of
samadhi’. He blessed him and sent him into the cave to sit on meditation.

Days and months passed and whenever Karthaveeryan’s meditation got

disturbed, he would go to Lord Dattatreya and prostrate before him. Whenever
Lord Dattatreya questioned on his state of mind, Karthaveeryan would reply
that he was in the state of bliss till his meditation got disturbed.

Therefore Lord Dattatreya repeatedly asked him to go and continue meditation

51
as and when he came to meet the Lord when his meditation got disturbed. At
one stage, instead of sending him back to continue the meditation, Lord
Dattatreya asked him to go back to the Kingdom to take over the reins of
administration. Mentally rejuvenated Karthaveeryan too returned to his
Kingdom and began to rule the nation with firmness than before, all his actions
aimed towards the welfare of the folks.

Howsoever a person may have reformed, the arrogance hiding in them would
resurface at some point of time much against their own wish and haunt them
because of destiny. How could Karthaveeryan be an exception to the law of
nature? As much as Karthaveeryan attempted to contain his arrogance, destiny
broke the will of him. Debates used to be the regular feature in his royal court.
Whenever Brahmin Pundits debated, Karthaveeryan keenly watched the
proceedings and at times he even participated in the debates and discussions.
The arguments put forth by the debaters led him to think that the Vedas were
contradictory to each other and therefore it was useless to adapt Vedic rites
and rituals. Citing Vedic doctrines, the pundits advocated performing certain
rituals and rites such as taking bath in the pious rivers to gain prosperity. The
King wondered why prosperity eluded the very same pundits who strictly
observed them but on the contrary they lived in the state of utter misery
seeking alms everyday. What significant gains they had achieved in their
personal life by strictly practicing those rituals and rites whereas without
engaged in any of them he had been able to get many boons from Lord
Dattatreya. His mind began to get polluted with such serious thoughts and
hatred on the views and opinions of the Brahmin pundits surfaced and widened
slowly.
52
Once when he went to Lord Dattatreya, he openly expressed his opinion to the
Lord ‘ Maha Prabhu, the Brahmin pundits advocate rituals like taking bath in
specific rivers considered to be sacred and advocate observance of certain
rituals and practices. Do the rivers really have such a sacred powers?’ Smilingly
Lord Dattatreya explained in detail the glories of the rivers as mentioned in the
Puranas. However though Karthaveeryan outwardly appeared convinced, his
conscience refused to accept them wholeheartedly. At the same time since they
were explained by the Lord himself, he dare not disbelieve them too.
Nevertheless since he enjoyed patronage of the Lord, he decided to ignore the
advices from the pundits and lead life with his own conviction and views.

While returning back, he recalled in mind the suggestions from the pundits to
observe certain norms and rituals. The King felt they were all worthless
suggestions. At the same time his enemies around him were waiting for an
opportune time to let him down. Once a debate took place in the royal court
on the advices given by the Brahmin pundits. Unusually calm and composed
Karthaveeryan lost his temper and criticised the Brahmins severely who felt
humiliated that the King had deliberately insulted them in full view of others.
Waiting for such an opportune time, Lord Vayu, invisible to others and watching
the proceedings came down on the behaviour of the King, deliberately
dragging the name of Lord Dattatreya ‘Listen, Oh, foolish King, only the grace
of Lord Dattatreya elevated your stature with that of Maharishis like Vashishta,
Kashyaba, Athri and Brigu etc. Proving it to be wrong, today you stand fully
exposed by displaying lack of basic etiquette expected from a personality of

53
your stature and only Lord Dattatreya should feel ashamed for your act, as he
was responsible for enhancing your undeserved stature’.

The moment Lord Dattatreya’s name was unnecessarily dragged for his
misbehaviour and blamed, Karthaveeryan unhesitatingly stood up in the midst
of discussion to publicly express unconditional apologies for the indecent
comments and views made against the Brahmin Pundits. One’s respect enhance
whenever he accepted his follies openly and tender unconditional apology for
the same acts of misbehaviour. Lord Vayu’s attempt to defame the reputation
of Karthaveeryan failed and therefore he had to work out some other scheme
to defame the King and to bring his downfall.

Though most of the celestial forces including few divines held Karthaveeryan
in high esteem, few others like Lord Agni were in jealous of him. One day Lord
Agni went in disguise of a Brahmin and sought alms from Karthaveeryan as he
was feeling hungry. Clearly Karthaveeryan recognized that it was Lord Agni in
guise of a Brahmin seeking food (Biksha) in the name of hunger; hence the King
gave whatever he sought in the name of biksha. Dissatisfied with what he got,
when Lord Agni continued to ask for more and more, Karthaveeryan
understood that Lord Agni had indeed come with some ulterior motive to
defame him, but since he could not go against his promise to give,
Karthaveeryan asked Lord Agni to eat the plants and trees in the forest area to
satiate his hunger, since he was confident that no one could do any harm to
him because he had the blessings of Lord Dattatreya. He was aware that if Lord
Agni burnt the forest, only Rishis and sages staying in the forest areas would
be the sufferers and face death in fire.
54
Karthaveeryan failed to understand that death was certain to come to those
born and the death can only be postponed for some time if graced so by God,
but one cannot remain immortal. It was Lord Dattatreya who pleased with the
devotion of Karthaveeryan kept his death extended.

Once got the go ahead signal from the King, Lord Agni put his evil plan of
action and burnt entire forest where Rishis and sages were living in hermitages.
In the fire created by Agni in the name of consuming them, the hermitages too
got burnt down. Lord Agni consumed the lush green trees and plants in the
forest area including that of the hermitage of Sage Urthuva. The forest
reverberated with the cries of folks, Rishis, sages and saints. Maharishi
Vashishta was shocked to hear the loud, shark and shrill cries of the sages and
saints. The Holy Sage got enraged and cursed that the provider of alms to Lord
Agni to consume thus would meet death in the hands of a sage. Hence to
honour the curse given by Maharishi Vashishta, at a later event Lord
Parasurama, another incarnate of Lord Vishnu had to kill Karthaveeryan. This
episode can be found in the life story of Lord Parasurama.

Time moved fast after Lord Agni went away causing irreparable damage to the
reputation of Karthaveeryan. From then on strangely and slowly Karthaveeryan
too began to rule the land with several unethical acts. He often rode on the
special flying cart given by Lord Dattatreya and entered into the three worlds
freely and fearlessly terrorising everyone. Once he even entered into the palace
of Lord Indira when the Lord was with his wife. Not only he committed the
unethical act of entering into the room of Lord Indira who was in privacy with
55
his wife, he further taunted him telling that he was invincible. The Celestials
unable to bear the atrocities of Karthaveeryan ran to Lord Vishnu and sought
his intervention and protection from the unruly King. Lord Vishnu consoled
them promising that Karthaveeryan would soon meet his end.

Once when Karthaveeryan was returning from the expedition of invasion and
war he had to pass through a forest where Maharishi Jamadagni was staying.
Seeing the plight of the tired troops and the King, the Sage offered food to
them. Karthaveeryan was reluctant to accept his offer expressing that he had
come with a huge force who were also thirsty and hence he alone did not wish
to eat leaving them starving; hence declined the offer. Sage Jamadagni laughed
at the King and told him that he had not invited the King alone to partake food,
but the invitation was to his entire force who could come and partake food. The
surprised King could not believe the offer of the saint since the hut of the saint
was so small that preparing food to a huge force was not possible, but to his
utter shock when the entire troops came and began to partake the food
offered, the food kept on coming from inside the hut till everyone ate to their
full stomach.

After everyone dined, they praised the saint for timely offer of food, a Cow
whitish in colour came out of the hut of the sage and the sage revealed to
Karthaveeryan that the entire food served to them were given by the holy Cow.
While appreciating the generosity of the sage, the jealous King exchanged
pleasantries and demanded the Cow be given to him in exchange of huge
wealth. The sage was shocked at the demand of the King and refused to part
with the divine Cow under any circumstances further taunting that contrary to
56
the Kings giving alms to the Brahmins, now the King was asking for alms in the
name of a Cow from a poor Brahmin.

The King misread the refusal of Maharishi Jamadagni to part with the Cow
thinking that the sage was expecting more money or wealth in exchange of the
Cow and coerced him in many ways to part with the Cow, induced with many
favours but when the sage was adamant not to give him the Cow which was
akin to his mother, the King ordered his troop to take away the Cow by force.
How could a weak sage fight a huge force of the King, when he (the King) had
the boons of Lord Dattatreya with him? Unable to do anything against the
might of the King, the morale of the sage collapsed and he sat down crying
looking at the fate of the hapless Cow being dragged and taken away by the
soldiers of the King.

Lord Parasurama was not at home when all those happened. He had gone to
the forest and on his return finding his father Sage Jamadagni sitting in state
of shock and unable to speak, he learnt of everything that had happened. Lord
Parasurama’s blood boiled with rage that a Kshatriya insulted his father, who
was not only a weak Brahmin but cannot fight too. He decided to teach them
a lesson, took the axe and went out chasing the King and his troops. After long
chase, he could spot the troops and yelled at them ‘Stop….oh rogues and
scoundrels why did you snatch away the Cow from my father?’. Karthaveeryan
was shocked that someone had come into open to oppose and insult him aloud
calling names. Lord Parasurama roared like a lion ‘are you going to leave the
Cow or not?

57
Karthaveeryan wondered ‘If I remain silent and go away, how would I rule over
the folks. I am a Kshatriya, from warrior class. The enemy has come alone
without troops. It is therefore necessary to fight and finish him’ and threatened
Lord Parasurama to run away to save his life as the Cow would not be released.
The troops who were standing behind the King yelled and taunted Lord
Parasurama to run away to save his life. ‘Oh, impotent force, come on, come
and fight with me’ shouted Lord Parasurama and without waiting for their reply
ran behind them and fought in the strength of a lion and tiger. Unable to face
him, the troops fled to save themselves. Karthaveeryan continued the fight
alone with Lord Parasurama. Even as Lord Parasurama kept on cutting the
hands of Karthaveeryan, new hands sprouted from the body of Karthaveeryan.
The King felt ‘I have probably committed something wrong which should not
have been committed. I should not have snatched away the Cow. Even Lord
Dattatreya would not appreciate snatching away something from a person
weaker’. He recalled the warning of Lord Dattatreya who said that someone
stronger, a Brahmin, would suddenly come and kill him. He realized that the
time may have come and hence Lord Dattatreya himself may have sent
someone to complete the task.

He realized ‘yes I have committed irreparable damage, there is no use

regretting for the act of wrong doing. The one who has come might be
definitely mightier than me’. Both Karthaveeryan and Lord Parasurama fought
with weapons and when the weapons had finished they engaged into physical
fight which continued for many hours, even as each of them appreciated in
their minds the might of the other. Finally Lord Parasurama had to use the
brahmasthra given by Lord Shiva which ended fresh hands getting sprouted
58
from the body of Karthaveeryan. Lord Parasurama was incarnate of Lord Vishnu
and Lord Vishnu was part of Lord Dattatreya whose inner strength was that of
Lord Shiva. It became duty of Lord Dattatreya to bring to an end the life span
of Karthaveeryan, lest the curse of Maharishi Vashishta given in the past birth
would not get fulfilled. Ultimately at the end of the fiercely fought war,
Karthaveeryan was killed by Lord Parasurama. Karthaveeryan being the devotee
of Lord Dattatreya, he reached heaven. The divine Cow ran to Lord Parasurama
and stood by his side with tears running down from her eyes in joy. Lord
Parasurama consoled the Cow and took it to his father.

Digambara, Digambara, Sree Padha Vallabha Digambara

Digambara, Digambara, Sri Dattadeva Digambara

Om Shri Dattatreya Guruve Namaha

59
 Fourth day Parayan

Om Dattatreyaaya Vidmahe
Yogeeswaraaya Deemahey

Thanno Datta Prachothayaath

Lord Dattatreya and Lord Parasurama

Before we understand who Lord Parasurama is, we need to know the story of
his father. Bururavan belonging to Amvasu dynasty was ruler of a state called
Kusumba. He had a son named Kathi who was a saint. Bururavan had two sons
and one daughter. While some took up the path of Sanyas, Kathi resided in the
jungle. He had a daughter called Satyavati. Maharishi Brigu’s son Rikka fell in
love with Satyavati who was virtuous, good mannered and a beautiful woman.
Rikka gave one thousand horses as dowry whose one ear was black and married
Satyavati contrary to the normal custom of bride offering dowry to marry the
bridegroom. Sage Kathi’s wife got a strange desire that she should also give
birth to a child whenever her daughter conceived and kept her daughter also
made known of her desire.

Few years passed after Satyavati got married. Once Maharishi Brigu visited their
home. Kathi’s wife expressed her desire to the Maharishi- to conceive along
with her daughter. Brigu Maharishi performed a ritualistic ceremony and gave
her two utensilful of food items imbued with some mantras and told her that
one was meant for Satyavati and the other was for Kathi’s wife. He warned that
since each of them have been imbued with specific mantras meant for both

60
mother and the daughter, after taking bath in the morning both the daughter
and mother should partake only those meant for each of them and even by
mistake the food should not get interchanged and partaken.

Next morning Kathi’s wife got up early, took bath and went to partake the food
from the vessel meant for her. On seeing both the vessels, her mind oscillated
whether the one meant for her daughter would result in a beautiful child to her
daughter, wonderful than the child to be born to her (Kathi’s wife). Therefore
ignoring the advice of Maharishi Brigu, she ate the food meant for her
daughter. He daughter too took bath and came there to partake the food, but
was shocked to find the food meant for her have been interchanged and
partaken by her mother. When asked, her mother apologised to her for wrong
doing which happened by mistake. Whatever is said and done, since the food
consumed cannot be taken out, they left the issue to destiny. Not to disrespect
the Rishi who gave them the mantra imbued special food in good faith,
Satyavati ate the food meant for her mother which was only available.

When Kathi’s wife told the Maharishi that she had mistakenly taken food meant
for her daughter, the Maharishi did not believe her and with his yogic power
found out the deliberate act of the mother and regretted that destiny had
played. Therefore he tweaked his blessings in such a manner that the attributes
of the son to be born to Satyavati would go to the son to be delivered by Kathi’s
wife. Soon both the mother and the daughter bore a child each. While Satyavati
gave birth to Sage Jamadagni with Satvik nature, Kathi’s wife delivered
Maharishi Vishwamitra. Since sage Jamadagni’s nature was Satvik i.e. polite in

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nature like his mother, he could not fight with the forces of Karthaveeryan army
when they snatched away his holy cow.
Sage Jamadagni got married to Renuka who was also very virtuous and a chaste
woman. She served her husband like loyal and devoted wife and helped him to
perform all rituals and ceremonies in the best manner. Soon they too got few
sons including Lord Parasurama and all of them lived together happily as a
family. The destiny always play its role. Once when Renuka went to take bath
in a river, she happened to see a couple, a King with his consort playing in the
river in close proximity with each other ignited by sensual fire. She was
captivated by the sight wondering how happily they were enjoying life as a
couple leading her to lose her concentration and devotion to her husband for
a moment. In the next moment when she came to her senses, she hurriedly
took bath and returned home with guilt feelings. When Renuka entered home
displaying guilty feelings, Maharishi with his Yogic power understood what had
happened. Since even momental attraction on the sensual pleasures of others
tantamount to loss of chastity, he called all his sons and ordered them to chop
off the head of their mother.

Even though their own father directed them to enact the gruesome act of
slaying the head of their mother, out of love and affection to her none were
willing to execute his order and stood perplexed. Furious over their perplexity
to carry out his command, he cursed his sons to turn into wild animals and
wander in the forest. Renuka stood before her husband head facing down in
nervousness. Finally when the last son of the sage, Lord Parasurama returned
home he instantly understood that something abnormal had taken place as his
father was standing in fury. Before he could assess the situation, his father
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commanded ‘chop off your mother’s head’. Next moment Lord Parasurama
executed his father’s command and Renuka’s head fell on the ground. Sage
Jamadagni was jubilant over his son’s act appreciating him ‘son you are the
true son of mine, ask for any boon your desire, it would get rewarded with the
power of my good deeds’. Lord Parasurama expected such an offer to be made
by his father and without wasting time he requested his father to bring back to
life his slain mother and also reverse the curse on his brothers.

Sage Jamadagni got very emotional with the expression of attachment of Lord
Parasurama towards his mother and love on his brothers. He appreciated the
stand of his son –obedience to father’s command and in return sought revival
of the life of his mother and brothers. Instantly the sage granted what Lord
Parasurama sought uttering ‘Ththassthu’ meaning aspiration granted. Thus
Renuka got back her life and so were his brothers who returned to their original
form. Thereafter the family lived for over thousand years and Renuka never
raised her face to look at anyone. It was during that period of time the drama
of Karthaveeryan snatching away the Cow from sage Jamadagni occurred after
which Lord Parasurama chased and destroyed the invading forces killing
Karthaveeryan. In the meanwhile the loyalists of Kathaveeryan were waiting for
an opportune time to take revenge on Lord Parasurama for having killed
Karthaveeryan. They knew that Lord Parasurama cannot be defeated in direct
fight. Therefore one fine morning when Lord Parasurama was away, they came
in full force, entered the hermitage of Sage Jamadagni, destroyed his hermitage
and killed after torturing him. Renuka’s scream reverberated the whole forest.
She beat her chest twenty one times and called Parasurama to come and rescue
them. When her loud, shark and shrill cry entered the ears of Lord Parasurama,
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he came running unaware of what had happened. On reaching home when
he saw the destroyed hermitage and the gruesome manner in which his parents
had been brutally ill-treated by the troops of Karthaveeryan, he became furious,
took over the weapons and ran in search of the invading forces of Kshatriyas.
He chased every one of the Kshatriya soldiers and slayed them to pieces even
as they ran for safety. Lord Parasurama did not leave even those who ran for
safety, but searched and killed each one of them brutally after which he
returned back home like a tired lion.

On reaching home he was horrified to see his mother crying uncontrollably

hugging the slayed body of his father who was lying on pool of blood. Lord
Parasurama too wept uncontrollably regretting that even though he had might
to face the enemies, his strength could not save his father. Renuka got up and
consoled Lord Parasurama and advised him to come down and return to senses
as what had happened had already happened and nothing could be redeemed.
Therefore instead of wasting time by sitting and crying he should perform last
rites to his father. She asked him to go and bring a Kavadi called shoulder pole
at each end of which hung two baskets attached with ropes. Lord Parasurama
was directed by his mother to keep his slain father in one end of the basket and
in the other end, she herself sat and asked him to walk through the jungle and
stop only when he receive instruction to perform last rites for his father.
Everyone assembled there consented to her directive and accordingly Lord
Parasurama carrying his parents on the baskets of the shoulder pole began to
walk on the western side.

Lord Parasurama walked for several hours non-stop, crossing over the jungle
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areas and mountainous regions areas. He did not receive any message to end
the journey till he reached the ashram site of Lord Dattatreya. All of a sudden
an unknown voice ordered him to stop, but no one was seen around. Anxious
to find who ordered him to stop, Lord Parasurama kept the pole down and
went near his mother to ask her about the unknown voice. He could hear feeble
voice coming out of her mouth saying ‘ son, recall your father’s advice to go
and meet Lord Dattatreya….go and meet him in his ashram which is nearby.
Seek his advice and cremate us as he suggests. In case you are unable to meet
him, sit under the fig tree near the ashram and meditate seeking his
appearance. If he gets pleased with your prayer, wherever the Lord may be, he
would appear before you to give guidance and directive’. As instructed by his
mother, Lord Parasurama went inside the nearby cottage in search of Lord
Dattatreya.

Contrary to what his mother told him, Lord Parasurama saw a man sitting
engaged in extreme acts of indecency, further consuming toddy kept in two
bottles. He could not tolerate the smell of toddy along with the foul smell
coming out of half-eaten rotten meat scattered all over. However since Lord
Parasurama was aware through the teachings of his father that Lord Dattatreya
deliberately appear before others in awkward postures to test the seekers, he
prostrated at the feet of the Lord in disguise of an uncouth and requested him
to guide him to perform the last rites of his father. Pat came reply from the
Lord ‘Hai, stranger, have you come here to make fun of me? What do I know
about last rites? If you want to enjoy life, come, sit with me and consume some
toddy along with fresh meat, otherwise run away’. Lord Parasurama would not
get coved down with such reply since he was sure that they were deliberate
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acts of falsehood from the Lord. With folded hands, Lord Parasurama requested
the Lord in disguise of a lunatic to show mercy on him by ending the act of
drama and guide him to cremate his parents which was the desire of his mother.
He told the Lord Dattatreya in disguise of lunatic that he had approached him
only upon the directives of his mother.

The moment Lord Parasurama uttered the name ‘mother’, surprised Lord
Dattatreya asked whether he had really approached him at the instance of his
mother and if so, he was anxious know who she was and desired to meet her.
In a moment of time entire area turned brighter and Lord Dattatreya stood
before him in the midst of glorious radiant rays emanating from all over his
body. The Lord walked with Lord Parasurama to meet his mother. Once they
went near Renuka, Lord Dattatreya started eulogizing ‘Oh mother, oh, Devi
entire cosmos within you, Oh, compassionate mother, I salute thee, oh universal
mother, I salute thee’ When Lord Dattatreya offered his salutations thus, her
appearance too turned differently from that of mother of Lord Parasurama and
she appeared in the midst of glowing radiance in different other form. Lord
Parasurama stood there speechless watching in utmost surprise and shock and
unable to understand what was happening. Lord Dattatreya turned on to Lord
Parasurama and asked him to go and take bath in all the sacred rivers running
nearby and come back. When Lord Parasurama complied and came back, Lord
Dattatreya guided Lord Parasurama the manner in which last rites were to be
performed to his parents. Lord Parasurama with utmost sincerity and obedience
carried out the instructions of Lord Dattatreya. After sage Jamadagni’s lifeless
body was kept on the burning pyre, Renuka too jumped into the fire and
disappeared. At the end of the rites everyone offered their salutations to Lord
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Dattatreya and went way. After completing the last rites, Lord Parasurama too
proceeded to his place and in memory of his mother who beat her chest twenty
one times when her husband was slayed, he went in search of Kshatriyas and
slayed them. He continued the killing spree till he himself got vexed up with
the killings. Frustrated with the act of slaying the Kshatriyas endlessly, he went
to the forest again to meet Lord Dattatreya. On way both his father and mother-
Jamadagni and Renuka- appeared before Lord Parasurama and advised him to
perform a Yagya to redeem the sins accrued by him on account of the killing
of Kshatriyas and then disappeared.

Dismayed Lord Parasurama met Lord Dattatreya and sought his guidance to
perform the Yagya as suggested by his parents since he was a bachelor and
without a consort he could not perform that specific Yagya. Lord Dattatreya
advised him to perform the Yagna in a different manner by bringing out a
female idol, gave it to Lord Parasurama and advised him to keep it by his side
while performing the Yagya treating the idol as his consort. The Yagya was
named by Lord Dattatreya as Renuka Yagya. Lord Dattatreya further assured
Lord Parasurama that he would stay with him till the Yagya was performed
successfully as wished by his parents.

The Yagya ended well while Lord Dattatreya stayed throughout the ritual with
Lord Parasurama and guided him in each step to get the Yagya performed to
the entire satisfaction of Lord Parasurama. Along with Lord Dattatreya, Sage
Kashyaba too joined with the Lord and took active role in performing it. The
Rishis and sages who participated in the Yagya wondered why Lord Dattatreya
named the Yagya as Renuka Yagya and what was the relation between Renuka
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and Lord Dattatreya. They were wondering whether Renuka was real mother of
Lord Parasurama or someone else. Why did Lord Dattatreya take active part in
the Yagya, what was the relation between Lord Parasurama and Lord
Dattatreya? All such doubts ran through their mind endlessly and unanswered
questions loomed large in their mind. However none dared to seek answer from
Lord Dattatreya. At the end of the Yagya everyone were given gifts beyond
their satisfaction. While no one dared to ask Lord Dattatreya on his relation
with Renuka, breaking the silence, Lord Parasurama himself raised his doubt to
Lord Dattatreya in front of every one present. He asked Lord Dattatreya ‘Oh,
Lord, my parents on way to Swarga appeared before me and directed that I
become your disciple. When you first met my mother you worshipped her as
Loka Matha. I wonder why you, the manifestation of Trimurtis should worship
my mother? Is she known to you before? Why did you name the Yagya as
Renuka Yagya? Oh, Lord I shall feel happy if my doubt is cleared’.

Lord Dattatreya explained ‘Parasurama, you are keen to know my relationship

with your mother. Your mother is not an ordinary human. She has gross body
like Sky, Vayu, Agni, Water, Earth; subtle body consisting of five subtle elements
such as the five organs of perception like eyes, ears, skin, tongue and nose; five
organs of action such as speech, hands, legs, anus and genitals besides five-
fold vital elements such as Prana (respiration), Apana (evacuation of waste from
the body), Vyana (blood circulation), Udana (actions like sneezing, crying,
vomiting etc.), Samana (digestion) etc. Now she has left her subtle body and
gone back to her abode. Karthaveeryan had to meet death at the hands of Lord
Vishnu, hence you, incarnate of Lord Vishnu had to complete the task as
destined. Your mother is universal mother, Sandhya Devi called Gayathri who
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is eternal and exist in time immortal. Though there is of specific time frame to
worship her, she could be worshipped in the name of Santhiyavanthana in all
three times- in the morning, noon and evening- to get eternal peace in mind.
One can offer worship from wherever they stayed. Santhi means time, but it
does not mean that she could be worshipped only three times daily, hence even
Yoga Purush like us continue to worship her throughout the day. Look at the
pond here in which your mother Renuka bathed, look at the Fig (also some
mention as Gooseberry tree) tree nearby. She used to take rest under its shade.
Therefore anyone who sit under that tree would derive mental peace. Recall
your mother’s advice to go and take rest under the same tree’. As Lord
Dattatreya was explaining the aspects of the mother of Lord Parasurama in so
many words, all of a sudden Renuka Devi appeared below the Fig tree.
Immediately Lord Dattatreya eulogized her ‘Hey Devi, Hey Jagan Matha, Hey
Amba devi’ followed performing certain rituals and pooja. All others Rishis and
sages who were eagerly listening to the revelations from Lord Dattatreya,
returned back home fully satisfied when their nagging doubts were cleared
through Lord Parasurama.

At the end of the Yagya while everyone went back, Lord Parasurama continued
to stay there worshipping Lord Dattatreya and his mother Renuka. Slowly he
realised that he was entering into the world of tranquil and eternal peace
engulfing him. As he was moving from place to place and finally got defeated
at the hands of Lord Rama, he came back to the jungle fully frustrated. As he
was wandering aimlessly in the forest, he chanced to meet a Sage called
Samvartha, who too was in the same forest in the state of nakedness and rarely
seen by others. Lord Parasurama sought his blessings and guidance to enter
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into the path of wisdom. The sage hinted that Lord Parasurama was searching
for light even as he carried a lighted lamp in his own hands. Lord Parasurama
immediately realised the greatest folly of forgetting Lord Dattatreya. Realizing
his folly, he immediately rushed to Lord Dattatreya and surrendered at his feet.
He sought his pardon and requested him to show him the path of salvation as
he was restless. Lord Dattatreya consoled Lord Parasurama with several
anecdotes and guided him. He advised him to engage in the act of meditation
sitting in a small hut near his hermitage. Lord Parasurama with the guidance of
Lord Dattatreya began meditating and in between met the Lord seeking further
guidance. During one such period of time Lord Dattatreya preached the
doctrine called ‘Tripura Rahasya’ (Mystery beyond the Trinity) to Lord
Parasurama which contain several stories interwoven within. Lord Dattatreya
also revealed the aspects of Tripurasundari, Sri Chakra, and the manner in which
Sree Chakra Yanthra worship had to be performed etc to Lord Parasurama.

Saint Eknath and Lord Dattatreya

Large devotees of Lord Dattatreya are found in the state of Maharashtra. It is
beyond any one’s guess how and why did Lord Dattatreya help his devotees.
One story highlight the glory of the compassionate Lord who helped his true
devotee, though uninvited. It is the story connected to Sage Eknath. Sage
Eknath belonged to Varahari clan from the lineage of Swami Gnanadeva in the
state of then Maratha and who lived in the 17th-18th century along with another
sage called Dhathopant. Both were Brahmins.

In those period of time, anyone desirous to tread the path of Sanyas were in

70
search of some guru (master) to initiate them into that path of enlightenment
and thus Sage Eknath became disciple of Swami Janardhana at the age of ten.
Sage Eknath was devotee of Lord Panduranga Vittala as well. Saint Janardhana
attained enlightenment while meditating under a gooseberry tree near Devagiri
Mountain near Douthabad in district of Satara in Maharashtra. It is said that he
used to often get the darshan of Lord Dattatreya in person. Though Swami
Janardhana belonged to the Brahmin sect, he was secular in all aspects and
therefore was able to serve in the army of a Muslim King. He was chief of the
Palace guards. Even though Saint Janardhana was in the army of the Muslim
King, he continued to sit on intense meditation in spare time with strict
instruction that under no circumstances that his meditation should be
disturbed till he himself ended it. Whenever Swami Janardhana sat on intense
meditation, sage Eknath used stand guard around him to ensure that none
disturbed him.

Once when Saint Janardhana was in intense meditation, the King of the
neighbouring country waged war against the Muslim Kingdom in which Saint
Janardhana was serving and reached the Palace gate. Sage Eknath was in
dilemma as to how his guru who was meditating could be woken up without
disturbing his meditation. As the enemy forces were marching towards the
Palace nearer and nearer, Sage Eknath had no other option except to offer
prayer to his Guru in silence, wear the uniform of his Guru and to enter into the
fight.

As Sage Eknath was engaged in fierce fight with the enemy forces, he saw an
unknown Muslim guard engaged in the fiercely fought war, ably supporting
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him against the enemies. Sage Eknath could see the fighter with bloodied red
eyes fearlessly and ferociously fighting and driving away the enemy forces.
Ultimately the war ended in victory to the forces of Sage Eknath even though
Saint Janardhana did not take part in it. Only at the end of the war did Saint
Janardhana get up ending meditation. Sage Eknath when narrated the story of
how a stranger soldier helped him in driving away the enemies, his Guru could
visualize through his wisdom that the stranger was none other than Lord
Dattatreya himself.

Yet another incident happened in the life span of Sage Eknath when Lord
Dattatreya in disguise of a Fakir accompanied by a female and few dogs invited
Sage Eknath to partake food with him. Sage Eknath being a Brahmin when
showed reluctance for a moment to sit with a Fakir to share the food,
accidentally his Guru who came there advised Sage Eknath to partake food with
the Fakir indirectly hinting that the Fakir was none other than Lord Dattatreya
himself in guise of a Fakir. Before Sage Eknath could return back to his senses,
the Fakir had disappeared. While no one could guess why Lord Dattatreya was
compassionate to help an individual like Sage Eknath, the answer to the
mystery was revealed after eighteen years as narrated in one of the stories
involving Shri Daththothbhava.

Digambara, Digambara, Sree Padha Vallabha Digambara

Digambara, Digambara, Sri Dattadeva Digambara

Om Shri Dattatreya Guruve Namaha

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 Fifth day Parayan
Om Dattatreyaaya Vidmahe

Yogeeswaraaya Deemahey
Thanno Datta Prachothayaath

Lord Dattatreya and Shri Daththothbhava

Daththothbhava was devotee of Lord Dattatreya from his early age itself. He
took Sanyas with the blessings of Lord Dattatreya. An interesting incident
involving Daththothbhava happened in his childhood. When he was twelve
years old boy, his father was working in the capacity of a servant in the Kingdom
of the ruler. He had taken loan from the King and when the servant was unable
to repay the loan on time, the King held Daththothbhava, son of the servant as
hostage and asked the servant to repay the money and take back his son. Since
the servant’s family were devotees of Lord Dattatreya, they prayed to the Lord
to save their son. Will the compassionate Lord keep quiet and leave his devotee
suffer? Lord Dattatreya suddenly went to the King in disguise of a friend of
the servant whose son was held captive by the King, repaid the entire loan to
the King and got the Daththothbhava released from his captivity and handed
over him to his parents. Daththothbhava’s parents wondered how the King
released their son before returning the money due to him. Only when
Daththothbhava returned home and narrated what had happened, did they
come to know of the divine play of Lord Dattatreya and were elated.

Thereafter Daththothbhava’s devotion to Lord Dattatreya increased multifold.

He stopped playing with friends and immersed in the thought of Lord

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Dattatreya and firmed up desire to meet him. He went inside the forest and sat
on meditation seeking the darshan of the Lord. He slept on bushy areas, rocks,
surfaces of ground and sand and continued to pursue worship of Lord
Dattatreya. Pleased with the devotion of Daththothbhava, one day Lord
Dattatreya suddenly appeared before him in his true form and hugged him
during which moment he converted Daththothbhava into a divine angel.
Daththothbhava’s happiness knew no bounds.

Few days later Daththothbhava proceeded to Ambakooragiri where he

accidentally met Sage Eknath. Both were happy to meet each other. Time
passed further and the festival of Krishna Jayanthi commenced when Sage
Eknath was still staying there. Daththothbhava too took part in the function. On
the day of Krishna Jayanthi accidentally Daththothbhava noticed Lord
Dattatreya standing in guise of a guard at the entrance. He ran to him, fell at
his feet and inquired why he was standing there in guise of a guard protecting
Sage Eknath. Lord Dattatreya told him that he was guarding only Lord
Panduranga who had taken birth as sage Eknath but not performing the duty
to an individual called Sage Eknath.

Only then did Daththothbhava who was eighteen years younger to Sage Eknath
understood who Sage Eknath was and why Lord Dattatreya was compassionate
to him. Later Daththothbhava obtained the sandals of Lord Dattatreya and took
initiation from him near river Godavari. The initiation received by
Daththothbhava from Lord Dattatreya was known as ‘Aham Brahmasmi’ (I am
Brahman) a Sanskrit aphorism, and yoga philosophy to describe the unity of
the Atman (individual self or soul) with Brahman (the Absolute).
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Sathrujit and Lord Dattatreya
The story of Sathrujit also reveal the glory of Lord Dattatreya. King Sathrujit was
disciplined, good mannered King who ruled his Kingdom in the most virtuous
manner. His son Ruthuthvajan too followed the path of his father in maintaining
discipline and inherited all virtues from his father. Besides, he had gained
proficiency in Vedas and Shastras. At the same time he also spent much of his
time with his friends. Even though he had many friends, two amongst them
were very close to him. They were from Nagaloga in the world of abyss,
possessing very good qualities and moral character similar to that of
Ruthujvajan. Since those two friends were in guise of normal human, they did
not reveal their identity to anyone including to Ruthuthvajan.

Once a sage came to the Royal court of the King complaining that the sages
and saints in the forest were unable to perform any rituals, tapas or meditate
due to atrocities of an asura who prevented them from performing the rituals
and disturbed their tapas and meditation. Though the sages and saints could
have destroyed the asura with the meditative powers gained by them, they
were unwilling to exercise the hard earned power granted by the divines
because once they were used, the strength of the power would go away. The
sage said ‘Oh, King when we prayed to the Lord to relieve us from the torture
and torments of the asura, a voice from heaven told us that we would get a
powerful horse with divine powers comparable to that of the carrier vehicle of
Lord Sun, and once we receive it, it should be handed over to you which in turn
is to be given to your son who could ride on it to guard us and destroy the
asura. In the next moment a divine horse appeared before us and we have

75
brought her here as per the command received through the unknown voice.
Oh, King kindly accept this horse and protect us from the asura and ensure that
we are able to pursue our spiritual pursuit peacefully in the jungle’.

The King was noble and held the fraternity of Rishis and sages in high esteem.
Therefore without hesitation, he took over the divine horse, gave it to his son
Ruthujvajan and sent him along with the sage to the forest to guard them
against the asura. When Ruthuthvajan went near the horse, the horse bent
before him signalling him to sit on her. Once both Ruthujvajan and the sage
sat on it, the horse flew through the air and entered into the jungle where the
sages recommenced their meditation and tapas while Ruthuthvajan stood
guard outside the hermitage.

By then the asura who had so long been disturbing the saints and sages, came
into the jungle in the guise of a wild jungle pig and began to destroy the Yagya
kund in the usual manner. Immediately Ruthuthvajan fired several arrows on to
her body. The asura did not expect such resistance from the sages and began
to retreat to save himself. Ruthuthvajan sat on the divine horse and chased the
jungle Pig. The asura in guise of Pig realized that if he was captured by
Ruthuthvajan, he would get killed and therefore ran into the world of abyss to
escape from Ruthuthvajan. Since Ruthuthvajan was sitting on the divine horse
he could chase the pig and freely enter into the world of abyss. The Pig which
entered into the world of abyss disappeared suddenly. Ruthuthvajan was
amazed to find beautiful buildings and Palaces inside the world of abyss and
enjoying their beauty, he searched for the Pig.

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On way, he accidentally saw a beautiful girl, her body covered with carved
ornamented gold jewels, but clothes were torn. She appeared tired and
frustrated. For few moments both of them looked at each other without a wink
after which Ruthuthvajan went near her and told her that he had indeed
entered into the world of abyss chasing a jungle Pig which was troubling the
sages and saints in the land above the world of abyss and after entering into
abyss, the Pig disappeared and hid somewhere. Hence he was in search of the
Pig to kill it. He requested her to help him trace the Pig. Before Ruthuthvajan
went near the girl, she ran inside the building and hid herself. Ruthuthvajan did
not feel any sort of fear and reached the terrace of the palace, casually tied the
horse and entered into the building in pursuit of the Pig.

When he reached a big hall, he saw another beautiful woman lying on an

ornamented bed. But she did not notice him while entering into the room. As
he was enjoying the beauty of the girl lying on the bed, accidently she too
noticed the stranger standing there, but without display of fear she staired at
him for some time and in the otherwise calm atmosphere, returning back to his
senses, Ruthuthvajan asked the girl ‘Hello, you appear panicky surrounded with
some problem. May I know who you are and what are you afraid of?’ When
she remained mum for some moment without answering, he repeated the
same query. She immediately called someone from inside in high pitch voice
….‘Kundali’. Ruthuthvajan was surprised to see Kundali, whom he first met when
he entered into the world of abyss. The lady requested him not to ask any
further as they cannot answer and instead requested him to reveal his identity
first. They displayed fear over something while talking.

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Ruthuthvajan immediately understood that the girls were in deep problem and
need to be rescued or saved. He said ‘Girls, my name is Ruthuthvajan, the prince
of the outer world above abyss. I came chasing a jungle Pig which was
disturbing the tapas of sages in the forest areas. If you trust me and reveal true
nature of danger in which both are trapped, I can help you in some manner’.
The girl who met him first said that the name of the other lady standing by her
side was Madalasai. She told Ruthuthvajan that the prince of the King of abyss
wanted to marry her by force. Since those in the world above abyss cannot
marry someone who is living in abyss, she refused to marry him. Hence he
kidnapped her, forcefully brought and imprisoned her. He was further planning
to get married with her in the next two days. When Madalasai attempted to
commit suicide, the divine Cow Kamadhenu which accidentally met her,
persuaded her not to commit suicide and wait with patience for some more
time as someone would come, rescue and marry her. As prophesised by divine
Kamadhenu the prince (Asura) of abyss who went to disturb the tapas of the
sages and saints came running bleeding pierced with arrows fired by
Ruthuthvajan who too came over there chasing the asura. Both the girls felt
that it spelt good omen and requested whether he could rescue Madalasai and
take her out from the prison in abyss.

Ruthuthvajan impressed with Madalasai was willing to rescue her, but only after
marrying her. Since he cannot be engaged to anyone unless it was performed
with fire rituals, he immediately prayed to his guru who instantly appeared
there in the world of abyss and after hearing the story, acceding to the request
of Ruthuthvajan, he solemnised their marriage there itself with fire rituals. Once
Ruthuthvajan married Madalasai, he was ready to leave when Doomakethu,
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King of abyss came over there, confronted him and attacked Ruthuthvajan.
Since Ruthuthvajan was very strong and a warrior, possessed with powerful
divine horse, he fought with the forces of Doomakethu, destroyed the forces
and also killed Doomakethu. After killing Doomakethu, both Ruthuthvajan and
Madalasai sat over the divine horse and rode back to the Palace of
Ruthuthvajan. Even before they reached the Palace, the Raja guru who
solemnised the marriage in the land of abyss conveyed the entire news on
Ruthuthvajan to his parents and hence everyone warmly welcomed
Ruthuthvajan and Madalasai in a grand manner.
After return from the world of abyss, everyone noticed remarkable changes in
the attitude of Ruthuthvajan. He curtailed all his earlier habits of roaming,
making pleasure trips with friends etc and spent much of his time with his wife
further concentrating in the state administrative issues. He frequently met
saints and sages and got several doubts cleared from them. While his parents
were very happy to see the changes in the attitude of their son, both
Ruthuthvajan and Madalasai too led their life in happiness. In the world of
abyss, Thaalakethu, brother of Doomakethu who was killed during fight with
Ruthuthvajan when Madalasai was rescued, waited for an opportune time to
settle his score with Ruthuthvajan to avenge the death of his brother
Doomakethu. Soon the opportunity came.

Ruthuthvajan used to frequently visit the jungle to meet the sages and saints.
While wandering in the forest, one day he lost the way and stranded in the thick
of the jungle. With great difficulty he managed to find a fresh hermitage and
went inside. A sage sitting there warmly welcomed him. The sage was none
other than Doomakethu’s brother Thaalakethu in guise of a saint sitting there
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expecting the arrival of Ruthuthvajan. He knew that as long as the divine horse
was with Ruthuthvajan, he cannot not be defeated in direct fight, hence he
created an artificial hermitage to trap and cheat Ruthuthvajan by deceit.
Ruthuthvajan was unaware of the intention of Thaalakethu and still believed
him to be a saint. After exchanging pleasantries and taking rest, Ruthuthvajan
asked the sage what he expected from him for the help rendered to shelter
him. After praising Ruthuthvajan a lot, Thaalakethu told Ruthuthvajan that he
was planning to perform a Yagya, and as a symbol of contribution, if he could
donate the latchet with chain worn by him, it would be of great help to him.
Thaalakethu knew that the neck chain with the latchet was presented by
Madalasai during their marriage. Hesitant Ruthuthvajan thought for a while on
account of his sentiment with the latchet given by his wife, at the same time he
also realized that denial of the latchet sought by the sage would be tantamount
to insult and therefore after initial hesitation, Ruthuthvajan donated the latchet
to Thaalakethu who was in guise of a sage. The sage asked him to stay in the
hermitage overnight and go back to his Kingdom next morning. He also guided
Ruthuthvajan the way to reach his Palace.

Before Ruthuthvajan could get up in the morning and reach the Palace,
Thaalakethu had already reached the Palace in guise of sage and met the King
to convey that his son had died in the jungle in a fight with enemies and before
Ruthujvajan died he gave him the latchet and uttered the name ‘Madalasai’,
‘Madalasai’ and breathed his last. After telling some more false stories on
Ruthuthvajan’s death, Thaalakethu went away happily feeling that he had
avenged the death of his brother. Seeing the latchet attached with the chain,

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Madalasai too believed that her husband had died and in the shock she fell
dead.

The final rites were carried out for Madalasai and the whole state of the
Kingdom mourned the death of Ruthuthvajan who was still alive. In the
meanwhile Ruthuthvajan somehow managed to reach the Kingdom after
straying here and there and found the entire state under mourning. He could
not guess what had happened. After Ruthuthvajan reached the Palace,
everyone were shocked and realized that someone has cheated everyone
conveying false news with some ulterior motive which however sadly resulted
in the death of Madalasai.

Years rolled. How long the Prince would carry in heart the unbearable agony?
Slowly he started returning back to normalcy and mingled with his friends as
before spending quality time with them. His friends too consoled him in many
ways so that he would forget the past. The two close friends of Ruthuthvajan
who were from Nagaloga and continued to remain in guise of humans did not
visit their homeland- Nagaloga- for very long time and stayed there in support
of Ruthuthvajan due to which their father was quite upset. Therefore he came
and met his sons secretly to find out why they failed to visit home for very long
time. Though their father was initially quite upset to see his sons in guise of
humans freely maintaining friendly relation with humans, after they explained
the circumstances which forced their stay over ground and friendship with
Ruthuthvajan who possessed good manners and character, the King of
Nagaloga too was convinced of their genuine friendship.

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They narrated the ordeal of their close friend Ruthuthvajan which he had to
face for having given protection to the saints and sages even risking his own
life and requested their father to help Ruthuthvajan in some manner. The King
of Nagaloga too felt sad hearing the story of Ruthuthvajan who had been
cheated. He had already heard of the good governance of Ruthuthvajan’s
father whose legacy Ruthuthvajan followed.

Therefore the Naga King agreed to help his son’s friend in some manner and
finalised a plan of action. He returned to Nagaloga along with his sons, handed
over the Kingdom to his sons to look after for some period of time and went
to Himalayas. He sat in penance seeking the grace of Goddess Saraswathi.
Please with his intense tapas, when the Goddess appeared before him to grant
his wish, the King requested the goddess to bring to life his brother who had
died many years ago and further grace both of them with the art of rendering
most pleasing heart melting music. The pleased goddess not only brought back
to life his demised brother but also bestowed them boon to excel in rendering
heart melting music. Both the brothers exchanged pleasantries and discussed
the ordeal faced by Ruthuthvajan. They decided to pray to Lord Shiva to get
boons by rendering heart melting music to solve the issue of Ruthuthvajan and
to get Madalasai reborn in their family. After deciding so, both went to mount
Kailash, penanced on Lord Shiva with rendering heart melting hymns in glory
of him. Pleased with their music, Lord Shiva appeared before them to grant the
boons they wished. They requested him to bless Madalasai reborn in their
family, possessed with the same attributes and feelings when she died, and in
same human form. Lord Shiva granted their wish and the brothers returned to
their homeland. Soon Madalasai took birth in the family of the King and
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regained her original form. Ruthuthvajan’s friends were elated that Madalasai
had born as their sister. Their father was a good mind reader and therefore
decided that if Ruthuthvajan was immediately paraded before Madalasai he
would not believe her rebirth and accept her. Therefore only by deceit he
should be brought over there to meet Madalasai in stages till which time
Madalasai should also remain unseen by Ruthuthvajan whenever he was
brought to Nagaloga. As per the plan worked out, Ruthuthvajan’s friends from
Nagaloga met Ruthuthvajan, convinced him to go with them to meet their
father who was anxiously waiting to meet him.

Ruthuthvajan was initially reluctant to go with them to meet their father, but
when his friends somehow convinced him he agreed to proceed to Nagaloga
travelling in a boat. Ruthuthvajan did not ask them where he was being taken
to meet their father. Midway in ocean they mesmerised and blindfolded
Ruthuthvajan and then took him to the Nagaloga which was deep inside ocean.
Ruthuthvajan felt the journey was very long and as soon as they reached
Nagaloga, his eyes automatically opened up. He realized that he was inside a
different land with two serpents standing by the side of him. Even before he
spoke, the serpents spoke in the language known to him ‘Friend please forgive
us. We are the very same friends of yours who were in Bhoologa in disguise of
two Brahmin boys. Since our father desired to meet you, we brought you here
by deceit. Do not mistake us’. Ruthuthvajan recognised them by their voice and
conveyed that he was not at all angry since he felt that father of a friend was
also similar to his father, hence they need not regret for their act. The pleasing
reply of Ruthuthvajan further enhanced his merit in their mind.

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When they took him before their father, Ruthuthvajan instantly fell at his feet
and both hugged. The Naga King was happy in meeting all three together. As
if he was unaware of the ordeal of Ruthuthvajan, the King casually enquired
about his welfare and blessed Ruthuthvajan to beget a good partner in life.
Agonised Ruthuthvajan stood in silence and silently wept in heart that while
he possessed everything in life, he was missing Madalasai who was no more.
The Naga King, mind reader, read the feelings running in the mind of
Ruthuthvajan. Instead of pursuing anything further at that juncture, the King
asked them to take food, rest for a while before they meet again. After lunch
when Ruthuthvajan met the King again along with his friends, the Naga King
repeatedly asked Ruthuthvajan whether he needed any help from him. He
assured that he could fulfil his wish by the spiritual power he possessed. While
Madalasai occupied his mind, Ruthuthvajan, could not express his feelings to
the King and looked at his friends who were waiting for such an opportunity to
open up the issue. Though everything had been foretold to their father, they
pretended as if their father was unaware of the story of Ruthuthvajan and in
front of Ruthuthvajan narrated his ordeal till the death of his beloved wife. They
pretended that their friend Ruthuthvajan would feel happy if his wife could be
brought back to life.

The King smiled at Ruthuthvajan and told him that he was aware of the feelings
running in his mind and said that the dead cannot be revived, but he could
parade Madalasai for few minutes before him. However the condition was while
meeting deceased wife, Ruthuthvajan should not touch her. Ruthuthvajan
agreed to the proposal so that he could at least meet her once again for few
moments. The King arranged to parade Madalasai before him. Once both
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Ruthuthvajan and Madalasai met face to face from a distance, Ruthuthvajan
wept uncontrollably. Since he had to abide by the condition that he cannot
touch her physically, he looked at her from a distance and wept for some more
time before she disappeared. Saddened Ruthuthvajan sat in silence and came
to his senses when he felt that someone had touched his shoulders.

When he turned back in shock he saw the King standing behind him rubbing
his shoulders gently to tell that he would get back his wife again, but before
that Ruthuthvajan should also know how Madalasai got rebirth. The King
narrated the entire story of how his sons were maintained best friendship with
Ruthuthvajan in Bhoologa, how they reacted when he lost his wife and how
they sought his intervention to find a solution to get back his wife and how
with the grace of Goddess Saraswathi, he brought back to life his dead brother
and how they met Lord Shiva to obtain boon to get rebirth of Madalasai etc in
detail. He further revealed that Ruthuthvajan had to face the ordeal due to
destiny, hence he too enacted a small drama before uniting them together.
Thereafter the reunited couple were sent back to their motherland with the
blessing of the King of Nagaloga.
…………….the story of Ruthuthvajan continues….

Digambara, Digambara, Sree Padha Vallabha Digambara

Digambara, Digambara, Sri Dattadeva Digambara
Om Shri Dattatreya Guruve Namaha

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 Sixth day Parayan
Om Dattatreyaaya Vidmahe
Yogeeswaraaya Deemahey
Thanno Datta Prachothayaath

Story of Ruthuthvajan continues…..

The royal family was overjoyed to hear the news and to see Ruthuthvajan who
returned home with his wife. Years passed. King Sathrujit died and his son
Ruthuthvajan took over the reins of the Kingdom and ruled the state in the
most responsible manner following the footsteps of his father. After
Ruthuthvajan’s accession to the throne, Madalasai conceived and gave birth to
a beautiful son. At the time of naming ceremony when the king anointed the
child with a good name, instead of expressing joy, Madalasai could not help
stop laughing, as she was very amused by such a name given to her son. She
did it deliberately. If anyone else had behaved in that manner it would have
been viewed seriously as an act of insult. Since Madalasai displayed such a
gesture, others did not bother and Ruthuthvajan too not only ignored it, but
also did not discuss with Madalasai. The child grew up as intelligent child, well-
mannered and possessed with the same good attributes of the King.

Madalasai brought up the child putting him to sleep with lullabies, the themes
of which were spiritually inclined such as ‘why did you take birth in this
worthless world of illusion……you should remain detached in this materialistic
world etc’. Though the King noticed her putting the child to sleep with lullabies
of such nature, he ignored it initially but wondered why such lullabies were
sung to put the child to sleep. However as the child grew, he further noticed

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Madalasai giving metaphysical knowledge like ‘Hear my son, when the dirty
water of one place flow and mix with pure water flowing from different other
direction, though the entire water get contaminated, the basic properties of
the water remain unchanged. Similarly whenever you mix with people like
sages and saints or others possessing good character, absorb only good
qualities from them instead of polluting your mind with wrong thoughts and ill
feelings. You must retain your basic good qualities. The body does not reflect
the purity of mind but the purity is revealed only through the atman (soul)
residing inside’. The King was worried why his wife chose to preach the child
about metaphysics which would get deeply etched into the tender mind of the
growing child. The King’s fear turned true when at the age of twelve years, the
boy renounced the royal life and took up Sanyasa called renunciation. At the
same time Madalasai was non-emotive and engaged herself into normal chores
of life as usual without displaying any remorse on her son’s decision. The King
could not understand the behaviour of the queen - his wife.

Few years passed and Madalasai got conceived again and gave birth to another
son. In the naming ceremony too when the child was anointed a name, once
again Madalasai laughed mockingly at the King with a sarcastic look as before.
Even the second child was put to sleep with same kind of lullabies and few years
later she educated the boy with the same metaphysical knowledge, spiritual
and philosophical in nature. She used to tell the boy ‘why did you take birth in
this worthless world of illusion? You should live detached in this materialist
world. The cosmic has been created by one who is formless. When your body
itself is activated by formless soul, never doubt the one who is also formless
and created the cosmos. Never forget the fact that you are activated only by
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someone who is formless and not by me or by someone else. You are the
veritable expression of the Supreme self-consciousness. Be aware that the
endless thoughts and feelings running in your mind is generated and activated
by the same formless who is called Paramatman’. The King feared how would
the child in the tender age benefit with such education which were
philosophical. However again he remained passive, without raising any
objection and when the child grew up, following the footsteps of his brother,
the second child too suddenly renounced worldly pleasures and possessions,
took up the path of asceticism and went to the forest.

While the king was completely shattered with the decision of the second son,
yet as before, Madalasai neither displayed remorse nor impacted by the
decision of her second son and continued to engage herself into her routine
work. She kept her husband happy, performed the daily chores of work as
before, but whenever she was alone she was engrossed in deep thoughts in
stonic silence. Neither the King nor others could understand the true nature or
characteristics of Madalasai. Again for the third time in a row she became
pregnant.

The King hoped that there would be change in the attitude of Madalasai.
Contrary to his expectation, during naming ceremony of the child, again
Madalasai reflected the same old style of sarcasm and brought up the child in
the same old manner in which the earlier two sons were brought up. The
themes in her teaching too continued to be same- metaphysical knowledge.
Once the King saw her advising the child ‘Do you know the attributes of a Yogi?
He should live in a world of bliss, self-contented, detached from the
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materialistic world, freed of the past, present and future oriented thoughts in
mental time travel. Wherever Yogi may stay - a hut, banks of river or under the
mounts, he should unite his Atman with Brahman if not, pursue the efforts for
it, remain freed of wealth, worldly pleasures or land’. It was clear to the King
that those were the doctrines of Lord Dattatreya. As time passed, the third child
too grew highly intelligent like his elder brothers and followed their footsteps
– renunciation of all worldly desires to become an ascetic. The decision of the
third son came as a big blow to the King who waited for an opportune time to
speak to his wife Madalasai who conceived for the fourth time and delivered a
male baby as before.

On the occasion of naming ceremony, the King instead of himself naming the
child, asked his wife to anoint a name hoping that at least the fourth son born
would become their heir in the Kingdom. Contrary to his expectation,
Madalasai named the child as ‘Alarkan’ which was ridiculed by everyone
because ‘Alarkan meant’ a ‘mad dog’. Everyone in shock went away in anger
and protest.

For the first time the King showed his anger to Madalasai over the name she
anointed and ridiculed its relevance. He spoke to her ‘Every time when I
anointed the child with a name, you displayed mischievous smile. Today when
I asked you to anoint a name you named the child as Alarkan and insulted me.
What is your intention?’ angrily asked the King. Cool Madalasai replied after
few moments’ Oh King, every time when you named the child neither I mocked
at you nor sarcastically looked at, but only wondered how the name which have

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significance only for the worldly matters going to be relevant to either the body
of the child or for the soul residing inside the child .
‘The body is perishable, but not the soul within. Everyone knows about it. Can
anyone explain where the soul goes after departing the body and whether it
also carry with it the name anointed? Everyone anoint the child with one name
or the other and perform rituals which are nothing but to please the custom.
Does the name influence the life style or modify their attributes? When the
name have no relevance either to the body or the soul within, why take so much
pain to perform the naming ceremony and anoint a name. Hence I laughed
whenever the naming ceremony was held. It was not meant to insult anyone
including you. When I was asked to anoint a name, I casually named the child
Alarkan which had no relevance to the soul inside the boy’ When Madalasai
went on replying in such manner, in between asking for the views of the King
he had no answer to offer.

Unable to answer, ultimately he made a request to her ‘Ok, let the bygone
remain bygone. The earlier three sons have been brought up with metaphysical
knowledge instead of teaching them the duties and responsibilities owe to a
prince, with the result it led them to opt the path of renunciation. Forget it,
since the present boy has to be our heir for the Kingdom, at least grow him
teaching the worldly matters, the duties and responsibilities of a King owed
to the folks of the Kingdom whose welfare rests on him’.

Madalasai did not contest his request, nor showed reluctance or anger but
promised to bring him up as responsible prince to serve the folks of his land.
Next day onwards her lessons to the boy were quite different compared to how
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she brought up other boys, but her teachings included the stories and glories
of Lord Dattatreya. Alarkan absorbed the texts from the Shastras very well, got
well trained on administrative affairs and at one point of time turned out to be
the most responsible prince possessed with knowledge and intelligence
required for an upcoming King. When the King found him to have picked up
the nitty-gritties needed for a ruler, he handed over the Kingdom to Alarkan
and renouncing royal life, he went away to the forest to take up Sanyas along
with his wife Madalasai.

Alarkan was upset that his parents were departing leaving on his shoulder a
huge responsibility. Before leaving to the jungle Madalasai gave a ring to her
son Alarkan and told him ‘Alarka, since you are responsible to guard your folks,
you may encounter several challenges and sufferings. However when you find
it extremely difficult to face the challenge then look at the ring closely and you
will get some instruction. Until such a situation arose, do not attempt to probe
what the advice is inside the ring’. After giving advice she left for the forest with
her husband. Alarkan engrossed himself in the affairs of the administration and
attended to the welfare of his folks. In the meanwhile his elder brother who
renounced life and took up to Sanyas happened to visit the land which was
ruled by Alarkan. The moment he heard of the excellent rule of his younger
brother on throne, his ego refused to die down and accept the fact of his
brother sitting on the throne, even though he had renounced everything and
taken up Sanyas. He proceeded to Kasi to approach the King of Kasi who was
also enemy of his brother on throne.

The King of Kasi was not only a mighty warrior and learned pundit in Shastras,
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but also adherent to the basic tenets of war and peace. Therefore even though
Alarkan’s own brother out of sheer jealous had approached him seeking help,
the King of Kasi was reluctant to immediately wage a war without valid reason.
Utilizing his proximity with the King of Kasi, Alarkan’s brother coerced the King
to go on war telling many false stories on Alarkan’s rule and somehow
influenced King of Kasi to agree and wage war against Alarkan.

The war began. Alarkan lost most of the territories and finally bolted the gates
of the Fort and remained inside with his forces. Utterly dejected, he suddenly
remembered that on the eve of departure, his mother had given him a ring
advising him to see it closely if ever he found himself in great danger, as it
would provide good advice for him. Alarkan thought that this was the best
time for him to see what advice the ring has and immediately looked at the
Ring closely and found few words carved. ‘Remain detached. If you find the
practice difficult, then seek the guidance from proper master’. Glories of Lord
Dattatreya told to him by his mother ran over his mind.

One day without informing anyone he went out of the fort through a secret
tunnel already built inside and met Lord Dattatreya and fell at his feet. The Lord
knew everything and counselled him to face the situation with ease. Alarkan
narrated his ordeal to the Lord and sought his help to overcome the problem.

Lord Datta advised ‘Alarka, you are unnecessarily worrying for something which
has no real existence. For a moment think who you are. Only your body of flesh
and blood represent the Atman within you. Have you ever attempted to find
out what is the form of your soul called Atman? Does it look like a wind, earth
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or a sky? Can any one of the organs functioning within the body of illusion able
to see or know the true form and nature of Atman? The Atman has no fear,
favour or affected by sorrow or happiness. It is independent. Therefore what
are you worried of? Is it to save the Atman within which is independent or to
save the body of illusion made of flesh and blood?

Alarka, your feelings and emotions are similar to the universe whose intricacies
cannot be understood. The moment attachment fill in your mind, it keeps on
expanding its wing by the acts of marriage, creation of wealth etc, and
influenced by those in close proximity ultimately bringing agony as well.
Therefore throw away everything and stay detached from the materialistic
world. Once you practice mind control and firm it up, automatically you will
derive determination or Siddhi. When determination comes under your control,
then you can control every other desire. When you reach such a stage, the
gateway to enlightenment and to become a Yogi with highest wisdom will open
up.

In rapt attention Alarkan heard everything what Lord Dattatreya said and
etched them deep in his heart. Lord Dattatreya continued ‘Alarka, the Yogi who
wander and rest under the shades of trees, caves, isolated river beds and even
the open space, feels that where they rested was their home. You must also
practice to feel similarly. Develop to eat any food available wherever you may
rest, and if no food available, practice to live on plain water. Once you inculcate
such habit, you would reach the stage of detachment which would lead you
into the path of enlightenment. But be aware that you cannot do it without
proper initiation and guidance from a master called Guru. Practice control of
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mind and then tread the path it directs. You have to sit before the Guru and
control your breath and focus entire attention on Pranayama called meditation
chanting the special mantra initiated by the Guru. It will enhance the vital
spiritual energy at the zenith of which you will enter into the path of Samadhi.

Once you enter into the path of Samadhi, you will get opportunities to get
abnormal spiritual powers called Siddhi. Without using them, if the mind is kept
under control, and intended path treaded vigorously, you will attain success to
become a Yogi. What is required is perseverance and nothing else. See the
smallest creature- ants which have microscopic mouth, but they live inside the
biggest holes of the large trees. Even after the leaves or flowers from the body
of a tree is plucked out, the trees continue to grow them afresh even if they are
plucked again and again. Similarly one who pursue the path of yogic practice
with perseverance, attains the stature of a Yogi and attain the power to control
the mind and all other senses. Once the senses comes under control, the ego
and arrogance gets destroyed, pushing one into the world of tranquillity and
peace.

After hearing the long speech of Lord Dattatreya, slowly Alarkan realised that
he was in land of tranquil and peace. He fell at the feet of Lord Dattatreya and
prostrated many times and said ‘Oh, Lord, only today I see light inside darkness
and banishment of my ego. The seed of spiritual path seeded in my mind has
sprouted, pushing me into the world of tranquil’. Alarkan eulogized several
chosen hymns on Lord Dattatreya and finally took leave from him to return
back to the Fort through the same secret tunnel.

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On reaching the Fort, he summoned his forces and declared that he had
decided to bring an end to the war and ordered that they keep watching what
he planned to do further. They were strictly commanded not to take up the
arms till he ordered revival of the fight. He got the gates opened and walked
towards the enemies who were resting in their tents.

In a surprise move, Alarkan went and stood before the King of Kasi and told
him ‘Oh King, please take over my Kingdom or else give it to my brother who
is eager to take up the Kingship. It is up to you to decide either way since I am
quitting the Palace right away. King Kasi was taken aback when he saw Alarkan
who had come alone unharmed but quickly pulled out his sword for safety to
attack him in case it was necessary. Once he listened to what Alarkan uttered,
King Kasi stood shocked, surprised and speechless.

Earlier King of Kasi was in confusion as to why there was no resistance from
inside the Fort though he got the message through his spies that the King was
not inside the Fort. Hence he avoided forceful entry into the Fort as it was
against the convention of the war when the Kings were absent inside. Unable
to believe what was happening all in a sudden, he asked Alarkan whether he
was enacting a drama out of fear or come with some hidden agenda to attack
him in deceit and why did he take such a drastic decision. Alarkan laughed at
the King to tell him that fear was no more a word in his life ‘Oh King, I am not
backing out of my decision to offer the Kingdom to you. One live only once
which will also vanish when destined to go and it cannot be stopped. When
you encircled my Fort I went through the secret tunnel to meet Lord Dattatreya
and took his advice which resulted in my taking this rightful decision. I must
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only be thankful to my brother who facilitated my meeting Lord Dattatreya.
Had you not waged the war in collusion with him and weakened my position,
the change in me would not have happened. Thank you so much for the help
you both have rendered. Please believe me, I am leaving the Kingdom
requesting you to take over the administration.

Alarkan’s elder brother who was standing nearby listened to Alarkan’s offer of
quitting the Kingdom, got down from the horse and ran towards his brother
who renounced the Kingdom. He hugged him saying ‘Brother I feel elated and
happy today. You have indeed met the right Guru and surrendered to him’. He
looked at the King of Kasi to tell ‘Oh King I have achieved what I desired. Thanks
for your invaluable support in this cause. I am also going along with my
younger brother handing over this Kingdom to you’. Surprised King of Kasi
stopped the brothers from moving commenting ‘Hello why are you both
confusing me? Against my conscience, I waged this war with my forces to get
you the Kingdom you wanted, but strangely both of you are going away leaving
the Kingdom to me. What is happening over here?’

Alarkan’s brother replied ‘Oh King, Let me reveal few facts to clear your doubts
which is genuine. My mother though was the wife of my father Ruthuthvajan
was not ordinary woman as everyone think. She was universal mother and had
to marry my father for certain reasons due to destiny. Four of us born to her
were brought us up teaching the subjects of ideations and advice to detach
ourselves from the pleasures of the materialistic world. While the first three of
us took her preaching in right earnest, and took to Sanyasa (renunciation),
unfortunately our last brother had to tread another path out of compulsion,
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similar to that of an animal in lust. I was worried by the deviated path preferred
by him even though he was one of the sons of the universal mother who was
Yoga Matha. Had he been allowed to continue treading such a path, it would
have remained an act of insult to our mother who was Yoga Matha. Therefore
I took your support to weaken his position and make him realize the truth. Since
my aim has been achieved, I am also going away leaving the Kingdom to you.
King of Kasi regretted that he too failed to cherish the fruits of spiritual life.
Hence he requested them to allow someone from their hierarchy to take over
the Kingdom as he was also not interested in taking over the Kingdom and then
went back to Kasi. Alarkan handed over the reins of the Kingdom to his son and
went away with his brother to tread the path of Sanyasa (renunciation). From
this story one can realise how Lord Dattatreya had been showing the right path
to the disciples who unconditionally surrender to him.

Digambara, Digambara, Sree Padha Vallabha Digambara

Digambara, Digambara, Sri Dattadeva Digambara
Om Shri Dattatreya Guruve Namaha

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 Seventh day Parayan
Om Dattatreyaaya Vidmahe
Yogeeswaraaya Deemahey
Thanno Datta Prachothayaath

Lord Dattatreya and Shri Vishnu Dutta

Centuries ago there lived a Brahmin named Vishnu Datta who was very pious,
god fearing and observed simple lifestyle expected from that of a Brahmin and
commanded respect in society. He was married and his loyal wife served him
well in all respects. There was a big tamarind tree near his house. People believe
that ghosts and evil spirits live in the tamarind trees grown in isolated places
and wander in night. True to such belief one of the ghosts lived on top of that
tree. Daily Vishnu Datta after completing the daily chores and other rituals, kept
some food under the tamarind tree in the name of oblation to the deities
hoping the same would be eaten by the deities through some insects. He never
discontinued the practice of keeping the oblation for any reason, and
continued to offer it after concluding the daily rituals and pooja. One day the
ghost which resided on the tamarind tree came down and ate the food. As days
passed, the ghost made it a habit to partake the food kept as oblation by
Vishnu Datta and got its hunger satiated. Since the ghost was taking the food
regularly, it never disturbed his family in any manner as other ghosts would do.
Because the ghost continued to take the food offered by the pious Brahmin of
Satvik nature, the heart and mind of the ghost too turned into that of Satvik. It
also began to feel that it should render some help to the family of Vishnu Datta
as symbol of gratitude.

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After deliberating in mind and intent to help Vishnu Datta, it decided to
approach him to offer help within its capacity. One day as Vishnu Datta was
keeping the food below the tree, all of a sudden it appeared before him in its
true form and politely told him that it would feel happy to help him in some
manner if any was needed. Before Vishnu Datta could come to his senses and
reply, it repeated the same offer once again since he provided food by way of
oblation to the deities which satiated its hunger and therefore wanted to do
something in return for him. Vishnu Datta was completely surprised that a
ghost was offering to help a human.

Initially confused and jittery Vishnu Datta however gained confidence after the
ghost offered the help under oath of promise and therefore replied that he
would consult his wife and then and ask for the help needed. He went home,
told the story to his wife, discussed the offer of the ghost and finally decided
to approach the ghost help him meet Lord Dattatreya which was the long
cherished desire of the couple as they had heard that the Lord was reportedly
staying somewhere near their home. Earlier the couple attempted to have the
darshan of Lord Dattatreya many times and searched for him, but failed to find
him anywhere.

Next day when Vishnu Datta expressed his desire to the ghost, it shivered
expressing its inability to help him since he was seeking an impossible help –
meeting Lord Dattatreya. No ghost would ever dare to even think of going near
the Lord, lest he would burn them down. Therefore it offered to extend any
other help other than taking him to the Lord. But Vishnu Datta was
disinterested to take any other manner of help since he was leading a life of
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simplicity and therefore thanked the ghost for its offer and requested it to
forget his request as he had no other desire other than meeting the lord. He
told the Ghost ‘Oh, ghost you need not regret for inability to take me to the
Lord. I must indeed thank you for offering help which itself was of a great solace
and help. I just wanted to meet the Lord at least once and hence sought your
help. Forget the issue’. As he got ready to go home, the ghost stopped him.
The ghost felt that for someone who had fed it for so long, should not be let
down and allowed to go empty handed and hence gave an alternate
suggestion. It said ‘Look Brahmin since you have asked for a favour it would be
unfair for me to run away without doing something. Therefore I will take you in
the locality where Lord Datta could be seen. But remember I cannot take you
near him and can only show the Lord from a distance. You have to be intelligent
enough to identify and catch hold of him since he will appear in guise of anyone
unknown or unseen by you’. Vishnu Datta agreed to the suggestion since he
desired to somehow meet the Lord.

Few days passed and one fine day, the ghost went to the house of Vishnu Datta
and called him to accompany it quickly. It took him to a place near a meat shop.
The ghost told Vishnu Datta that if he go near the meat shop, Lord Dattatreya
could be seen in some form. Vishnu Datta being a Brahmin could not tolerate
the foul smell of the meat and looked at the shop from a distance. He saw
plenty of people taking meat and going away except a fully drunken man, with
reddish eyes still standing in the meat shop. Vishnu Datta could not believe the
drunkard could be the Lord incarnate and accused the ghost in mind that it had
unnecessarily misguided and brought him to a place where Brahmins would
not go since even going near the meat shop was a sin. Angered in mind as he
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was watching the movements of the beggar from long distance, suddenly the
beggar vanished. Next moment the ghost appeared before Vishnu Datta
regretting that he had missed the golden opportunity of meeting Lord
Dattatreya who was standing in disguise of a drunkard in the mutton shop. It
recalled its earlier advice that Lord Dattatreya would always test the devotees
by appearing in disguise of someone strange and unknown in any manner.
Vishnu Datta too regretted for his foolish act and went home dejected.

Some more days passed. Again the ghost came in hurry and called him to
accompany him urgently. It showed from a long distance, a beggar walking
surrounded with few dogs. The Ghost told Vishnu Datta that the beggar was
Lord Dattatreya and asked him to go and meet him. Vishnu Datta ran towards
the beggar and even before the beggar asked him anything, he fell at his feet
and offered salutation thereby blocking his way. Angered over Vishnu Datta
blocking his way, the beggar hit him hard with a stick and yelled ‘Run away
from here without blocking my path, you useless fellow, why are you disturbing
me unnecessarily?’ When Vishnu Datta again attempted to stop him from
moving, the beggar beat him severely with the stick in hand and pushed him
away. Unable to bear the pain received upon beating with stick, Vishnu Datta
ran from there cursing the ghost for having misguided him only to receive
beatings from an unknown stranger. ‘Let me not any more believe this ghost
and remain confined to my present life style. Enough….enough has happened’
grumbled Vishnu Datta and went home struggling unable to bear the pain
resulted from the beatings. He slept wreathed in pain. The ghost once again
met him next morning and admonished him for having missed the golden

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opportunity of meeting the Lord who was in the form of the bigger who beat
him to test his mental agility and devotion.

Few more days passed. Every day Vishnu Datta was waiting for the ghost to
come back with some information. One day the Ghost came as usual and
hurriedly asked him to go with him quickly so that he could show him the Lord’.
The ghost took him to a far of place, left him there advising him to search for
the Lord in that vicinity. Vishnu Datta saw a lunatic picking up the meat from
a dead body of a donkey and peeling off the skin. The lunatic threw the meat
pieces to the birds who were flying at a distance away from the lunatic. The
ghost showed the lunatic from a distance and told him that he was Lord
Dattatreya and ran away. Vishnu Datta went near the lunatic, held his feet firmly
and chanted ‘Please accept my salutations, oh Lord, I pray thee’. This time he
was determined whatever may happen, he would not leave the place till the
Lord appeared in his true form. Lord in disguise of lunatic kicked Vishnu Datta
even as he held his feet and continued to offer his reverences. Even though the
lunatic kicked Vishnu Datta many times, Vishnu Datta withstood the pain and
stood to his ground firmly. The drama suddenly ended and Vishnu Datta got
up when someone compassionately ordered ‘Get up my son, what you need’.
Vishnu Datta could not believe his own eyes when he saw Lord Dattatreya
standing in the midst of bright rays radiating all around him. The lunatic was
no more there nor the donkey or the meat pieces thrown seen anywhere
around.

The smell of locally called ‘Paneer Poo’ (Guettarda speciose flowers) filled the
air. Vishnu Datta got up chanting ‘Deva Charanam, Deva Charanam (meaning
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Lord I worship thee)’ and circumnutated the Lord several times in ecstasy. He
was unable to express his joy and happiness. Lord calmed him and asked him
what boon he needed. Vishnu Datta could not think of asking anything instantly
or had time to consult his wife and therefore in hurry asked the Lord whether
he could come to his house to take part in the annual rites being performed to
his father. Lord did not turn down his request and on the contrary accepted the
invitation.

Vishnu Datta’s ecstasy knew bounds when the Lord agreed to attend the annual
rites of his father. He offered salutations to Lord Dattatreya many times, took
leave from him, ran to his house to convey to his wife the details of the drama
unfolded at the end of which Lord Dattatreya appeared. He convey to her that
the Lord had agreed to come home to take part in his father’s annual rites.
Throughout the night the couple were discussing food items to be cooked to
please Lord Dattatreya. Next morning the couple anxiously waited at the
doorstep for the arrival of Lord Dattatreya. At the right time, the Lord arrived.
After conclusion of the ritual, the plates made of banyan tree leaves were laid
on the floor to offer food which was made ready. When everyone sat before
the food plate, Lord Datta mischievously asked the couple ‘Where is the other
Brahmin pundit to partake food in this ritual, as two Brahmins should partake
food’ Vishnu Datta was shocked because he forgot to invite the second
Brahmin for partaking food. Immediately Vishnu Datta went inside to consult
his wife who was also initially shocked, but gained confidence of overcoming
the problem by praying to Lord Sun to come and partake food along with Lord
Dattatreya and help her tide over the crisis. Since she was a chaste woman,

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without hesitation Lord Sun immediately agreed to come as it was the greatest
honour for him to partake food along with Lord Dattatreya.

Lord Dattatreya was happy to find that Vishnu Datta passed through in the first
test and again raised another issue. ‘Vishnu Datta, I forgot to ask you…who has
been called as Athithi (the main guest) to partake food offered to Lord Vishnu
in the name of presenting oblation in a special plate? Again another test and
Vishnu Datta’s wife did not get panicky and immediately went to the fire wood
stove in which she had cooked the food and prayed to Lord of Agni to help her
by coming as special guest to partake food offered to Lord Vishnu. Lord of Agni
himself came out of the fire and sat by the side of Lord Dattatreya who was
smiling at the sight of Lords Sun and Agni and appreciative of the honesty of
the wife of Vishnu Datta in tiding over the crisis. The ritual ended in a grand
manner as if such kind of ritual had not taken place in any other’s home. After
everyone took food, Lord Dattatreya initiated a special and powerful Surya
Mantra to Vishnu Datta which he said Vishnu Datta can use to not only bestow
peace in his family, but also chanted to solve others problem and diseases.
After everyone went away, it took many hours for the elated couple to return
to their original sense of mood. What would be the greatest gift one could get
other than receiving the blessings of Lord Dattatreya himself?

Time moved on. Despite receiving such powerful boon from Lord Dattatreya,
neither Vishnu Datta nor his wife displayed arrogance or vanity and continued
to live with simplicity and honesty. There lived a poor Brahmin couple nearby
their home and due to past karma, the husband fell seriously sick afflicted with
dreaded diseases. The cruellest part in the married life of that sick Brahmin was
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that his wife had not even attained puberty till then. Those were the days when
even the children who had not attained puberty used to get married but stayed
at the home of their parents till they attained puberty. The disease struck
Brahmin had none to attend to him. Hearing his condition the child wife of the
sick husband thought that instead of lending support to her ailing husband
who was seriously ill and none to attend him, why should she stay at the home
of her parents? She therefore decided to break the tradition, go and stay with
her husband to serve him. She left her parents’ home, went and stayed with
her husband to render service with highest sincerity. As days passed, the child
wife of the sick husband heard of Vishnu Datta’s fame and decided to seek his
help to get her husband cured with the special mantra power enjoined by
Vishnu Datta. Braving everything, she kept his father to look after her husband,
went alone and met Vishnu Datta, narrated her ordeal and cried.

Vishnu Datta with his spiritual power, understood the reason for the cause of
the dreaded disease afflicted by her husband. Even though Vishnu Datta could
have instantly cured her husband’s disease by invoking the special power of
the mantra given by Lord Dattatreya, he wished not to misuse it since the
Brahmin who was afflicted with the disease had to get rid of the sin entirely,
lest it would continue to affect him repeatedly. When he explained it to the
child wife, she expressed her readiness to observe any ritual to get rid of those
sins. Vishnu Datta advised her to observe certain difficult rituals for next 33
years to bring back her husband to normal health which she happily agreed
and performed with highest honesty. Slowly her husband was cured of all the
diseases and returned back to normalcy. Thereafter the couple led a normal life
with happiness.
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Thus Vishnu Datta continued to serve the people with the special power of
mantra initiated to him by Lord Dattatreya. Lord Dattatreya who was watching
every act of Vishnu Datta was very pleased with his way of life rendering service
to the common, he silently kept on increasing the spiritual power of Vishnu
Datta without even the knowledge of Vishnu Datta. Several such stories
glorifying the greatness of Lord Dattatreya exist. Those who surrendered to him
experienced enormous internal joy and reach height of glory in their life. The
glory of Lord Dattatreya was eulogized thus : ‘Oh Thou Lord Dattatreya, thou
art Lord Krishna and Lord Shiva, thou bestow blisss and salvation, Thou appear
in nakedness like a child, thou art show path of enlightenment, one who grace
wisdom, Lord of compassion, Oh Lord Dattatreya bless us to remain ever
chanting thine name.

Digambara, Digambara, Sree Padha Vallabha Digambara

Digambara, Digambara, Sri Dattadeva Digambara

Om Shri Dattatreya Guruve Namaha

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