Dear Members:
Dattatreya
Jayanthi falls on December 16, 2013 (though Rohini nakshatra begins on December 15th itself for those living in the U.S. and other countries of Western Hemisphere, as per traditions when Jayanthis of Avatars are to be celebrated on the day when the nakshatra operates at sunrise time of that day, December 16th will be the right day to celebrate the Jayanthi throughout the world).
Shri Guru DattaatrEya is an incarnation
possessing the Divine attributes of the Trimurthis (Brahma, vishnu, and
Shiva) with Sage Atri and the sage's Wife Anusuyaa Devi as His
parents. He is an Aadi Guru of the avadhoota sampradaaya. He is a
Divine Form who can be easily pleased by mere remembrance of Him
("smarana maatra santushtaaya!")
Anusuyaa Devi - the
wife of Sage Atri was known for Her Piety and virtues. Sage Naarada was
extolling Her virtues to Goddesses Saraswathy, Lakshmi, and Paarvathy.
The Goddesses requested the Trimurthies to test her virtues. The
trimurthis took the form of mendicants and went as athithis to the
hermitage of Sage Atri when He was not there. Sagess Anusuya offered
them the traditional respects due to athithis, and requested them to
partake meals in the hermitage. The mendicants imposed the condition
that they will partake meals only on one condition that Anusuyaa should
serve them stark naked!
Anusuyaa Devi was in a moral
fix....According to customs of those times in hermitages (even normal
households for that matter!), an athithi was never to be turned away
without feeding him. But, at the same time, as a pious and modest wife
of a sage, she cannot even think of being nude in front of grown up
strangers. She meditated on her husband, and sprinkled Holy Water from
his kamandal (a sort of water container kept by sages) on the three
mendicants. They got transformed into three infants by the power of her
pious devotion to her husband. Obviously, there can be no reservation
in being nude in front of infants! She fed them in that condition and
thus satisfied the conditions of modesty as well as athithi bhojana
(feeding guests). When Sage Atri returned to the hermitage, Anusuyaa
Devi showed the three Divine Infants and explained the course of
events. Sage Atri of course could Divine the events by His clairvoyance
powers.
The three Devis visit
ed
the hermitage and beseeched the couple to return their husbands in
their original Divine Forms. The couple agreed, but requested that they
should have a Divine Child with the potency of the three murthis. Thus
was born Shri DattatrEyaa - "Datta AatrEyaa - One who was given as Gift
to Shri Atri maharishi and His wife."
Though Anusuyaa
Devi wanted Dattatreya to live the life of a householder, He rejected
those pleas and instead chose to live in the ways of a Avadhootaa (a
complete renunciate - who transcends all sorts of differences and
restrictions, and living in the High State of Spontaneous Living called
"SwEchaachaaryaa"; saints who live that do what they feel like doing
at that moment naturally...they do not follow any rigid rules or
regulations in life - allowing Divinity to guide them each and every
moment in the form of random thoughts that arise in their conscious!).
Datta Gitaa is a philosophical work of wonderful metaphysical depth and
beauty.
Many are the miracles of Shri DattatrEyaa
right from His times to the current periods. The most famous devotees
of Shri DattarEyaa are Sage Parasuraama (Shri DattatrEyaa helped Sage
Parasuraamaa in performing the last rites of his father and ensured that
the deceased sages attained PUnya Lokhaas), and Shri
Kaartaveeryaarjunaa (The Mighty King with One thousand shoulders! who
was an Incarnation of Sudarshana - the Holy Disc of Lord Vishnu). In
fact, Shri Kaartaveeryaarjuna was born without limbs as an infant, and
it was by the power of tapasya focussed on Shri DattatrEyaa that he got
1000 pairs of hands and a mighty physique. Additionally, Shri Datta
blessed him with a treasury that will never become empty, and also a
boon that whosoever remembers the King Kaartaveeryaarjunaa will be able
to retrieve lost property and realise rightful properties snatched away
from them by force. Kaartaveeryaarjuna also had a boon that he can be
defeated and killed only by a disciple/ devotee of Shri DattatrEyaa.
When King Kaartaveeryaarjuna started behaving in arrogant manner, and
had a clash with Jamadagni rishi, he met his end in the hands of Sage
Parasuraama - the Incarnation of Lord Vishnu, and a devotee of Shri
DatttrEyaa as per the boon. The Most Highly Venerated Shridi Sai Baba is
one example of a modern day avadhootaa of the Datta sampradaaya. There
are other saints also of that tradition who have a wide following
today.
THE DIVINE FORM OF LORD DATTATREYA
Lord
Dattatreya is often meditated upon with a Cow (KaamadhEnu) at His
back, and 4 dogs at His feet. The Cow - KaamadhEnu represents the truth
that whatever legitimate wish you have will be bestowed upon you when
you pray to Him. The 4 dogs represent the 4 vedaas. Lord DattatrEyaa -
the Trimutrhi swaroopi has the characteristic Divine Weapons of the
Trimurthis - in His hands and three heads representing the Trimurthis
(also representing Satwaa, Rajas and Tamas gunaas!)
Yet
another popular Divine Form that is usually venerated by followers of
siddha/ Naath traditions is His Form with the 9 famous Nath saints.
Shri
DattatrEya is easily pleased by mere Remembrance of Him. He may
manifest in the form of an uninvited guest at noon, a mad beggar, a
young child, or even ghostly forms (that is what His Moola mantra says
......." Baala Unmatta Pisaacha vEshaaya!"). Annadhaan (donation of
food) to poor and needy is the charity that is closest to His Heart.
Many devotees of Lord Datta have had Him visit their houses in the form
of unknown guests at Noon. So, if possible, try to donate to charities
specializing in feeding the poor on this day. As Dattatreya helped Sage
Parasuraama in performance of rituals to ensure salvation of pitrus,
He will help us also to get relieved from pitru doshas of all kinds.
Also, yati saapaa (curse of saints/ sages/ mendicants) that might have
arisen due to insult meted out to renunciates can be remedied by
worship of Lord DattatrEyaa. Recital of DattrEya Vajra Kavacham will
help in nullifying even most terrible planetary afflictions.
We
are planning to conduct special chants and homams on Datta Jayanthi day this year
also. Shri DattatrEya Moola mantra homam, Dattatreya vajra kavacham,
sthothras, and Shri Kaartaveeryaarjuna homam will be conducted at my
residence at Babanagar, Villivakkam on December 16, 2013 (We Honour
Kaartaveeryaarjuna also today because He is a proof to the fact that
Faith on Datta can transform lives even overcoming Fate; the limbless
child - who was considered inauspicious by his own parents - became the
mighty 1000 armed warrior whose name and mantras have proved auspicious
to countless generations - all due to Guru Datta's Grace) .
Worship
of Karthaveeryaarjuna is a recommended procedure in mantra shastraic
classics for overcoming the activities of rivals, to get back lost
positions, to reunite with estranged relatives/ friends, to get Divine
Assistance in tracing missing objects/ persons, to counter black-magic
done against us by enemies, to get success in all ventures and
gain favour of those in authority, and for overcoming tough planetary
aspects in general.
It can be a highly auspicious worship for
business persons who have begun new ventures,those who are tormented by powerful foes, and for politicians
aspiring for powerful positions of authority especially.
Those sponsors
who are in a position to attend the Japam/ austerities might do so on this date.
For the others, please note that the pooja parasadam will not be sent
by post due to ritual purity concerns and logistic difficulties.
Inclusion of your name, gothra, and star in the sankalpam will be
deemed "in-absentia" participation.
Those who are interested may avail
the pooja service by clicking on the participation link below or those who are in India and are my regular clients may offer directly via my bank account the details of which may be with you.
Please note: Part-sponsors of the main homam will be automatically included in Dattatreya Moola
mantra japam, Karthaveerya Arjuna japam, and Dattatreya Vajra Kavacham
recitals. So, those who are availing that sponsorship scheme need not remit additionally for the other japams.
Apart
from prayers for the benefit of the sponsors, prayers will also be
raised for Universal Welfare. You may also attend poojas/ homams
conducted by other pious persons near your place on this holy day.
Those
who are not in a position to attend special on Datta jayanthi may
still become recipients of His Grace by just repeating the mantra "Om
Jai Guru Dattaa" or "Om Jai Satguru Shri DattatrEyaaya namah" as many
times as possible on His Jayanthi day - whenever time permits - even in
between your normal activities in life. This is a siddha mantra and
needs no initiation; anyone without any distinction of class, creed,
religion, and gender can recite this at ANYTIME. He is easily pleased
and His worship is without unnecessary frills and procedures such that
even a child can perform the pooja (because you may do it in any way you
wish to do!)
Try to feed at least one poor person or sponsor
annadhaan at any holy place as per your capacity - because Guru
Dattatreya might come in any form and accept annadhaan, and performing
annadhaan to needy persons is one of the easiest ways to become
recipients of His Grace.
May our members become recipients of
Lord DattatrEyaa's Grace by observing simple austerities in His Honour
on His Jayanthi day as per their convenience and enjoy blissful lives.
Blessed be.
Pandit R.DAKSHINAMOORTHI
Astrological and Remedial consultant
dakshinastrologer@yahoo.co.in
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