 Deity Dattatreya |
In the era gone by, the demonic energies grew enormously in the gross and subtle forms. Gods' efforts to vanquish them were unsuccessful. Then, under orders from Brahmā, Deity Datta had to incarnate at various places in various forms and destroy the demons. The day of His incarnation is celebrated as 'Datta Jayanti'. - Srī Gaṇēsh (Through the medium of Bharat Miraje, 8.30 pm on 2.11.2005)
1. Deity Dattatreya - One who provides frequencies of Divine consciousness!
The principle that makes available to an embo-died soul both gross and subtle (i.e. manifest and unmanifest) frequencies of higher or lower Gods and Deities in a shorter time is called Deity Datta or Deity Dattatreya). The very meaning of Datta is the 'One who provides frequencies of Divine consciousness'. - A Scholar (Through the medium of Ms. Anjali Gadgil, 2.54 pm on 7.6.2005)
2. Other Names of Deity Dattatreya
2.1 Avadhūt
The one who controls the eight faculties in the body of an embodied soul and shows it the path to the unmanifest dimension through the manifest dimension. Avadhūt is a medium that connects both the manifest form of Deity Datta and His unmanifest form. He is a manifest form (the gross manifestation) of the three principles - Brahmā, Vishṇu and Shiva. He is also related to the unmanifest dimension (manifestation of these three principles in the form of light). 'Avadhūt' comes alive with the radiance of Deity Dattatreya.
2.2 Digambar
Is the principle which gives company to an embodied soul till it gets Final Liberation in the radiance of the sky, i.e. beyond all the directions.
2.3 Srīpad
'Srī' is the never-ending principle of God. The principle that takes an embodied soul to that principle of God or to the Holy Feet of 'Srī' principle is the Datta principle in Srīpad.
2.4 Srīvallabh
The Datta principle in the form of Srīvallabh protects the Universe from the circular-shaped distressing frequencies that create a fear psychosis, and thus protects the embodied souls. - A Scholar (Through the medium of Ms. Anjali Gadgil, 2.54 pm on 7.6.2005)
3. Function of Deity Dattatreya
Deity Dattatreya bestows His grace on man by giving speed to the journey of his ancestors to the next region and reducing his distress from ancestors. God gives man a chance to get liberated from the debt of ancestors through the ritual that gives speed to ancestors onward journey and through chanting the Name of Deity Dattatreya.
One cannot get rid of the ancestors' debt merely by remembering them off and on, displaying their photos in the house or publishing their photos in newspapers on their death anniversaries. It is only by chanting the Name of Deity Dattatreya that the ancestors get speed to go on their onward journey in true sense. From this we can realise that it is imperative to worship the Deity to get liberated from the ancestors' debt. This also reduces the debt of God on us. - A Devotee of Deity Datta (Through the medium of Ms. Madhura Bhosale, 2.36 pm on 11.5.2005)
4. Worship of Deity Datta (who has one head)
Till the Satyayug, the spiritual level of all embodied souls was high and they acquired knowledge on the strength of their own spiritual practice. They possessed the state of 'Soham' (I am He). So Deity Dattatreya was required for the functions of dissolution and imparting knowledge to a very limited extent. Only the Vishṇu principle in Him was active that time. As a symbol of this, the idol of Deity Datta had only one head. Thereafter, during the Trētāyug, the spiritual level of the embodied souls started to come down and they found it difficult to protect themselves and acquire knowledge on their own. To impart more knowledge to them through the subtle dimension, Deity Dattatreya had to bring out the dormant Brahmā and Shiva principle in Him. To symbolise this, the three-headed idol of Deity Dattatreya became prevalent.
4.1 The japa-mālā (rosary) in Deity Datta's hand represents perennial spiritual practice
Brahmā of the three-headed Deity Datta has a rosary in His hand. Deity Datta's chanting goes on continuously, without a break. Perennial spiritual practice is the quality of Deity Shiva too. This feature of 'perennial spiritual practice' of both the Deities is found in Deity Dattatreya. Perennial spiritual practice in the present Era means functioning either in a saviour or a destroyer form, as is required.' - A Devotee of Deity Datta (Through the medium of Ms. Madhura Bhosale, 12 noon on 11.5.2005)
4.2 Kamandalu (water-pot with a specific shape carried by ascetics)
Contains water which has the potential to absorb the unmanifest waves emanating from God and to draw a protective sheath in a moment around the three celestial regions for protecting them from the distress of negative energies in the Universe.' - A Scholar (Through the medium of Ms. Anjali Gadgil, at 11.39 am on 8.5.2005)
5. Benefit of chanting Deity Dattatreya's Name
A. The ancestors get speed in their journey to the next region and this makes the atmosphere in the house pleasant.
B. An embodied soul gets energy from Deity Shiva also.
- Srī Gaṇēsh (Through the medium of Bharat Miraje, 8.30 pm on 2.11.2005)
Reference: ‘Vishṇu and His forms’, published by Sanatan Sanstha.
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