Lord Dattatreya

[Guest guest]

Recently I met some people who are with a Guru

from the Lord Dattatreya tradition. This took me to

looking for more information on him and the lineage. Here

is some interesting information.<br><br>The Story of

Lord Dattatreya:<br><br>According to Puranic history

(Brahmanda-purana) Lord Dattatreya appeared during the reign of

Vaivasvata Manu (who is still ruling), in the 10th yuga

cycle in the Treta-yuga. Since we are currently in the

28th Kali-yuga, He appeared occurred about 80 million

years ago to Atri and Anasuya,His parents.

<br>Devi-bhagavata-purana suggests an even older date (2nd yuga cycle) as

does Sri Rupa Goswami (Svayambhuva-manvantara) in his

commentary on Srimad- Bhagavata, the Laghu-bhagavatamrta.

The differences in dates may reflect the different

appearances in the various kalpas. <br><br>The story itself,

alluded to in Srimad Bhagavatam, is described in detail

in the Markandeya-purana. The translation given here

is from Frank Pargiter's edition, famous for being

the second Purana to appear in the English language

in the late 1800s. <br><br>•The Boon of Anasuya from

Markandeya-purana (16) <br><br>Once there was a brahmana who was

cursed to die at sunrise, and his devoted wife by the

power of austerity, restrained the sun from rising,

upon which all activity ceased. The gods, alarmed by

this, went to Lord Brahma for counsel: <br><br>Lord

Brahma said: "Majesty is subdued by majesty indeed, and

austerities also by austerities, O ye immortals! Hearken

therefore to my advice. Through the might of the faithful

wife the sun does not rise, and from his not rising

loss befalls mortals and you. Hence do ye, through

desire that sun should rise, propitiate Atri's faithful

wife Anasuya who is rich in austerities."

<br><br>Having been so instructed, they sought the help of the

wife of the sage Atri. When they submitted their

desires, she replied, "The might of a faithful wife may

not be lost in any wise. Hence while honoring that

good lady, I will liberate the day. O ye gods! that

day and night may again exist, and that that good

lady's own husband may not perish." At Anasuya's

exhortation the brahmana's wife relented, the sun rose, and

the brahmana died, but he was restored to life by the

virtuous Anasuya. <br><br>Then there fell a shower of

flowers, accompanied with the strains of heavenly

instruments and other musical instruments. And the gods were

delighted and said to Anasuya: <br><br>"Choose a boon, O

blessed lady. Inasmuch thou hast accomplished a great

matter for the gods, therefore the gods will grant thee

a boon, O ascetic lady." <br><br>Anasuya spoke: "If

ye gods headed by Brahma, being favorable, will

grant me a boon, and if ye deem me worthy of a boon,

then let Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva become sons to me,

and let me in company with my husband attain

religious devotion, to the end that I may be delivered from

affliction." <br><br>"Be it so!" exclaimed Brahma, Vishnu,

Shiva and the other gods to her; and they departed,

duly honoring the ascetic lady. <br><br>The Birth of

Lord Dattatreya from Markandeya-purana (17)

<br><br>Then after many days time the adorable Atri, the

second son of Brahma, looked upon his wife Anasuya. Her

very lovely in body, seductive and perfect in form,

free from blame, the love possessed muni enjoyed

mentally. But while he contemplated her, a powerful wind

through and above brought the change that was produced in

her. <br><br>The ten regions of the sky seized the

white-lustred form of Brahma, as it fell all around, in the

form of Soma, characterized by passion. That mental

Soma was begotten in her as the son of the prajapati

Atri, the life and possessor of every excellence.

<br><br>..........cont'd

[Guest guest]

Magnanimous Vishnu being pleased begot of her

Dattatreya, the brahman, in whom goodness predominated, by

production from His own body. Dattatreya was he called; he

sucked Anasuya's breast: He was Vishnu indeed incarnate;

He was Atri's second son. He issued from His

mother's womb seven days afterwards being enraged on

seeing that haughty king of the Haihayas was near and

offending Atri. Being angry He at once desired to burn up

the Haihaya. Filled with indignation at the long

pains and toil of his residence in the womb, a portion

of Shiva was born as Durvasas, in whom darkness

predominated. Thus three sons were born of her, being portions

of Brahma, Shiva, and Vishnu. <br><br>Brahma became

Soma, Vishnu was born as Dattatreya, Shiva was born as

Durvasas, throught the boon granted by the gods. The

prajapati Soma, ever causing creepers and medicinal plants

and manking to grow with his cool rays, abides in

Svarga. Dattatreya protects offspring from destruction by

the malignant Daityas: and Vishnu's portion must be

also be known as the benefactor of the docile.

Durvasas, the adorable birthless god, destroys the scorner;

assuming a formidable body, he is haughty in look, mind,

and speech. <br><br>* Dattatreya offers Benedictions

<br><br>In chapters 18, 19, the Markandeya-purana goes on to

relate how benedictions were bestowed by Lord Dattatreya

upon those who worshipped Him. First the story of the

demigods' obtaining His blessings and of their subsequent

victory in battle, followed by the story of King

Kartavirya Arjuna who similarly became powerful in battle

and eventually became a universal monarch. The story

ends with the glorification of Lord Dattatreya:

<br><br>Such is this magnanimity of the wise Dattatreya, who

is Vishnu, the guru of all things movable and

immovable, endless, high-souled. In the Puranas are narrated

the manifestations of the bearer of the bow Sharnga,

who is endless, inscrutable, the bearer of the conch

and discus and club. <br><br>Whatever man ponders on

His highest form, happy is he, and he may soon pass

over mundane existence. "Ho! I am ever in truth easy

of reach by faith even to Vaishnavas"--how is it

that a man should not have recourse to Him, whose are

these very words? For the destruction of

unrighteousness, and for the practice of righteousness, the God,

who is without beginning and without end, preserves

the stability of nature. <br><br>Additionally, Lord

Dattatreya is glorified in the Pancaratra as the upholder of

Dharma: <br><br>He is jnana-murti-the form which

personifies spiritual wisdom. He directs men and gods along

the path of spiritual progress. And He protects the

Vedas and regulates the conduct according to castes and

stations in life (varnasramacara). <br><br>-Sattvata

samhita 12.109-114

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asi<br><br>Uma