RE: Who IS Dattatreya Hare Krishna??

[Guest guest]

Jaya Gurudatta

Let me share my thoughts on Digambara:

Lord dattatreya was described as follows in the Datta Ashtotharam.

-OM Digambaraya Namah

-OM Divyambaraya Namah

-OM Swetambaraya Namah

-OM Chitrambaraya Namah

What I understood from the above mantras is that Lord Datta can take any form.

He will appear with magnificent Ornaments and with grand and celestial Costumes.

But he usually appears in plain and simple form. He is Omni present. He is

Sachchidananda and he is none other than our dear beloved Appaji.

Sri GurudattaRam

 

--- On Wed, 4/15/09, Ravi Venkatraman <ravi.venkatraman wrote:

 

 

Ravi Venkatraman <ravi.venkatraman

RE: Who IS Dattatreya Hare Krishna??

" 'Dattatreya Hare Krishna' " <oneinfinitezero,

jaigurudatta

Wednesday, April 15, 2009, 9:51 AM

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jaya Guru Datta…

 

I was curious about the way you translated the words “digambara mune bAla

piSaca JnAna SAgaraâ€. I had a discussion with someone several years ago on

this and based on the discussion, I think that it should mean the following 4

things.

 

1. digambara mune – A seer (also knower or Brahman) who is clothed in space

 

2. bAla – He is like a child

 

3. piSaca – He behaves like a devil or fiend

 

4. JnAna SAgara – He is an ocean of the knowledge about Supreme reality

 

Similarly unmattAnanda DAyaka could be translated the way you did below or as

two words unmatta, Ananda DAyaka meaning that He behaves like a mad person and

He bestows the Supreme Bliss.

 

It is the nature of JnAnis to behave as bAla, piSaca, unmatta and also a JnAni.

That definition will certainly fit Lord Dattatreya. This is corroborated by the

stories in Datta Darshanam.

 

Please let me know if this kind of interpretation would be wrong.

 

Thanks,

 

Ravi

 

JAIGURUDATTA [JAIGURUDATTA] On

Behalf Of Dattatreya Hare Krishna

Tuesday, April 14, 2009 7:48 PM

jaigurudatta

Who IS Dattatreya Hare Krishna??

 

Jaya Guru Datta,

 

A question was asked recently: Who really is " Dattatreya Hare Krishna " ?

 

" Gurur Brahma Gurur Vishnuhu Gurur Devo Maheshwaraha ...Gurur

Saakshaat Parambrahma Tasmai Sri Gurave Namaha "

 

Dattatreya represents the Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu, Maheshwara in

One, as the SatGuru, the Guru of all Gurus. His forms are many, his

expressions varied, his essence is One. Guru is verily the non-dual

Parabrahma Himself (the transcendent Truth), and to such a SatGuru my

prostrations.

 

Swamiji has said: " It is no accident that the incarnation of Lord

Dattatreya took place on full moon day. It signifies the wholeness

(purnatvam) of the incarnation. It was the full moon day of the month

of Margashira (a period that overlaps between the Julian calendar

months of November and December) when Lord Dattatreya incarnated. Lord

Krishna has declared in the Bhagavad Gita as " maasaanaam marga

sheershoham " (among the months, I am the Margasheersha) . The only

speciality of the month of Margashira is Dattatreya Jayanti. It is

because of the greatness of that day that Lord Krishna has declared

that among the months, He is Margasheersha. The day on which the moon

and the Mrigashira star come together is the full moon day of the

Margashira month. Mrigashira means head of an animal. The full moon

day of the Margashira month is a day when the animal tendencies in the

head of man are removed. It is Lord Dattatreya who does this. "

 

The phrase (D H K) itself comes from the so-called Anushtubh Mantra of

Lord Dattatreya, which Sri Swamiji has graced us with on youtube:

 

" Dattatreya Hare Krishna ...Unmattananda Dayaka ...Digambara Mune

Bala... Pisacha Jnaana Saagara "

 

Link: http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=pGNSjl- 1yuM

 

The connection to Lord Krishna becomes obvious when one reads the

so-called Uddhava Gita, where Sri Krishna gives a discourse to

Uddhava, one of his devoted disciples, just before his departure from

the earth. In this context, Krishna tells Uddhava the story of

Dattatreya's 24 teachers, and imparts wisdom to him that will enable

him to overcome the samsara. Krishna is none other than Dattatreya

himself, ...his Vishnu Amsa (form).

 

Unmattananda Dayaka means " One who graces his devotees with an erratic

or mad-joy " ...the bliss of Sat-Chit-Ananda.

 

Digambara Mune Bala means " He who is 'clothed in space' (roams naked)

as a Child Sage "

 

While many interpret " roams naked " literally as to walk digambar

(naked) in the streets. It is not so from a Tattva point of view.

Only the one who understands the secret truth contained in this verse:

" Guru Madhye Stitham Vishwam, Viswa madhye Stitho Guru Guruhu " will

understand the full meaning of the Digambara aspect. In other words, not

everyone who roams naked in the streets should be venerated as

SatGuru. (Then again, they just might be the SatGuru. Judgement of external

standards is rather useless in knowing someone.)

 

Pisacha Jnana Saagara means " One who is the ocean of wisdom "

 

While 'Pisacha' is often translated as 'ghoulish' or 'ghostly' or

'ghastly' it also refers to a race of people that existed (exist) in

certain regions of India. Datta is sometimes referred to as

'Yatishwara' . In the Swamiji biography, there is a mention of the

Rishishwara (nameless and only referred to as " The Rishi " ) who (one

can easily guess) is Dattatreya himself, since the book is about Him. The story

goes that Mata Jayalakshmi would regularly go off on her own to meet with the

Rishishwara and Fakir Thatha to learn about yoga and meditation and to advance

in her spiritual practices. The Rishishwara was described as being twice as tall

as an ordinary man (10-12 feet), glowing dark skin, with a long white beard that

flowed. ...The book does a better job than I do at describing these events, for

those who are interested (see Swamiji: The Manifestation) .

 

[From Wiki: Pisachas]

All Pisachas are said to be divided into innumerable classes (3:230). Pisachas

were mentioned as a race distinct from Rakshasas, Daityas and Nagas at (1:227).

A Pisacha king is mentioned as one among the Yakshas under the rule of Yaksha

king Kubera:- Kustumvuru, Pisacha, Gajakarna, and Visalaka, Varaha-Karna,

Tamraushtica, Falkaksha, and Falodaka; Hansachuda, Sikhavarta, Vibhishana,

Pushpanana, Pingalaka, Sonitoda and Pravalaka; Vrikshavaspa- niketa, and

Chiravasas—these and many other Yakshas by hundred and thousands always wait

upon Kuvera (2:10). Ghatotkacha is mentioned as excelling (in strength and

prowess) all Pisachas and kindred tribes as well as all Rakshasas (1:157).

Ravana's army was composed of Rakshasas and Pisachas (3:283). Pisachas were part

of the army of Karitikeya (3:228). Danavas and Yakshas and Rakshasas and

Pisachas and Yatudhanas and Guhyakas were mentioned as separate tribes at

(13:17).

 

Pisacha territories

The Parvatas, the Daserakas, the Kasmirakas, the Aurasikas, the Pisachas, the

Samudgalas, the Kamvojas, the Vatadhanas were all mentioned together at (7;11).

A Pisacha woman is mentioned as linked with places like Yugandhara,

Achutasthala, and Bhutilaya close to the Bahlika territories in the north west

of India (3:129). Pisachas, Nagas and Rakshasas were mentioned as inhabitants of

the Khandava forest (1:230). There on the banks of Saraswati River dwell

Yakshas, and Vidyadharas, and Rakshasas of immeasurable energy and Pisachas of

immeasurable might, and Siddhas, numbering thousands (9:37). Beyond the Himavat

mountains is a plateau on which Rudra resides. It is inhabited by Siddhas and

Charanas. It is peopled with also many Pisachas (13:19). Amongst the Rakshasas

and Pisachas some proceeded to the country of Uttara Kurus (15:33).

[End Wiki]

 

It is true that betwixt wisdom and madness there is a fine line. Dattatreya

transcends both (as Guna Ateetha: one who is above the play of the 3 Gunas), and

yet contains all wisdom and all madness within himself, hence he is called as an

Avadhoota (One who has thrown off all the fetters and roams freely everywhere

absorbed in the mad bliss of SatChitAnanda) . He is never what you expect.

Whatever you expect, He is not that. He is beyond all expectations and reason.

He is also the cause of both.

 

As Datta means " One who has gifted Himself " it should be understood that unlike

other Guru's who only give their knowledge, He gives HIMSELF, ...He turns you

into Himself. Datta Guru ABSORBS you within Him. His methods are unique,

unspeakable, unknowable, unexpected, and unthinkable. Hence, he is known as the

Supreme Guru. If Datta cannot teach someone, that person just can't learn. That

being said, it should be understood that what is being said here is that He can

teach anyone in a way that they will understand. Look into your own life, and

see how many ways and times He has stepped in to teach you something, that no

one else could teach you, ...and examine keenly with devotion the many ways and

means he uses to teach you these lessons. If you pray sincerely " Lord, teach me

what I need to know... " that is enough. It will be done. An even better prayer

is " ........... .. " ...as this acknowledges that whatever you were thinking of

asking, he

already knows, and you know He knows with an implicit faith. We should pray to

slowly evolve our prayers from " Lord ... " to " ... " [silence]. When the hridaya

(heart-center) is stilled, the Truth shines brightly as a guiding light.

 

Swamiji has composed a wonderful bhajan that many Telugu devotees

enjoy very much. Who else but Datta could compose such a song about

Himself?

 

Namaradu Amo! Ninnu Datta DattaA

Namakunte Dikku Ledhu Datta DattaA

 

" I can't place my faith you Oh! Datta Datta! ...Yet, if I don't place

my faith in you, where else can I turn Oh! Datta Datta!? "

 

....this is indeed the state of His devotees. It is only Datta who can turn your

madness into knowledge and in-turn into bliss.

 

All devotion to such a Datta who removes the fears and worries of His devotees

and bestows on them incomparable knowledge and bliss.

 

There is One master sculptor, and we are like His chisels. A chisel in the hands

of an amateur is a useless lump of metal. A chisel in the hands of a murderer is

a weapon of considerable violence. Given a chisel, I personally wouldn't know

what to do with it. A chisel in the hands of a baby is a replacement for the

last thing that was in the baby's mouth (speaking of which, keep chisels away

from baby's...). The same tool in the hands of a true Master, produces statues

such as the well known " The Thinker " (by Auguste Rodin). So, why waste time on

worrying about the chisel? It is the sculptor (Swamiji) and the art (You) that

matters. Hundreds years after Rodin's masterpiece, no one is concerned about the

chisel he used - assuming it is still a chisel today. Pencils are a dime a

dozen, the writer is what matters.

 

It is John who has said: " I indeed baptise you with water (tattva jnana or

philosophical truths), unto repentance; but He that cometh after me (SatGuru) is

mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: He (SatGuru) shall baptise

you with the Holy Ghost (the blazing knowledge of the Self) and with Fire (karma

yoga through your own challenging experiences and personal trials/tests) . "

 

There are some who say " I follow my gut feeling " and yet ask the question " so

prove it to me who you are once and for all so that I may KNOW " ...one should

ask one's self, are these not contradictory? If the message in what I say is

True, then it must be Truth. Judge the message by its own merits - whatever is

truthful and good, know that to be from the SatGuru. To then go and say " I will

only accept Truth from so and so after they prove it to me " means you are not

listening to the voice in you that distinguishes clearly between Truth and

Untruth. This is why Jesus says " Only children will enter the Kingdom of Heaven

....for the Kingdom is of such a kind as they are. " Children can discern when you

lie to them. They react instinctively to lies and truth. They know the truth

when they hear the truth. ( " My sheep hear my voice: They listen to my voice.

They will not listen to a stranger's voice. " ) As they grow older, they become

more externalized,

and lose their contact with the inner awareness. Children see the truth in your

actions, and not in your words. Your intentions are an open book. Trust in One

Guru (i.e., do not follow TWO masters at once), ...there are some who " will not

believe unless they see " and some " who believe without having seen " ...If the

voice in your head is telling you something, listen and analyze what it is

telling you and judge for yourself whether it is Truth or not. One should listen

to the gut feeling, as it is the voice of SatGuru in all of us, ... that said,

if the voice is telling you to beat someone in the head with a stick, you should

probably not listen, since that is an indication that you aren't quite stable

('screw loose'). In other words, when you pray, Swamiji listens. He responds

through the inner voice. His voice is unmistakable and ever full of Sat (Truth).

It is His voice that tells you to look in a particular direction at a particular

time

that led to the thing that you were looking for - lest

you think your cleverness or your knowledge is what allowed you to seize an

opportunity. I challenge you to find out: Where did your cleverness/knowledg e

come from? How indeed can you 'know' a thing that you did not know 'before' you

knew it? Where was the thought a moment before you had it? One should listen to

their heart (after some inner contemplation and inner analysis), and not seek

proof by means of external standards of judgement or circular logic. Approved

logic consists of wholistic thinking - non-prejudiced and unbiased thought from

multiple angles to understand something completely (not partially from one-side

or viewpoint). Listening to the heart, does not mean throw your head out the

window. They should work in harmony. Yoga means balance. Balance of the head and

heart in doing whatever it is you are doing. The same inner voice that is

guiding you intelligently, is guiding everyone else, and if you believe in Him,

you will

understand this simple truth. Swamiji is not ONLY talking to you - He is

speaking to EVERYONE who listens with discernment, earnestness, and honesty. We

pray to Swamiji to change this person and that person into this or that, while

at the same time saying, " Swamiji spoke to me in my head and he told me to tell

you that you should do what I say " What kind of nonsense is that? Yet, if He is

speaking to you in your head, can he not also speak to the other person in their

head? First and foremost, we must develop honesty with ourselves, or we cannot

progress further. We should not waste time trying to change everyone around us -

we should focus on our own healthy discipline - for that is the responsibility

we have in this lifetime. We cannot manage ourselves, yet we think we can manage

everyone around us, better than they can manage. Trust and faith are

pre-conditions, and not post-conditions.

 

After someone proves something to you, you can't go around claiming " you knew it

all along " . Either you believed or you didn't. Decide which voice to follow -

the voice of the knowing heart of faith, or the voice of doubt. You always have

the choice. You can only have One Guru. Having chosen one Guru, do not switch to

the OTHER Guru and say " prove this to me, or I will not believe. " It's ok to

self-investigate (you should), an open mind is definitely important (we do not

know everything, and thus, we can't possibly judge), ...but you must learn to

differentiate between honest analysis and doubts with ill-motives ( " to prove

someone wrong " is not a worthy cause for doubt ...understand your inner

intentions and motivations)

 

So, why post these emails at all, you may say? Who knows? Why do bees collect

pollen? Why do birds drop droppings mid-flight on your head when you least

expect? ...It is their nature (or it is an act of nature) and they do what is

natural to them. If the inspiration comes, an email is sent out. What He gives,

is being distributed. The key is to discover if anything that you find here is

useful to you in your own sadhana and to use it accordingly, knowing fully that

any Truth you receive can only come from One source. He is the Truth. Whatever

is written here is submitted in full to that Truth - He will decide what is

useful to you and what is useless to you. It is His copyright. Swamiji looks

after the welfare of millions and millions of His devotees around the world, He

only knows why who does what when. As to my " connection " with Sri Swamiji - it

is no different than your own.

 

It is natural for the mind to have moments of faith and moments of doubt; the

goal is to evolve into the fullness of faith. That said: " Swamiji is with you

ALWAYS! " What more does one need to know?

 

Jaya Guru Datta! Jaya Guru Datta! Jaya Guru Datta! Jai Rama-Hanuman!

 

&

 

Sri Guru Datta!

 

p.s. If you were instead interested in knowing WHO I AM, well, I often

ask the question WHO AM I as well ...perhaps one day i'll know so I

can tell you. Until that day, good day. Hope that clarified something.

 

---

Gurorangripadme ManaScenna Lagnam tata: kim! tata: kim! tata: kim! tata: kim!?

Sarva Kartha, Sarva Dhartha, Sarva Hartha, Mangalam!

Satchidananda, Satchidananda, Satchidananda Mangalam!

Tasmai Sri Guru-murthaye Nama Idam Sri Dakshinamurtaye!

 

Ata Nityo Narayanaha, Brahma Narayanaha, Sivascha Narayanaha, Kalascha

Narayanaha. Disascha Narayanaha, Vidisascha Narayanaha, Urdwamscha Narayanaha,

Adhascha Narayanaha, Antar-bahischa- Narayana. Narayana Eh Vedam Sarvam, Yat

BhootamYacchha Bhavyam.Nish- kalango Niranjano Nirvikalpo Nirakyadhas, suddhho

Deva Eko Narayanaha, Na dwiteeyosthi kaschit,ya evam Vedas Vishnu reva Bhavati,

Sa Vishnureva Bhavathi, Etat yajur veda sirodeeyathe.

 

~*Om * Ayim * Hreem * Sreem * Siva * Rama * Anagha * Dattaya * Namaha*~