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Today is Dattatreya Jayanti. So who is Dattatreya and what does this Dattatreya Jayanti mean to all who
worship him?
Dattatreya Jayanti is celebrated on the full moon day of the Margaseersha (Margashirsha) month. On that
day, the feast of Dattatreya is celebrated by his worshippers.
Dattatreya is the combined avatar of Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu. There is a very interesting story behind
the birth of Dattatreya.
Many centuries ago, there lived a rishi (sage) called Atri. His wife Anasuya was very devoted and a
pativrata. Narada used to talk a lot about Anasuya and her devotion to her Atri. That made Saraswati,
Lakhsmi and Parvati jealous of Anasuya. They decided to really test the strength of Anasuya's fidelity
to her husband Atri. So they requested their husbands Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswara (Siva) to test
Anasuya.
So Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva (Shankar) disguised themselves as sages and go to pativrat Anasuya's house
when her husband Atri was not at home. Anasuya welcomed the trinity and requests them to stay for lunch.
Brahma, Visnu and Shiva agree to that but they put one condition. They ask Anasuya to serve them naked.
Anasuya is shocked but cannot refuse the sages. But at the same time she is a devoted wife and hence
cannot stand naked before three strange men even though the three are sages.
Finally Anasuya hit upon a solution. With the power of her sincerity and devotion she turned the trinity
into three babies. She then removed her clothes and served the three babies their food. She treated the
babies as if they were her own.
Anasuya's husband Atri returns and immediately recognizes the babies for who they are. Anasuya tells her
huband about the sages. Atri explains to his wife who the three actually were. Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva
reappear in their own forms and bless the devoted couple. They leave back to the heavens but they also
leave a part of themselves in the form of a baby. This baby is named Dattatreya and thus Dattatreya is
born.
Dattatreya remained the son of Anasuya and Atri. He grew up to be a sage and a celibate. He remained
digambara (naked) throughout his life.
Dattatreya Mantra:
OM namo bhagavate dattaatreyaaya, smaraNa-maatra-samtushhTaaya
Translation:
Om salutations unto Lord Dattatreya who is appeased by devotion and remembrance
worship him?
Dattatreya Jayanti is celebrated on the full moon day of the Margaseersha (Margashirsha) month. On that
day, the feast of Dattatreya is celebrated by his worshippers.
Dattatreya is the combined avatar of Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu. There is a very interesting story behind
the birth of Dattatreya.
Many centuries ago, there lived a rishi (sage) called Atri. His wife Anasuya was very devoted and a
pativrata. Narada used to talk a lot about Anasuya and her devotion to her Atri. That made Saraswati,
Lakhsmi and Parvati jealous of Anasuya. They decided to really test the strength of Anasuya's fidelity
to her husband Atri. So they requested their husbands Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswara (Siva) to test
Anasuya.
So Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva (Shankar) disguised themselves as sages and go to pativrat Anasuya's house
when her husband Atri was not at home. Anasuya welcomed the trinity and requests them to stay for lunch.
Brahma, Visnu and Shiva agree to that but they put one condition. They ask Anasuya to serve them naked.
Anasuya is shocked but cannot refuse the sages. But at the same time she is a devoted wife and hence
cannot stand naked before three strange men even though the three are sages.
Finally Anasuya hit upon a solution. With the power of her sincerity and devotion she turned the trinity
into three babies. She then removed her clothes and served the three babies their food. She treated the
babies as if they were her own.
Anasuya's husband Atri returns and immediately recognizes the babies for who they are. Anasuya tells her
huband about the sages. Atri explains to his wife who the three actually were. Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva
reappear in their own forms and bless the devoted couple. They leave back to the heavens but they also
leave a part of themselves in the form of a baby. This baby is named Dattatreya and thus Dattatreya is
born.
Dattatreya remained the son of Anasuya and Atri. He grew up to be a sage and a celibate. He remained
digambara (naked) throughout his life.
Dattatreya Mantra:
OM namo bhagavate dattaatreyaaya, smaraNa-maatra-samtushhTaaya
Translation:
Om salutations unto Lord Dattatreya who is appeased by devotion and remembrance
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