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| Dattatreya |
Dattatreya Jayanthi, also known as Datta Jayanti, is celebrated as the birthday of Lord Dattatreya – the Trimurti avatar of the Supreme Gods of Hinduism – Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. The birthday of Lord Dattatreya is celebrated on Margashirsha Purnima the full moon day in the month of Margashirsh. In 2024, Dattatreya Jayanti was on 14th December 2024.
The Story of Lord Dattatreya
According to puranas, Lord Dattatreya was born as the son of Sage Atri and Anasuya. Once Sage Narada was describing the pativratyam (devotion to her husband) of Anasuya to Goddess Saraswati, Laskshmi and Parvati devi. Hearing a lot about Anasuya, the three Goddesses wanted to test her Pativrata Dharma. For this, the Trimurtis appeared as sanyasis (sages) in front of Anusuya and asked her to give food without wearing any clothes. Anasuya falls in dilemma – she cannot come in front of other men in nude, and she cannot refuse to give food to sanyasis. She prayed to her husband and sprinkled some water on the three sanyasis in order to clean their feed. All of a sudden, the three sanyasis were transformed into small babies. Anasuya felt a motherly attachment to them and fed the three babies with breast milk. As soon as Sage Atri came back home he realized that the three babies are none other than the Trimurtis Gods. Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva woke up in their original form and gave a boon to Anasuya that they will take rebirth as her child in a single form in the name Dattatreya.
Dattatreya Jayanti Celebrations
Dattatreya Jayanti is celebrated with much importance at Ganugapur Sri Kshetra Dattatreya Temple in Maharashtra. Dattatreya Temple in Dharwad is another popular temple dedicated to Guru Datta. Dattatreya temple Bhaktapur, Nepal also celebrates Datta Jayanti.
Dattatreya Stotram and Dattatreya mantras are chanted by Lord Dattatreya devotees during the festival.
Dattatreya Stotram
Dattatreya stotram is a prayer to worship Lord Dattatreya. Sri Guru Datta is considered as one of the 21 avatars of Lord Vishnu. He was the son of Anasuya and sage Atri. He was the combination of the Hindu trinity, Lord Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.Datta stotram is recited daily by datta devotees but it is highly meritorious to chant the mantra on Datta Jayanthi.
Jatadharam, Pandurangam,
Soolahastham Krupanidhim,
Sarvaroga haram devam,
Dattatreyamaham bhaje. //1//
Jagat utapathi karthre cha,
Sthithi samhara hethave,
Bhava pasa vimukthaya ,
Dattatreya namostuthe. //2//
Jara janma vinasaya,
Deha shuddhi karaya cha,
Digambara daya moorthe.
Dattatreya namostuthe. //3//
Karpoora kanthi dehaya,
Brahma moorthy daraya cha,
Veda sasthra parignaya,
Dattatreya namostuthe. //4//
Hruswa deergha krutha sthula,
Nama gothra vivarjitha,
Pancha boothaika deepthaya,
Dattatreya namostuthe. //5//
Yagna bhokthre cha yagnaya,
Yagna roopa daraya cha,
Yagna priyaya sidhaya,
Dattatreya namostuthe. //6//
Adhou brahma madhye Vishnur,
Anthe deva sada shiva,
Moorthy thraya swaroopaya,
Dattatreya namostuthe. //7//
Bhogaalayaya bhogaaya,
Yoga yoyaya dharine,
Jithendriya jithagnaya,
Dattatreya namostuthe. //8//
Brahma jnana mayee mudhra,
Vasthre cha akasa bhoothale,
Prgnana gana bhodaya,
Dattatreya namostuthe. //9//
Sathya roopa sadachara,
Sathya dharma parayana,
Sathyasraya parokshaya,
Dattatreya namostuthe. //10//
Soola hastha gada pane,
Vana mala sukundara,
Yagna soothra dara Brahman,
Dattatreya namostuthe. //11//
Datha vidhyadya lakshmeesa,
Datha swathma swaroopine,
Guna nirguna roopaya,
Dattatreya namostuthe. //12//
Phala stuthi
Sathru nasa karam sthothram,
Jnana vijnana dhayakam,
Sarva papam samam yathi,
Dattatreya namostuthe.
