Dattatreya 2 no-watermark
Atrivarada is the second of Lord Dattatreya’s 16 incarnations. Atrivarada Avatara of Datta Swamy was first appeared on Kartik Krishna Pratipada (Karthika Bahula Padyami), Thursday, in Rohini Nakshatra, in the early morning.
Atrivarada Avatara Vrattanta
When Atri lived as a grahastha, he had many sons. They were learned and erudite; but he longed to have a son, who would be famous in all the three lokas and would guide the people to attain the highest goal of life. He, therefore, observed severe penance on the Riksha mountain. Due to the lustre of his penance, the three lokas suffered from heat and all the creatures and birds became uneasy.
All the Gods, Rishi-munis approached Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh. Then Brahma, riding on hans, Vishnu on garud and Mahesh on nandi appeared before Atri and roused him from his meditation.
Atri bowed to them and said, “I adored only one God then who are you three ?” The three Gods said, “We are the same whom you aimed at. We appear in three forms; but we are one. Maya (illusion) is threefold sattwa, raj and tamas. Raj creates, sattwa protects and tam destroys. These three powers are prominent. Parmatma possesses all these three powers.” Atri was blessed with a son by the three Gods as desired.
Hence this Avatar is known as ‘Atrivarada’. He had lustre like hot gold and a smiling face. This Avatar appeared on Kartik Vadya Pratipada, Rohini Nakshatra, Thursday, first prahar and first muhurta. He had one or three heads and held Brahma’s garland and kamandalu in the lower two hands, God Shiva’s drum and trishul in the middle two hands and Vishnu’s shankha and chakra in the upper two hands.
Atrivarada Dhyana Shloka
Maala kamandalu dharah Kara Padma Yugme
Madhyastha Paani Yugale Damaru Trishule
Yasya Stha Urdhwakarayo Shubha Shankha Chakre
Vande tham atri varadam Bhujashatka Yuktam
Arghya Mantras
Maaya Guna Vimukthaaya, Sarva Lokeswaraayacha, Atri Varada Roopaya , Karmanaargyam Dadaamyaham
Kaayena yatkrutam tatsarvam shree guru dattatreyaarpanamasthu
Advaithaananda Roopaya, Moha Maayashramaayacha, Atri Varada Roopaya, Karmanaargyam Dadaamyaham
Vachasaa yatkrutam tatsarvam shree guru dattatreyaarpanamasthu
Avyakta Vyakta Roopaya, Nirgunaaya Gunaatmane, Adhyaatma Gnaana Deepaaya, Karmanaargyam Dadaamyaham
Manasaa yatkrutam tatsarvam shree guru dattatreyaarpanamasthu