Dattatreya 2 no-watermark
Digambara Avatara is fifteenth of Dattatreya’s 16 incarnations. Shri Datta’s Digambara Avatara was first appeared on Ashwin Purnima, Wednesday, Ashwini Nakshatra, at sunrise time.
In this Avatara Shri Datta blessed Yadu Maharaja of Somvansh and Pralhad, son of Kayadhu.
When Yadu Raja was wandering in the forest in the Kaveri region, he saw a Digambar Avadhoot. He prostrated before him and said, “You are young, lustrous and healthy and then why do you stay in such a desolate forest and yet you are joyful and carefree.”
Digambar Avadhoot said, “I have acquired 24 Gurus from nature and learnt lessons of different types from them. Thus I have acquired viveka, vairagya, peace of mind and contentment.
24 Gurus of Avadhoota
I learnt forgiveness and the quality of favouring others from the earth and mountains. Pran or vayu is still. It is not attached to anything. Our Atma is like the sky, which pervades all yet it is aloof. Cleanliness and sweetness are learnt from water. I took brightness from fire. The moon shows that Atma is devoid of increase and decrease. The sun takes away the water from the earth by his rays and returns the same to the earth in the form of rain. Similarly one should give what one acquires and not hoard it.
Intense love is undesirable, is known by me from a kapoti who loved her kitten and fell in the trap of a hunter. One should be contented with what is obtained easily, is learnt from a large serpent.
An ocean does not increase in rains and does not decrease, during summer, but it is deep and unfathomable. A man should live a life similarly. Patang insect leaps on the flame and burns itself. So, by being engrossed in passions, one should not ruin oneself. Black bee enters a flower and succumbs when the patals of the flower are closed. Honeybees hoard precious honey in honey-comb but it is taken away by other persons. So, one should not hoard. An elephant chases a she elephant and falls in a ditech. So, lust for a female is undesirable. A deer is attracted by good singing and falls a prey to the arrow of a hunter. So, one should not be after a desire or a habit. Pingla, a prostitute, kept awake in the night longing to get a rich costumer and his money, but being disappointed at last, she repented and concentrated on God. Titwi bird held a piece of flesh in its beak and other birds attacked it to get the piece; but when it threw the piece of flesh, it was happy. A child after drinking the mother’s milk rests on the ground and plays be itself. It has no anxiety of any kind. Similarly, I also live carefree. A kumari was beating paddy for the food of the guests; but the bangles, around her arms, made noise. So, she put only one bangle around each wrist and did her work smoothly. There is no strife if one lives singly. A serpent lives in a hole in the ground away from the society due to fear. So, one should live in the forest for meditation. A fish is tempted by the eatable attached to the fish-hook and is caught by the fisherman. A blacksmith concentrates his mind when sharpening the end of an arrow. So, in meditation, one should have the concentration of mind. Larva of a kumari bird always thinks about kumari bird and becomes kumari in course of time. Similarly, one should concentrate on Brahma. A spider prepares a net of fibre and remains in it and at last assimilates the fibres in itself and remains alone. Brahma begets the universe, which ultimately immersed in the Brahma. I learnt vairagya from my body itself. O Raja, you also see the nature and get enlightened and think of Brahma and you will be free from all miseries and shall be happy.”
Yadu was much pleased to listen all this. He prostrated before Shri Datta. The dynasty of Yadu prospered in later time Shrikrishna, a Purnavatar of Shri Vishnu, was born in this dynasty.
Pralhad was also blessed by Shri Datta in this Avatar. After the death of Hiranyakashyapu, Pralhad’s thread ceremony was performed by Shukra and he was enthroned as Raja. He ruled his country for thousands of years very efficiently as a most popular king; but he could not have peace of mind being void of Brahmadnyan. So, he roamed in the Kavery regions in a dejected mood. He perceived a lustrous Avadhoot, lying on the ground. His body was covered by dust. Pralhad bowed to him and said, “How can you live in such a dense forest quite hail, hearty and contented.”
Shri Datta told about some of the 24 Gurus and the lessons learnt from them. Pralhad was fully satisfied and got enlightened.
Digambara Avadhoota Dhyana Shloka
Dhukha Durgathi Naashaaya
Dattaya Paramaathmane
Digambaraaya Shaanthaaya
Namosthu Bhudhi Saakshine
Digambara Avadhoota Arghya Mantras
Yogapaalaaya Devaaya, Dattaya Paramaathmane, Digambaraaya Shamthaaya, Karmanaargyam Dadaamyaham
Kaayena yatkrutam tatsarvam shree guru dattatreyaarpanamasthu
Dhukha Durgathi Naashaaya, Dattaya Paramaathmane, Yogaarishta Vinaashaaya, Karmanaargyam Dadaamyaham
Vachasaa yatkrutam tatsarvam shree guru dattatreyaarpanamasthu
Yogaarishta Vinaashaaya, Yoga Maaya Dharaayathe, Digambaraaya Devaaya, Karmanaargyam Dadaamyaham
Manasaa yatkrutam tatsarvam shree guru dattatreyaarpanamasthu