16 Incarnations of Lord Dattatreya | Shodasha Datta Avataras

lord dattatreya

Shodasha Datta Avatara are 16 incarnations of Lord Dattatreya which are believed as the manifestations of Sri Datta before Kaliyuga. As Dattatreya swamy is the eternal wanderer of earth, his divine appearance in front of Maharshis and his beloved devotees are known as his Shodasa avataras. ‘Datta Puranam’, a scripture written by Sri Vasudevananda saraswati […]

Sri Guru Charitra

Sri Guru Charitra is a holy text, which was written based on the speech given by Sri Narasimha Saraswati, a 15th century Guru, and an incarnation of Lord Dattatreya. This wonderful text was written by the great scholar Sri Saraswati Gangadhar, who was one of the disciples of Sri Narasimha Saraswati. The book was written […]

Avadhuta Gita | Dattatreya Gita

Avadhuta Gita is based on the teachings of Lord Dattatreya, and it is believed that this holy text was written during the 10th century AD in Maharashtra. Avadhuta Gita mentions about the importance of becoming a Yogi. The text mentions about the holy sages who are free from bondage and are liberated. The text is […]

Leela Vishwambhara | Dattatreya’s 6th Avatara

Leela Vishwambhara Avatara is sixth of Dattatreya’s 16 incarnations. This Avatara was first appeared on Poush Purnima, Wednesday in early morning. The love for children and intense mercifulness of Shri Datta are observed in this Avatar. There was a great famine in the country. Animals could not get food and water. So they were reduced to boney skeletons. […]

Yogijana Vallabha – 5th Dattavatara

Yogijana Vallabha Avatara is fifth of Dattatreya’s 16 incarnations. This Avatara first appeared on Margashira Purnima, Thursday (Guruvar), Mrigashira Nakshatra, in the evening time. When Shri Dattatreya appeared at Anasuya’s ashram, Indra followed by the Gods, Rishi-munis, Gandharvas, Charanas, Yogis and saints came to see him. Knowing their eagerness, Shri Datta appeared as a boy and advised […]

Kalagni Shamana – 4th Avatara of Shri Datta

Kalagni Shamana Avatara is the 4th among Dattatreya’s 16 incarnations. Among all 16 Avataras of Shri Datta, Kalagni Shamana is regarded as most prominent one. ‘Kalagni Shamana Janma Katha’ goes like this… Due to the hard penance at the Riksha hill, Atri looked very bright and his body became too hot. Bhagwan Shri Hari came […]

Dattatreya Avatara | 3rd Dattavatara

Dattatreya Avatara is the third of Lord Dattatreya’s 16 incarnations. Bhagwan Shri Hari appeared before Atri as a boy on the Kartik Vadya Dwitiya, Mrugashirsha Nakshatra, Friday at sun-rise on the first muhurta. Dattatreya looked bluish as Indranil in colour. His face was pleasant as the moon, his four hands possessed shankha, chakra, gada and padma. Vibhuti was […]

Atrivarada Avatara – Dattatreya’s 2nd incarnation

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, […]

Yogiraja Avatara of Dattatreya Swamy

Yogiraja is the first of Lord Dattatreya’s 16 incarnations. Yogiraja Avatara was appeared in front of the divine couple Atri and Anasuya when they were deeply immersed in penance at Himadri. First Appearance of Yogiraja Yogiraja Avatara was first appeared on Kartik Purnima, Wednesday, Krittika Nakshatra and at Suryodaya Kala (first prahar at sunrise). He appears […]

Sant Das Gosavi

Sant Das Gosavi (16th century AD) was the medieval saint, who was an ardent devotee of Guru Dattatreya, and due to that, he had got the wonderful opportunity of getting the direct darshan of the holy Guru Dattatreya, and he also learned the teachings directly from Dattatreya and written and sung several songs in praise […]

Dattatreya | Shri Datta | Datta Guru

Dattatreya, Datta or Dattaguru, is a Guru and a saint in Hinduism. In India and Nepal, he is considered as a god. In some parts of India, he is considered to be an incarnation of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, collectively known as Trimurti. The most important text Avadoota Gita is attributed to Sri Dattatreya. An […]

Shrikrishna Shyama Kamalanayana Avatara of Dattatreya

Shrikrishna Shyama Kamalanayana Avatara is the last of Dattatreya’s 16 incarnations. Shri Datta’s Shrikrishna Shyama Kamalanayana Avatara was first appeared on Kartik Shuddha Dwadashi, Wednesday, Revati Nakshatra at sunrise. Shri Datta had different Avatars as Yogiraj, Atrivarad etc. and advised his devotees with Gnana, bhakti, vairagya, eight fold yoga sadhana etc. Bhagwan Shri Datta was lying on the bed […]

Digambara Avatara of Dattatreya | Digambara Avadhoota

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 […]

Devadeveshwara Avatara of Dattatreya

Devadeveshwara Avatara is fourteenth of Dattatreya’s 16 incarnations. Shri Datta’s Devadeveshwara Avatara was first appeared on Bhadrapada Shuddha Chaturdashi, Friday, Shatatarka Nakshatra (Shatabhisha) in the first prahar (first muhurat) of the day. Devadeveshwara Avatara is also referred to as DevaDeva. Shri Datta roamed from the south of Narmada to Mahur in the forest. He bathed in rivers, lakes, […]

Shiva Guru Dattatreya Avatara

Shiva Guru Dattatreya Avatara is thirteenth of Dattatreya’s 16 incarnations. Shri Datta’s Shiva Guru Dattatreya Avatara was first appeared on Shravan Shuddha Ashtami, Monday. Shiva Guru Dattatreya Avatara is also referred to as ‘Samskara Heena’, ‘Shiva Swarupa Dattatreya’ or ‘Shivarupa Datta’. Pingalnag, a pious brahmin knowing Vedashastra lived at Mahur. He saw a lustrous youth under a black awala […]

Adiguru Avatara of Dattatreya

Adiguru Avatara is twelfth of Dattatreya’s 16 incarnations. Shri Datta’s Adiguru Avatara was first appeared on Ashada Purnima, Tuesday, in the first prahar (the first muhurat). Shri Datta advised Alark, the son of Madalsa. While ruling as a king, Alark was engrossed in the worldly pleasures. Dnyani Subahu, his elder brother, thought that Alark was wasting away his life […]

Mayayuktavadhoota Avatara of Dattatreya

Mayayuktavadhoota Avatara is eleventh of Dattatreya’s 16 incarnations. Shri Datta’s eleventh Avatara was first appeared on Jyeshta Shuddha Trayodashi, Friday, mid-day in Swati Nakshatra at sunrise. This Avatar appeared in a young meditating pose, having a beautiful young woman on his left lap. Knowing them as Lakshmi-Narayan, all narrated their family shortcomings; but none showed a liking for the spiritual […]

Mayamuktavadhoota Avatara of Shri Datta

Mayamuktavadhoota Avatara is tenth of Dattatreya’s 16 incarnations. Also referred to as Sri Avadhutha Shakti, Shri Datta’s tenth Avatara was first appeared on Vaishakha Shuddha Chaturdashi, Wednesday, mid-day in Swati Nakshatra. Mayamuktavadhoota Avatara of Shri Datta appeared in the form of a mendicant (bairagi) at the house of one pious devotee, named Sheel. He was performing the anniversary rites […]

‘Vishwambhara Avadhoota’ Avatara of Dattatreya

Vishwambhara Avadhoota Avatara is ninth of Dattatreya’s 16 incarnations. Also spelt as Vishwambharavadhoota, Shri Datta’s ninth Avatara was first appeared on Chaitra Shuddha Poornima, Tuesday, Chitra Nakshatra, in the second prahar. With a view to test the siddhas and see how far they have progressed, Shri Datta assumed the dirty form of a mlenchha. His face was robust. He […]

Gnanasagara Avatara of Shri Datta

Gnanasagara Avatara is eighth of Dattatreya’s 16 incarnations. Also spelt as Jnanasagara, Dnyansagar, Shri Datta’s Gnanasagara Avatara was first appeared on Phalgun Shukla Dashami, Sunday, Punarvasu Nakshatra, at sunrise. Bhagwan Shri Dattatreya once contemplated, “These persons have achieved yoga siddhis etc. Still, until kam, krodha, lobha etc. are not conquered by them, they would not have real peace of […]