19. Story of Dattatreya (Devotional)

      Dattatreya, son of sage Atri and his wife Anasuya, considered to be encompassing the trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Sage Atri is one of the saptharshi (7 eternal sages in the sky) and one of the 10 brahma manasa putras (refer Birth of Gods And Demons). Anasuya was the daughter of Devahuti and Kardama Prajapathi. She was very pious, and always practiced austerities and devotion. She is a well known Pathivratha (Wife who devotes her husband) who always worships her husband. She got some miraculous powers due to this. Once Atri asked Anasuya for some water and he went into meditation before she brought water. She was holding that glass of water with out moving away from her husband for 20 years after which Atri came out of meditation and drank that water. That was the intensity of her devotion towards her husband. Sun was not being so hot at their hermitage fearing that Anasuya may curse him. Even wind was moving peacefully with out causing any problem to her. She was mother of the irascible sages Durvasa, Dattatreya and Chandra.

      Once Narada went to Parvathi, Lakshmi and Saraswathi who are wives of Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma respectively with some nuts and asked them to boil those nuts. They couldn't boil them. He took those nuts to Anasuya and requested the same which Anasuya could fulfil. Narada told this to Parvathi, Lakshmi and Saraswathi and told them that Anasuya made it possible with her devotion towards her husband. Parvathi, Lakshmi and Saraswathi were puzzled about Anasuya being more powerful than them. They asked their husbands to test Anasuya's wifely chastity. Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva came to Anasuya in disguise of sages who were welcomed by Anasuya and offered food. Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva told her that they are following some penance due to which she has to serve them food with out any cloths. Its not right to send guests with out serving food so Anasuya agreed and with her power, she made them infants. She fed them her milk and made them sleep in cradles. Parvathi, Lakshmi and Saraswathi were worried about this and asked Anasuya's forgiveness for testing her and requested to change make their husbands normal. Anasuya did so and Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva asked her what boon she would like to have. She said that she would like to be their mother. Thus born Dattatreya with their combined powers.

      Dattatreya is mostly shown with 3 heads and 6 hands showing that he is combination of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. He will be shown with 4 dogs around which symbolises 4 Vedas and a cow which symbolises creation. As explained in Parashuramavatar, Karthaveeryarjuna got his 1000 hands by worshipping Dattatreya. One day Dattatreya was walking near a palace from which the king saw him and got impressed by his supernatural brightness. King assumed that he must be a disciple of some great teacher. He immediately met Dattatreya and asked about his guru (teacher). Dattatreya told the king that he has total of 24 teachers since his childhood and he was searching for more. King couldn't believe him so he told him about his gurus which are Land, Water, Fire, Air, Sky, Moon, Sun, Pigeon, Python, Sea, Fire-fly, Butter-fly, Bee, Elephant, Stag, Fish, Prostitute, Kuru bird, Child, Maiden, Snake, Artisan, Spider and Bhringi bird. Dattatreya explained him what he learnt from each of them also. Dattatreya had many incarnations including Sri Shiridi Sai Baba. Please click here to download "Guru Charitra" to know about all his incarnations.