Shree Swami Samarth Maharaj

A Short Biography of Shree Swami Samarth 13
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again sprinkled the water from sage Atri’s kamandalu on the babies and the babies
assumed their original forms of Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Mahesh.
Due to the splendour and glory of the religious merit of Anusuya, the three Gods
individually left a portion of their Divine essence with Anusuya before returning back.
The Divine essence of the three Gods integrated in one form and Lord Dattatrey was
born at Sunset time on Margasheersh Poornima 26 Day.
In the Hindu mythology, there is a second narration of this event where the
three Gods, Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu, and Lord Mahesh blessed Anusuya and sage Atri
with three sons. Each son was blessed with the Divinity of Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu
and Lord Mahesh respectively. Moon, their first son was the form of passion,
represented Lord Brahma; Datta, the second son with the form of goodness,
represented Lord Vishnu; and Durvasa was the third son with the form of ignorance,
represented Lord Mahesh. After a few days, the two sons Moon and Durvasa merged
their divinity into Datta and went away. Moon took his place in the sky and Durvasa
opted for penance. Thus all the three Divine forms, merged into Datta, who then
became known as Dattatrey with three faces and six hands.
The Superior-most Incarnation
Amongst all the incarnations of the Supreme Being, the incarnation of Lord
Dattatrey is considered to be the most Superior. Shree Vasudevanand Saraswati alias
Shree Tembe swami, who is considered as the incarnation of Lord Dattatrey in modern
age said “The incarnation of Lord Dattatrey is considered as the first and foremost of all
incarnations of the Supreme-Being. The incarnation of Lord Rama and Lord Krishna
acted according to the duties with respect to the four castes and four stages of life. Lord
Dattatrey also had oneness with Lord Rama and Lord Krishna, but was superior most in
class.”
He was an Avadhoot17, but he was also a Panchashramee 27 . Hence the religious
institutes have considered Lord Dattatrey superior to even the religious people of a
hermitage. For people in hermitage, Lord Dattatrey is adorable and for Gods, demons
and mankind, he is considered very respectable. Nobody had enmity towards him out of
hatred since he always loved everyone unbiased. Why would anyone hate him, when his
incarnation is not meant to slay anybody?
Lord Dattatrey was an incarnation as a saviour of devotees. Hence the
compassionate Lord Dattatrey took birth in the hermitage of the chaste and virtuous
Anasuya to uplift the lives of those enduring in the threefold misery in this ocean of
worldly affairs, as well as to give them happiness and to fulfil their desires. Without
26 Margasheersh Poornima: Full moon day of the ninth Hindu month and the month of December as per English Calendar.
27 Panchashramee: One who observes the five stages of life of a Brahman
Copyright © 2006 Shree Vitthalrao Joshi Charities Trust