Where does Dattatreya fit in Sri Vaishnavism?

[Terese]

I would like to know the answer to this question, as its been bugging me.

 

[Aupmanyav]

Not the Sri Vaishnava answer. Dattatreya was a great sage, and great sages are akin to God, he is supposed to be the combination of the three, Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva - therefore most venerable for any Hindu. Dattatreya could also mean given by three.

"Various Hindu sects worship him differently, though Dattatreya is considered a form of all the three deities. He is especially considered an avatar of Vishnu while his siblings the moon-god Chandra and the sage Durvasa are regarded forms of Brahma and Shiva respectively. However, In the Nath tradition, Dattatreya is recognized as an Avatar or incarnation of Shiva and as the Adi-Guru (First Teacher) of the Adinath Sampradaya of the Nathas. Dattatreya was at first a "Lord of Yoga" exhibiting distinctly Tantric traits, he is approached more as a benevolent god than as a teacher of the highest essence of Indian thought. However, spiritual seekers pray to this Supreme Teacher for knowledge of the Absolute Truth. Hindu theology, credits Dattatreya as the author of the Tripura Rahasya given to Parashurama, a treatise on Advaita Vedanta." - Wikipedia

Dattatreya Cave at the top of the highest point (around 5000 ft.) at Mount Abu, Rajasthan, where he is supposed to have meditated. (There may be many places associated with Sage Dattatreya all over India)

 

[SpentaMaynu]

Is the Dattatreya spoken of here the same as the one who wrote the Avadhuta Gita or are they two different people? Dattatreya, the author of the Avadhuta Gita, did speak a lot about Brahma and Shiva... just wondering as there is many sages in Hinduism who share the same name or names that sounds the same

 

[Aupmanyav]

Yes, Avadhuta Gita is supposed to have been written by Dattatreya (that does not prove either the existence of Dattatreya or the authorship of Avadhuta Gita, but that is what people believe), there is no other sage with this name. If there are two sages with the same name they are usually differentiated by their fathers name or patronym.

"There is neither existence nor non-existence, all is Atman. Shake off all ideas of relativity; shake off all superstitions; let caste and birth and Devas and all else vanish. Why talk of being and becoming? Give up talking of dualism and Advaitism! When were you two, that you talk of two or one? The universe is this Holy One and He alone. Talk not of Yoga to make you pure; you are pure by your very nature. None can teach you." (Wikipedia, quote from Avadhuta Gita)

"As such, this text may also be considered a forerunner of Tantric literature as the themes, motif and orientation of this 'song' (Sanskrit: gita) are common to Shaivite Tantras, Buddhist Tantras and Vaishnava Agamas (which are also tantric literature) and ancient Yoga philosophy." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avadhuta_Gita

BTW, Sage Dattatreya is always depicted as being accompanied by a few dogs and a cow.

 

[kalyan]

Dattatreya was a Tridandi, as mentioned
in Bhagavatam which is only valid authority..The claim about other dattatrayes like the one you posted in OP does not come from valid source and henxe ignored. There is a mention in the text of
ascetics carrying the Tridandam(research on this word later). Dattatreya was an
incarnation of Sri Maha Vishnu, child of Aditi protecting the Vedas. There are footsteps of Dattatreya in Melkote.
On account of the persecution of the then rulers of Tamilnadu, Ramanuja laid down His Tndandam, removed His Kashaya Vastram (Ochre Robes) in Srirangam and proceeded to Melkote wearing white
robes lest He should be identified. To regain His asceticism He is believed to have worshipped the foot prints of Dattatreya, wore a fresh piece of kashayam and
took the Tridandam after taking a dip in the Dattatreya Pushkarani.

 

[Aupmanyav]

"From what I have observed of His Divine grace Sri Tridandi Chinna Jeeyar Swami, the TRIDANDAM is the form of GOD himself and the dandas have the same kind of sanctity as the salagramas and in fact they are available at only few places like Muktinatha Kshetram in Nepal (they grow along with salagramas). The TRIDANDAM must have grown from the same stem and is cut by people born with a particular birth star. The person taking Sanyasasramam is taught to construct (with specific mantrams) the TRIDANDAM by HIS guru who is giving HIM the ashramam. There will be a 4th outer danda signifying Kalam. It being very sacred anyone except it's holder (and in some cases the EKANGI, a brahmachari wearing sacred cloth) should touch it at any time. The sanyasi maintains sanctity (MADI) for the sake of the TRIDANDAM, so others shouldn't touch them either.

Even when prostrating the TRIDANDA (even before Divya sannidhi's (prostration before the deitie's idol) is kept in VERTICAL position). A sanyasi is not required to prostate before anyone (only few exceptions). They are expected to address theselves as "WE (signifying unison with GOD)". I have never seen any of the Jeeyars use danda to prostate instead of themselves.

The sacred cloth "JALA PAVITRAM" at the top of the TRIDANDAM is used for not only filtering water but while doing the PRANAYAMAM and other japas by keeping the cloth between the fingers, meaning the air is purified before it's breathed in.

Ramanuja Dasaha!
Ravi Yekkirala"
http://www.ramanuja.org/sv/bhakti/archives/mar2000/0213.html

I suppose three shafts connected at the base, kept enclosed in a cloth sack. (Tridandam = Tri + dandam = Three Shafts, perhaps signifying Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva). I am not sure.

 

[Terese]

Dattatreya was a Tridandi, as mentioned
in Bhagavatam which is only valid authority..The claim about other dattatrayes like the one you posted in OP does not come from valid source and henxe ignored. There is a mention in the text of
ascetics carrying the Tridandam(research on this word later). Dattatreya was an
incarnation of Sri Maha Vishnu, child of Aditi protecting the Vedas. There are footsteps of Dattatreya in Melkote.
On account of the persecution of the then rulers of Tamilnadu, Ramanuja laid down His Tndandam, removed His Kashaya Vastram (Ochre Robes) in Srirangam and proceeded to Melkote wearing white
robes lest He should be identified. To regain His asceticism He is believed to have worshipped the foot prints of Dattatreya, wore a fresh piece of kashayam and
took the Tridandam after taking a dip in the Dattatreya Pushkarani.

So worship is allowed then kalyan?

 

[kalyan]

"From what I have observed of His Divine grace Sri Tridandi Chinna Jeeyar Swami, the TRIDANDAM is the form of GOD himself and the dandas have the same kind of sanctity as the salagramas and in fact they are available at only few places like Muktinatha Kshetram in Nepal (they grow along with salagramas). The TRIDANDAM must have grown from the same stem and is cut by people born with a particular birth star. The person taking Sanyasasramam is taught to construct (with specific mantrams) the TRIDANDAM by HIS guru who is giving HIM the ashramam. There will be a 4th outer danda signifying Kalam. It being very sacred anyone except it's holder (and in some cases the EKANGI, a brahmachari wearing sacred cloth) should touch it at any time. The sanyasi maintains sanctity (MADI) for the sake of the TRIDANDAM, so others shouldn't touch them either.

Even when prostrating the TRIDANDA (even before Divya sannidhi's (prostration before the deities idol) is kept in VERTICAL position). A sanyasi is not required to prostate before anyone (only few exceptions). They are expected to address theselves as "WE(signifying unison with GOD)". I have never seen any of the Jeeyars use danda to prostate instead of themselves.

The sacred cloth "JALA PAVITRAM" at the top of the TRIDANDAM is used for not only filtering water but while doing the PRANAYAMAM and other japas by keeping the cloth between the fingers, meaning the air is purified before it's breathed in.

Ramanuja Dasaha!
Ravi Yekkirala"
http://www.ramanuja.org/sv/bhakti/archives/mar2000/0213.html

I suppose three shafts connected at the base, kept enclosed in a cloth sack. (Tridandam = Tri + dandam = Three Shafts, perhaps signifying Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva). I am not sure.

Very good post but the last point is wrong

 

[kalyan]

Terese thread helped me explore the meaning of tridandam actually..thanks

 

[kalyan]

// Copy Paste...


TRIDANDAM
The Tridandam the Jeeyar carries is composed of
three split bamboo strips They represent the three
Realities
1) The Nature; 2) The soul and 3) The God.
The three should never be separated To them is
tied the fourth which represents the Sanyasi's Acharya
who acts as the intercessor between God and the Soul.
The person who holds the Tridandam is called a
Tridandi. The Tridandam is made of a specially chosen
bamboo taken from a bunch of bamboo, from the same
stem grown on a mound of earth. It should be a single
piece with no holes and no broken pieces. It is then
sliced. One of the reasons for choosing bamboo is not
only because of its light weight to carry but it was also
used (as a flute) by Lord Krishna to play music. God
has taken the Venu or the Flute made of bamboo as the
medium for propagating His message to the world. It
is believed that the bamboo has a Jiva (is full of life)
There have been instances of shoots sprouting from a
Tridandam of a Jeeyar even after several years,
indicating that there is life in it. That is also the reason
why it is called Jiva Dandam. If the Tridandam by
accident gets impure, it can be purified by a ritual -
cleaning it with the tail of the Cow (Govatam) and with
turmeric powder.

 

[kalyan]

So worship is allowed then kalyan?

Yes why not but not the dattatreya with 3 heads imo as that does not have valid source

 

[Terese]

Yes why not but not the dattatreya with 3 heads imo as that does not have valid source

What do you mean it does not have a valid source? All pictures of dattatreya have 3 heads

 

[Aupmanyav]

Sectoral preferences, I think.
(Anything contradicting their belief is not valid. That is OK, they are entitled to it)
"Apni-apni dafli, apna-apna rag"
(Everyone's own tef, everyone's own melody)

 

[kalyan]

What do you mean it does not have a valid source? All pictures of dattatreya have 3 heads

I mean, is there any aspect that is appealing to you in regards with 3 headed dattatreya? The dattatreya mentioned in bhagavatam is like a sage or rishi not 3 headed and he was in krita yuga

Satya/Krita Yuga lasted for 4,800×360, that is, about 1,728,000 years. The Treta Yuga, on the other hand, went on for 3,600×360 years, which works out to 1,296,000 years. Similarly, the Dvapara Yuga continued for 2,400×360, that is, 864,000 years. The Kali Yuga is supposed to be the shortest of them all, lasting for only 1,200×360 years, which totals to 432,000 years. From the aforementioned statistic, it can be understood that the four Yugas follow a timeline ration of 4:3:2:1.

we are in 28th cycle of kali yuga......

1000 such maha yugas(all 4 combined) 1 day of Brahma followed by night equal in duration.Each Brahma lives for 100 years in that time line,

Hanuman would be occupying the next Brahma position it is said.

some more info on how each yuga might end for example kali yuga :

here are many avataras or incarnations of the Supreme Being, as stated in Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.3.26): "O Brahmanas, the incarnations of the Lord are innumerable, like rivulets flowing from inexhaustible sources of water." However, out of all the various incarnations of the Supreme, the Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.3.28) specifically states "krishnas tu bhagavan svayam," which means that Lord Sri Krishna is the original Supreme Personality of God. All others are His plenary portions, or parts of His plenary portions, who descend into this material world to carry out certain responsibilities and to do specific things. This is especially the case when the planets are overly disturbed by miscreants and atheists. In Kali-yuga many years go by in which constant disturbances and social upheavals are allowed to happen, but the Vedic literature predicts that at the end of the yuga Lord Kalki will make His appearance to change everything, as described in the following verses from the Srimad-Bhagavatam:

"Thereafter, at the conjunction of two yugas, the Lord of the creation will take His birth as the Kalki incarnation and become the son of Vishnuyasha. At this time the rulers of the earth will have degenerated into plunderers." (Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.3.25)

"Lord Kalki will appear in the home of the most eminent Brahmana of Shambhala village, the great soul Vishnuyasha." (Srimad-Bhagavatam (12.2.18)
The Vishnu Purana (Book Four, Chapter 24) also explains that, "When the practices taught in the Vedas and institutes of law have nearly ceased, and the close of the Kali age shall be nigh, a portion of that divine being who exists of His own spiritual nature, and who is the beginning and end, and who comprehends all things, shall descend upon earth. He will be born in the family of Vishnuyasha, an eminent Brahmana of Shambhala village, as Kalki, endowed with eight superhuman faculties."

The Mahabharatra (Vana Parva, 190.93-97) adds to the description of Lord Kalki’s appearance: "Impelled by time, a Brahmana named Kalki Vishnuyasha will be born. He will possess great energy, intelligence and prowess. He will be born at a village called Shambhala in a blessed Brahmana family. As soon as thought of, vehicles, weapons, warriors, and arms and armors will all be at his command. He will be the imperial sovereign, ever victorious by the strength of his virtue. He will restore order and peace in this world, overcrowded with creatures and contradictory in its laws. That effulgent and greatly intelligent Brahmana will destroy all things. He will be the destroyer of all and He will be the maker of a new Yuga [Satya-Yuga]. That twice-born one surrounded by the Brahmanas, will exterminate all the low and despicable mlecchas wherever they will be found."

"At that point of time there will be chaos on earth. Everywhere the undesirable activities of the thieves and plunderers would be on the increase. . . At that point in time, in the house of a Brahmana named Vishnuyasha, Narayana shall appear in one of his rays in the form of the great Kalki as the son of that Brahmana. He will be mounted on a very big horse and holding a sword in his hand, he shall destroy all the mlecchas [wicked, selfish and low-minded people] on earth. Thus, the earth would be rid of the mlecchas, after which he will disappear."

 

[Terese]

I mean, is there any aspect that is appealing to you in regards with 3 headed dattatreya? The dattatreya mentioned in bhagavatam is like a sage or rishi not 3 headed and he was in krita yuga

Satya/Krita Yuga lasted for 4,800×360, that is, about 1,728,000 years. The Treta Yuga, on the other hand, went on for 3,600×360 years, which works out to 1,296,000 years. Similarly, the Dvapara Yuga continued for 2,400×360, that is, 864,000 years. The Kali Yuga is supposed to be the shortest of them all, lasting for only 1,200×360 years, which totals to 432,000 years. From the aforementioned statistic, it can be understood that the four Yugas follow a timeline ration of 4:3:2:1.

we are in 28th cycle of kali yuga......

1000 such maha yugas(all 4 combined) 1 day of Brahma followed by night equal in duration.Each Brahma lives for 100 years in that time line,

Hanuman would be occupying the next Brahma position it is said.

some more info on how each yuga might end for example kali yuga :

here are many avataras or incarnations of the Supreme Being, as stated in Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.3.26): "O Brahmanas, the incarnations of the Lord are innumerable, like rivulets flowing from inexhaustible sources of water." However, out of all the various incarnations of the Supreme, the Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.3.28) specifically states "krishnas tu bhagavan svayam," which means that Lord Sri Krishna is the original Supreme Personality of God. All others are His plenary portions, or parts of His plenary portions, who descend into this material world to carry out certain responsibilities and to do specific things. This is especially the case when the planets are overly disturbed by miscreants and atheists. In Kali-yuga many years go by in which constant disturbances and social upheavals are allowed to happen, but the Vedic literature predicts that at the end of the yuga Lord Kalki will make His appearance to change everything, as described in the following verses from the Srimad-Bhagavatam:

"Thereafter, at the conjunction of two yugas, the Lord of the creation will take His birth as the Kalki incarnation and become the son of Vishnuyasha. At this time the rulers of the earth will have degenerated into plunderers." (Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.3.25)

"Lord Kalki will appear in the home of the most eminent Brahmana of Shambhala village, the great soul Vishnuyasha." (Srimad-Bhagavatam (12.2.18)
The Vishnu Purana (Book Four, Chapter 24) also explains that, "When the practices taught in the Vedas and institutes of law have nearly ceased, and the close of the Kali age shall be nigh, a portion of that divine being who exists of His own spiritual nature, and who is the beginning and end, and who comprehends all things, shall descend upon earth. He will be born in the family of Vishnuyasha, an eminent Brahmana of Shambhala village, as Kalki, endowed with eight superhuman faculties."

The Mahabharatra (Vana Parva, 190.93-97) adds to the description of Lord Kalki’s appearance: "Impelled by time, a Brahmana named Kalki Vishnuyasha will be born. He will possess great energy, intelligence and prowess. He will be born at a village called Shambhala in a blessed Brahmana family. As soon as thought of, vehicles, weapons, warriors, and arms and armors will all be at his command. He will be the imperial sovereign, ever victorious by the strength of his virtue. He will restore order and peace in this world, overcrowded with creatures and contradictory in its laws. That effulgent and greatly intelligent Brahmana will destroy all things. He will be the destroyer of all and He will be the maker of a new Yuga [Satya-Yuga]. That twice-born one surrounded by the Brahmanas, will exterminate all the low and despicable mlecchas wherever they will be found."

"At that point of time there will be chaos on earth. Everywhere the undesirable activities of the thieves and plunderers would be on the increase. . . At that point in time, in the house of a Brahmana named Vishnuyasha, Narayana shall appear in one of his rays in the form of the great Kalki as the son of that Brahmana. He will be mounted on a very big horse and holding a sword in his hand, he shall destroy all the mlecchas [wicked, selfish and low-minded people] on earth. Thus, the earth would be rid of the mlecchas, after which he will disappear."

Very fascinating information! I already knew of this, but a good bonking on the head is all well and good. While you talk about Yugas and Kalki, i still don't know why you say Dattatreya with 3 heads is not a valid source. And if its not, then whats the difference between Dattatreya with 3 heads and 1 head?

 

[Aupmanyav]

IMHO, the idea is connected to the three gunas (Sattva, Rajasa and Tamasa). that is why all the three Gods are depicted in the three-headed idol, whereas only one in the one-headed (Ek-mukhi, Maha Vishnu), though not sure.

 

[kalyan]

Very fascinating information! I already knew of this, but a good bonking on the head is all well and good. While you talk about Yugas and Kalki, i still don't know why you say Dattatreya with 3 heads is not a valid source. And if its not, then whats the difference between Dattatreya with 3 heads and 1 head?

Because dattatreya is not with 3 heads....how can one worship a form which is not that of actual dattatreya? It does not make sense...

 

[Chakra]

Dattatreya is certainly not a complete incarnation, but most likely a partial incarnation of Vishnu (like Vyasa, Narada, etc). That much is mentioned in the Srimad Bhagavatam.

As far as the three heads go, I know that he is considered a mixed incarnation of Vishnu, Shiva, and Brahma, but I have never read a verse that talks about his three heads. I would appreciate if all those people who strongly believe in the idea that Dattatreya has three heads could post a verse (preferably from Sattvika Puranas, Mahabharata, Ramayana and other Vedantic texts) that shows this.

 

[Terese]

Because dattatreya is not with 3 heads....how can one worship a form which is not that of actual dattatreya? It does not make sense...

I see, but why is he depicted with three heads most of the time?

 

[Terese]

Dattatreya is certainly not a complete incarnation, but most likely a partial incarnation of Vishnu (like Vyasa, Narada, etc). That much is mentioned in the Srimad Bhagavatam.

As far as the three heads go, I know that he is considered a mixed incarnation of Vishnu, Shiva, and Brahma, but I have never read a verse that talks about his three heads. I would appreciate if all those people who strongly believe in the idea that Dattatreya has three heads could post a verse (preferably from Sattvika Puranas, Mahabharata, Ramayana and other Vedantic texts) that shows this.

So is Dattatreya worshipable or not? I'm rather confused.