Nepal - Land of Heaven: Birth Place of the 'Supreme Master'

Bhaktapur - Birth Place of the 'Supreme Master' Dattatreya

Dattatreya Temple is a three story pagoda style temple built in 1428 by King Yaksha Malla. It is said that this temple was built from a single piece of wood from one tree. Add caption

As my flight lands I made way out to grab a quick lunch and get ready to head to offer my humble obeisance unto this great divinity  for blessing me to visit his birthplace and being able to transcribe into finite language, in the confines of limited vocabulary, the infinite glory and effulgence of the “Guru Principle”, “Master of all Gurus” or Adi Guru (First Teacher) in this Universe my Master’s Master – “Lord Dattatreya” who was born in “Bhaktapur” refer to “The City of Devotees”, why would it not be so, where the unified manifestation of the Supreme Trinity – Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh collectively known as the Trimurti appeared. The name Dattatreya can be divided into two words - "Datta" (meaning given) and "Atreya" referring to the sage Atri, his father.

Let me now unveil the most humbling and profound story of his birth and his journey in this land which has been blessed forever. According to the ancient scripture it is mentioned that, Lord Dattatreya was born during the first yuga (first age) called ‘Sat Yuga’.  In the timeless beginning, when the Lord created the five-faced Brahma and entrusted him with the task of creating this world. Brahma created the seven sages  among whom Atri was one of those seven sons of Bramha. The name Atri means one who has transcended the Gunas (three modes of the material nature). 

Sage Atri married Anusuya who herself was a embodiment of perfection, blemish less and had no malice against anyone. Where there exist Atri and Anusuya,  Lord himself is sure to abide. She was embodiment of chastity who worshiped & believed her husband as God alone. He fame and glory spread in all the three worlds. Indra who is the king of Gods was afraid of losing his supremacy given Anusuya's powers and rising glory. And Narada who an ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu alerts the three divine consorts (Sarawati, Lakshmi & Parvati) who were till then the foremost amongst the all Goddess in the three worlds. 

Once the Gods (Bramha, Vishnu & Shiva) heard about Anusuya's praises from Narada they decided to put her purity & power to test. They transformed into medicants and approached the hermitage of Atri & Anusuya begging for alms. During this time the sage Atri was not at home and Anusuya offered them hospitality. The Gods in disguise made a very strange request that the food be served by Anusuya without wearing any garment. At this impossible condition and being embarrassing Anusuya who believes that the Atitis (guests) who are aspects of God cannot be turned away under any circumstances, praying in her mind to her husband it immediately flashes that if the guests can be turned into babies, she then their mother can feed them without donning the garment was her conclusion. Her thoughts which is of pure mind and heart instantly became a reality. The Gods in disguise immediately were turned into the babies. She then fed them with milk with motherly love and put them to sleep in the cradle.

 When sage Atri, returned home he was amazed to see his wife Anusuya fondling the three babies and loving them. Sage Atri through his divine powers, realized who the children really are. He offered his prayers to the three trinities in the form of babies and started weeping at the divine play of the God's. The babies assumed their real forms made appearances before the couple and offered them the boon of asking anything the couple wishes for. Given that Atri and Anusuya were childless couple and they prostrated to the God's and made a request to bless them with the opportunity of fondling the God's as their own children. The God's blessed the couple and fulfilled their wish by Anusuya giving birth to 'Brahma as Chandra, Vishnu as Datta, and Shiva as Durvasa. The children grew up under the loving care of the parents Atri and Anusuya.

Dattatreya Temple Main Shrine

At the age of 8, after seeking permission from their parents to leave home, Chandra made way to his abode while Durvasa for his penance and pilgrimages. Both of them, Chandra and Durvasa merged their divine powers in their brother Datta which forms the great Trinity symbolized in his three faces and six hands because of which he was called as 'Dattatreya' (Datta Thraya) the name also means - 'The one who has gifted himself as son of sage Atri'. He is surrounded by 4 dogs represents the 4 vedas and a cow (Kamadhenu) which is a wish fulfilling cow.

Dattatreya from his very early years took to the task of redemption of the world as the Supreme Master and Protector. He is the Purna Jnanavatar (Full Knowledge Form), incarnated to dispel the darkness of ignorance in the world and to bestow spiritual knowledge and wisdom to all aspirants. He is a benevolent God than a teacher of highest essence.

I had been blessed beyond to have a “Sakshath darshan” (Reveled Himself) of my Gurudev (Dattatreya) walking with me and where he was surrounded by the 4 dogs which is the representation of our Vedas. And in that one dog which was limping, which means that in the Kali Yuga or Iron Age the knowledge of Vedas are no more existing and it will all soon become extinguished as we are hurtling fast towards the destruction. I was left speechless and truly reveled in his divine presence deep within beyond what any words can describe.

With this exalted state I let you also be teleported and await for my next walk through about the Bhaktapur Durbar Square.. So Stay Tuned!!!