Questions answered..eventually and creating more questions

[Guest guest]

Jaya Guru Datta

 

Dear fellow Devotees,

 

With the approaching Dattatreya Jayanthi Celebrations, I am again

involved with Sri Swamiji's wonderful gift, "Sri Datta Darshanam"

book. I felt to share the following:

 

In message #3479 dated Tue Aug 23, 2005, I asked about the name

"Shanta Tapa" who is mentioned in the following link from 2004 Guru

Purnima:

http://www.dattapeetham.com/india/festivals/gurupurnima2004/images.html

 

<5- Dattatreya Panchaka - In Datta Peetham tradition Bhagawan

Dattatreya, Bhargava Rama, Shanta Tapa, Sri Pada Vallabha and

Narasimha Saraswati are the important Gurus.>

 

There was no answer to the question about Shanta Tapa; but

Sri Swamiji has said that valid questions we pose will eventually be

answered! This is not the first time I have shared results of such

Truth from the words of our beloved Sadguru.

 

I write from the book beginning on page 83, where Emperor

Kartaviryarjuna has thought of his favored status with Lord Dattatreya

and is seeking His Darshan:

 

["Then Lord Dattatreya came out of His samadhi, got up from His seat

and without looking at Kartavirya, went in the direction of the

Southwest. A muni by the name Shantatapa appeared and offered water

for His ablutions, after which He came back. Then a muni by the name

of Satyavak handed Him a tooth cleaning twig and water with which the

Lord brushed His teeth. Thereafter, a muni called Vedavida came with

garments made of bark and kusa grass, and followed the Lord to the

river. The Lord bathed in accordance with shastric injunctions,

offered tarpana to the gods, rishis and the manes, and performed the

upasana of Aditya. He stayed there until the noon ahnika and went

southward. Receiving bhiksha from Mahalakshmi in Kolhapura, He

returned in an instant and sat again on His seat.

 

The bit of conceit that had lurked in Kartavirya's mind now vanished.

He had all the while been standing in a corner silently and with

folded hands. As long as the Lord was there, he shivered with devotion

and piety and bending down further, he stood humbly and subdued in a

corner.

 

By then, many munis engaged in yoga came and stood around the Lord,

Kartavirya fell back behind all of them. He could not stay in front

out of awe and respect.

 

Muni Shantatapa, one of the Lord's followers, observed Kartavirya's

condition and out of pity for him, approached the Lord, and bowing to

Him, intervened respectfully thus:"O Lord! Your devotee

Kartaviryarjuna, who is highly righteous, is standing in the corner

humbly waiting for Your favour. He is afraid to talk to you. Grant him

Your favour, please."

 

A graceful smile shone on the Lord's face and in his eyes. Turning

towards the Emperor, He said: "Arjuna, why this fear when you are with

Me? Why this unhappiness? Come here and sit near Me. You will have

peace of mind."]

 

Of course the story continues giving us clear instructions of how the

Lord Blesses us when our Devotion and surrender to Him increases.

 

Koti Pranams to His Lotus Feet

 

Sri Guru Datta

 

Hanuman