Guest guest Posted April 3, 2006 Report Share Posted April 3, 2006 THE THREE `DA'S OF LORD DATTATREYA -Rangaavadhooth Maharaj DATTATRAYA DATTATRAYA|| JAI TRAILOKYAPATHE|| The initial letter in Datatreya is "DA" and as it is a trinity rolled into one, we get three `da's. The first da represents "DAMAN" or control. The second one means "DAN" or giving offering. The third "DA" stands for "DAYA" compassion. Man is a bundle of propensities. The three attributes are indicated in the gods, the human beings and the demons. It may be noted that every human being is a multiple-being and the three attributes are blended in him.. Man is at times divine, very human in give and take, while at another moment, very selfish like a demon. How can a nice benevolent personality develop? For this, the divine self should follow "dama" (control) . The human self should resort to "DANA" (giving) and the lower spirit in man must have "DAYA" or compassion to others. This aspect was put in an interesting episode in Brihadaaranyaka in an allegory. Gods, men and demons were receiving education under their common Father Prajaapathi Brahma. They observed celebacy and served the preacher-father. After some time, the Gods went to Prajapathi and said, "O sage, preach us suitably". Prajapathi only uttered `DA'. The Gods were pleased and started going. So Prajapathi said, "did you get the meaning of the letter given to you?". Gods said, "yes sir, you want us to control our senses and so `da' means `daman'. Gods live in heavenly abodes, enjoy all comforts and hence they must control their senses for rising higher. Prajapathi okayed their interpretation and asked them to follow it. Next human beings went and said "Please preach us". Prajaapathi said, `da'. When men were moving out, Prajapathi wanted to know if they had grasped the meaning, so he said, "You are going. Do you know the meaning of the word given?". "Yes sir, you want us to give gifts and offerings. You mean `dan' by `da'. Prajaapathi said "Right, but mere knowledge is useless, you have to behave and do what's expected". When men had left, the demons went to Prajaapathi and bowed to him saying, "Give us your message". Prajaapathi said `da' and asked them:"do you follow what I say?". The demons said sure sir, you want us to have pity on others and avoid violence. Your advice is to be compassionate to every being. Prajaapathi said, you have rightly grasped the sense. Now, forget difference between you and others. Behave equally with everyone. That will make you happy! Thus the three qualities of control, charity and compassion are essential requisites for making the life sublime. Those with abundance of worldly pleasures should restrain from too much enjoyment. In order to be happy as a social being, men should be happy by giving things to others and sharing with the others. The letter `da' in Datta stands for the three `da's of daman, daan and daya. The letter `tta' denotes worldly pleasures and you are to know the difference yourself as to the action to be taken. Thus if you are a devotee of Datta, you have to follow the three `da's in daman, daan and daya and meticulously you have to give up all worldly desires while doing one's duty and drive off selfish narrow intentions and aspirations. So that Datta will be there with you and you may reach him too. You have to switch on your machine in the form of mental world and meditation to the frequency of Dattatreya. If you can do so be slow, steady and graded in effort, outer noises will not distract you and you will be in communion with Bhagawan Dattatreya. The Lord is already coming to you but you do not see him. In "Shree Gurucharitra" of Gangadhar saraswathy in Marathi, it is said that Dattatreya comes for alms at noon. He may come in any form. So one should always welcome a guest or a visitor at midday and offer him food and the like. Who knows such a visitor may turn out to be Dattatreya himself. Give `da' and you will get `tta'. Lord Datta Maharaj is there for you, if you are seeking him!. Say " SREE DATTA SARANAM MAMA" , Shree Datta will see you!. AVADHOOTHA CHINTHANA SREE GURUDEVA DATTA! subrahmanyam.bharathula Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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