DATTA GURU VARNANA AND HIS TEACHINGS

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JAYA GURUDEVA DATTA Once the ancient Dattatreya disclosed the mystery of Yoga,which became known as the Dattatreya treatise.-"Among the yogis,Mukti[liberation] is to attain knowledge and to be consciously devoid of ignorance.Not to be associated with the natural qualities is oneness with Brahma,the ultimate self.The state of Mukti is achieved thru yoga[the equilibrium state,eternal tranquility],which is achieved thru perfect knowledge.Absolute knowledge is produced from sorrows and sufferings.When the mind is attached to maya[outward attention of the mind]sorrows appear.Therefore ,the one who is desirous to achieve liberation,very carefully and sincerely gives up attachments to outward manifestations.The sense of 'mine' is dropped.Happiness is produced when one becomes detached from affections;when

the spirit of renunciation appears,the world is considered to be illusory.Renunciation is produced thru knowledge[inner realization of theSelf],and knowledge of the Self is the root of renunciation".The path of Dattatreya embraces all spiritual paths and is the source of all other traditions. Datta came down to spread the universality of true religion No matter what sect or religion the true seeker follows, eventually he comes under the guidance of Lord Dattatreya, the Eternal Spiritual Guide of all

mankind.....He is the Guru of all Gurus, the all-seeing, all-powerful, ever-present link between God and Man.....One notable aspect of Dattatraya's teachings is their indefinable but inseparable relationship with worship of God as Mother. The Saandilya Upanishad declares very clearly that Lord Dattatreya is the Supreme Reality and is the cause of everything that is created. It states, "The Supreme Brahman performed penance which was of the nature of knowledge (jnyana), and desiring to become many, assumed the form of Dattatreya.... From that form came out the three letters A, U, M and the three Gods Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Lord Dattatreya came as the Supreme Philosopher , so that the true meaning and purpose of Sacrifice may be revealed . When penance and non-jealous nature unite in a single person, the highest truth emerges as Lord Dattatreya. SELFLESS GIVING-DATTAGURU

TEACHINGS: Hence, "Datta" means not only "that which is given", but also as the ideal of "giving" without desire for reward, i.e. selfless giving. "Real renunciation is the giving up of "I" and mine, not the mere abandoning of duties. That is what Lord Dattatreya describes as true sacrifice.....As a Yoga-Avatar, Lord Dattatreya teaches us to perform all our duties skillfully and diligently. Yoga does not require outside aids, nor does it demand great physical effort. All we have to do is change our outlook and transform our attitude to life. This is the state of Bliss that every soul ultimately aspires to. This is the state of Datta - the ultimate Gift of God. ....Symbolically Lord Dattatreya is depicted with three heads, six hands, four dogs, standing in front of a cow . In his hands He holds a drum (damaru), discus like weapon (chakra), conch shell , water vessel and a trident (trisula).The Lord's

three heads represent Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva . All powerful creative cause is Brahma, sustaining energy is Vishnu and annihilating energy is Shiva.....All these attributes of the Lord have their esoteric meanings..... The trident is used for destroying the ego, and the drum is used to awaken those souls who are still sleeping in the slumber of ignorance. Lord Datta's conch shell is used to sound the OMKARA, the primordial sound and the first word of the Hindu scriptures...... The divine AUM is composed of the Creator, Brahma; -Sustainer, Vishnu;- Destroyer,Shiva. When mixed together in the conch of the Lord, they sound as the eternal Om..Lord Dattatreya is also holding a rotating discus -chakra-the disc of awareness. He uses this chakra to destroy all kinds of karmic bonds of His devotees. His right hand is granting boons. In another hand the Lord is carrying the water pot . This holds the nectar of pure wisdom. With this He revives the souls thirsty for knowledge,

liberating them from the endless cycle of life and death...... The four dogs of Dattatreya are the embodiments of the four Vedas. They follow the Lord as "hounds of heaven, watchdogs of the ultimate Truth". They help the Lord in "hunting" and finding pure souls, wherever they may be born. Behind the Lord Dattatreya is the cow named Kamadhenu. This divine cow grants the wishes and desires of all those who seek the Lord. She grants all material and spiritual wishes of the Lord's devotees. ::AVADHOOTHA CHINTHANA SHREE GURU DEVA DATTA :: Subrahmanyam.Bharathuladatta_gururayasmarthrugaami-dattavaibhavam

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