Lord Dattatreya is often called the Guru of all Gurus. He is said to be a combined incarnation of the divine trinity of Lord Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Dattatreya Jayanti 2023 is the day of the manifestation of the new form of the Trimurti deities. It is believed that a mere sight of Lord Dattatreya can give the benefits of worshipping the holy Trinity of Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma. This festival is celebrated on the full moon day of the month of Margashirsha. Lord Dattatreya is considered to be one of the 24 incarnations of Lord Vishnu. It is believed that Lord Dattatreya’s guru was nature. He gained great knowledge by observing various phenomena of nature.
Form of Lord Dattatreya
Lord Dattatreya has three heads and six hands. The three heads represent the heads of the holy trinity, Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Mahesh. The ‘malas’ present in his six hands are the symbols of Lord Brahma. The conch shell and the chakra held by Lord Dattatreya are associated with Lord Vishnu. Trishul and Damru held by the Lord represent Lord Shiva. The most famous temples of Lord Dattatreya are situated in Narasimha, Kolhapur, Maharashtra and Gulbarga, Karnataka.
Also, learn about the famous temple of Kashi Vishwanath
Dattatreya Jayanti 2023 Date and Tithi
This year Dattatreya Jayanti falls on Friday, December 22, 2023
Auspicious Tithi for Fasting
Ekadashi Tithi Starts: 08:16 a.m on December 22, 2023
Ekadashi Tithi Ends: 07:11 a.m on December 23, 2023
Legend of Dattatreya Jayanti 2023
Lord Dattatreya was the son of Rishi Atri and his wife Anusuya. Anusuya was a chaste and a sati woman. He conceived a son through the blessings of Lord Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Therefore, Dattatreya was born with the grace and special qualities of the holy trinity, Lord Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh. The story of the birth of Dattatreya is very interesting. According to the legend, Goddess Lakshmi, Saraswati and Parvati were discussing their respective chastity and virtuous religion in heaven. Then Naradji told them about Sati Anusuya. The three Goddesses sent Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh to take the test of Sati Anusuya. Then all three gods arrived in the form of the sons of a sage, they demanded food from Sati Anusuya and asked her to be naked while feeding them.
Then Anusuya went on meditation and recognised the three deities. So she took some water in her hand and poured it on the three deities which they transformed into three small kids. Then Sati Anusuya started taking care of them like a mother. She gave them some food and kept them in her own house. When the three deities did not return, the three Goddesses got upset. They prayed to Maa Anusuya to return the Tridev and Anusuya accepted the request. The holy trinity returned to the Devlok but before returning, they blessed Anusuya with a son who had the qualities of all three of them. Reading the story on the occasion of Dattatreya Jayanti is considered very auspicious and helps to remove all kinds of troubles from a devotee’s life.
Also, read about the interesting stories related to the birth of Lord Vishwakarma
Worship Method of Dattatreya Jayanti
- On puja day, devotees should wake up early in the morning and take a bath. Bathing in any of the holy rivers on this day is considered very auspicious.
- Then the Devotees should take a vow to fast with full dedication by visiting a temple. If you aren’t able to find a Dattatreya temple, then you can also visit the temple of Lord Shiva. Learn more about one of the famous temples of Lord Shiva
- After that, the Devotees worship Lord Dattatreya by offering fruits, sweets, flower garland, oil lamp, incense sticks and camphor in front of the idol or picture of Lord Dattatreya.
- The devotees should also read the Avadhoot Gita on this day. The mantras ‘Om Dram Dattatreya Swaha’ and ‘Om Mahanathaya Namah’ should also be chanted.
- It’s considered auspicious to feed the poor and needy on this day.
- The devotees can eat fruits during the fast. The fast can be broken on the next day.
Know the importance and benefits of Fasting
What is the Significance of Dattatreya Jayanti 2023?
Lord Dattatreya received all his education from nature. He spoke about animals, birds, rivers, mountains etc. He believed that nature is all-powerful and must be worshipped. The Datta community was started in the name of Lord Dattatreya in India. The community preaches the worship of nature and spreads awareness about its benefits. It is considered extremely beneficial to donate an oil lamp to any holy river on Dattatreya Jayanti.
DevDarshan is a platform that provides various Online puja and services for devotees. Click here to get your online puja bookings done. If you’re interested in knowing more about the rich history, culture, temples and astrology of India, then download the DevDarshan App in your mobile phone now.
