Shri Datta Jayanthi

Shrī Datta Jayantī celebrates the birth of Deity Datta, who is an incarnation of the Hindu trinity Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. This festival is observed on the full moon day (Pournimā) of the Hindu month of Mārgashīrsha, which falls in December or January. It is especially celebrated in Maharashtra and Karnataka.

Meaning of Datta: Datta means "one who has realized the divine." He embodies the spiritual experience of being one with the supreme reality.

History of Datta’s Birth: According to the Purānas, Sage Atri’s wife, Anasuya, was known for her chastity. The gods, feeling threatened by her power, tested her by disguising themselves as guests and asking to be served food in the nude. Anasuya, maintaining her purity, turned them into babies and nursed them. The gods revealed their true forms, and the couple was blessed. Datta, an incarnation of Vishnu, stayed on earth to help humanity and establish the Guru lineage.

Mission of Deity Datta: Deity Datta guides people towards spiritual growth, teaches them to live an ideal life, and helps ancestors in their afterlife journey. On Datta Jayanti, his blessings are believed to be especially potent. Devotees chant “Shree Gurudev Datta” to receive maximum benefit.

Attributes of Deity Datta:

• Appearance: Datta is often depicted with matted hair, wearing tiger skin, and smeared with ashes. He is accompanied by a cow and four dogs.
• Symbols:
  • Cow: Represents Mother Earth and Dharma.
  • Four Dogs: Symbolize the four Vedas.
  • Trident: Indicates transcendence of the three gunas (Sattva, Rajas, Tamas).
  • Conch: Represents the eternal sound "AUM."
  • Bhasma (Ashes): Signifies purity and dispassion.
  • Begging Bowl: Teaches sharing and humility.
  • Japa-Mala (Rosary): Emphasizes the importance of chanting and meditation.

Legacy: Datta is credited with teaching Ashtanga Yoga (the eightfold path of yoga), which includes principles like purity, remembrance of the Lord’s name, compassion, and selfless service.