Ch - 00 Sri Guru Charitra

LORD DATTA

SRI  GURU CHARITRA - Introduction

By Shri S.N.Huddar

As published in Sri Sai Leela 
English Monthly Magazine from April 1975 onwards

Introduction
Chapter 1 Namdharak sees Shri Guru in dream
Chapter 1 Namdharak sees Shri Guru in dream
Chapter 2 Sidha Muni Guides Namdharak
Chapter 3 Durwas curses King Ambarish
Chapter 4 Birth of Shri Dattatraya
Chapter 5 Birth of Sripad Shri Vallabha
Chapter 6 Ravan and Gokarna Mahabaleshwar
Chapter 7 Soumini and Madayanti at Gokarna
Chapter 8 Sripada Srivallabha Blesses a Brahmani and Her Son
Chapter 9 A Washerman Blessed to be a King
Chapter 10 Vallahhesh saved from Thieves
Chapter 11 Birth of Shri Narasinha Saraswati
Chapter 12 Narasinha Becomes Shri Narasinha Saraswati
Chapter 13 Brahmin's Colic Pain Subsided
Chapter 14 Muslim King favours Sayamdeo
Chapter 15 Principal Holy Places of Bharat
Chapter 16 Greatness of Shri Guru
Chapter 17 A Dull Brahmin Boy Becomes Learned
Chapter 18 A Poor Brahmin gets Wealth
Chapter 19 Greatness of Audumbar
Chapter 20 Ganganuj's Poverty wiped Off
Chapter 21 A Dead Child Becomes Alive
Chapter 22 A Old, Barren She Buffalo Gives Milk
Chapter 23 Liberation of Brahma-Rakshas, Establishment of a Math at Gangapur
Chapter 24 Trivikram bharati sees Vishwaroop of Shri Guru
Chapter 25 Impudent brahmins vanity
Chapter 26 Vedas Analysed
Chapter 27 Harijan Becomes A Learned Brahmin
Chapter 28 Advice of Karma Vipak to the Harijan
Chapter 29 The Great Power of Bhasma
Chapter 30 The Death of a young Brahmin Husband
Chapter 31 Code of Woman's Behaviour
Chapter 32 Behaviour of a Widow: Dead Husband Made Alive
Chapter 33 A Devoted Concubine
Chapter 34 Rajkumar And Mantrikumar Devotees ofShri Shiva
Chapter 35 Kach-Devayani
Chapter 35 Chandrangad - simantini
Chapter 36 Code of Brahmin's Daily Rituals
Chapter 37 Dharma of a Brahmin
Chapter 38 Four Thousand Fed with Food of 3 Seers only
Chapter 39 60 Year Old Sterile Woman Begets Children
Chapter 40 Leper Brahmin Cured
Chapter 41 Sayamdeo Serves Shri Guru: His Kashikhand Mahayatra
Chapter 42 Significance ofAnant Vrat
Chapter 43 Tantuk's Shri Shailya Yatra on Maha Shivratri
Chapter 44 Nandi Brahmin Relieved of Leprosy: He became a poet
Chapter 45 Poet Narahari Becomes a Disciple of Shri Guru
Chapter 46 Shri Guru Visits Eight Places at one Time
Chapter 47 Parbati had Bumper Crops even in Scarcity
Chapter 48 Amarja Sangam and the Greatness of Ganagapur
Chapter 49 The Gist of Shri Gurugeeta
Chapter 50 The Muslim King Comes to Shri Guru
Chapter 51 Shri Guru's Journey unto Bliss: Disciples get Flower Gift
Chapter 52 Conclusion: Week-Reading of Watarnika(contents)

Gurur Brahma, Gurur Vishnu, Gurur Devo Maheshwara

Guru Sakshat Parabrahmah Tasmai Shree Guru Veh Namah

Introduction

'Shri Guru Charitra' is the life of 'Shri Guru Dattatreya' (an incarnation of Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara). It was originally written in Ovi form (a Marathi Metre) in Marathi by Shri Saraswati Gangadhar, whose ancestor Sayamdev had personally lived and served with devotion, Guru Narasimha Saraswati, an incarnation of Shri Dattatreya about 600 years ago. It was later translated into Sanskrit by Shri Vasudevananda Saraswati (Tembye Swamy), who is regarded by many as an incarnation of Shri Dattatreya and who lived about a hundred years ago. It has been later translated into several other languages. 

This volume is regarded as Divine; capable of blessing one and all who read it with respect and is placed with images of Gods and adored in almost all devotees' houses of Maharashtra. It is much respected and is very popular like Vedas, Ramayan, Mahabharat, Bhagawat and other Puranas in Sanskrit and Dnyaneshwari, Dasbodh, Ekanathi Bhagawat etc. in Marathi. In the last century, it has spread its influence far and wide and legion are the experiences got by those devotees who read it regularly with respect. 

Shri Dattatreya had taken birth at the Ashram of Atri and Anasuya in very very old times (Krita Yug) and it is believed that his two incarnations namely Shripada Shri Vallabha and Shri Narasimha Saraswati had taken place in the Deccan in about the 14th and 15th Century (A.D.) respectively. Shri Manikya Prabhu, Shri Akkalkot Maharaj, Shri Sai Baba of Shirdi and Shri Vasudevananda Saraswati are some of the great Saints who are considered as the Avatars (incarnations) or Amsas (taking a part of His powers) of Shri Dattatreya. 

This is the historical period when the Bahamani Kingdom was split up into five different Kingships, one of which viz.,'Bidar' is mentioned in this volume. "Shri Guru Charitra" depicts the life missions of these two incarnations.

The original volume contains 52 chapters and it is written in the form of conversation between Naamdharak and his spiritual Guru Shri Siddha Muni, who was a disciple of Shri Narasimha Saraswati. Several miraculous deeds are associated with these two Gurus - 5 such deeds are relating to Shripada Shri Vallabh (chapters 5 to 10) and 26 are relating to Shri Narasimha Saraswati, (chapters 11 to 51) besides many mythological (Puranik) tales have also been narrated in this volume by way of illustration. The main aim of the book is to extol the greatness of the Spiritual preceptor (Guru) and to dispel the ignorant notion that He is just another human.

According to researches made in connection with Shri Guru Charitra, by a Gurubhakta, Shri R. K. alias Annasaheb Kamat of Durga Datta Mandir, Mashail, Goa, ' Shri Guru Charitra' contains "Shri Guru Geeta" as its 49th chapter. It is composed of 176 Sanskrit slokas and 34 Marathi Ovis - 13 at the beginning and 21 in the end. In some of the latter scripts it seems that this chapter of Shri Guru Geeta is deleted, probably it being in Sanskrit and the 41st chapter is split up into two chapters, keeping the number of chapters the same i.e. 52. The gist of Shri Guru Geeta is included in this volume. (Shri Guru Gita is a dialogue between Shri Siva and His Divine consort Shri Parvati and forms a part of Skandha Puran. It deals with the greatness of Guru and establishes that Guru is Brahma, Guru is Vishnu, Guru is Maheshwara, why, it proclaims, Guru is identical with Para Brahma, Who is considered the Origin of all including the Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara. Since Sri Dattatreya is also an incarnation of the three Deities, He is revered as the Aadi Guru. Shri Dattatreya is an Avinash Avatar, i.e. He did not shed His body when His mission was completed like Sri Rama, Sri Krishna etc., but is continuing even today. His mission is to help all His devotees cross this Ocean of Worldly existence.)

The research scholars of Medical Sciences have a good opportunity of thinking over and analysing the means that have been used by Shri Guru for cure of acute gastric pain, leprosy, toxic irritations, revival to life, sterility of females etc. Of course it is an admitted fact that the yogic and Divine power of Shri Guru is mainly responsible for these miracles to a great extent. Shri Sai Baba of Shirdi also performed similar 'miracles' to reinforce the faith of His devotees.

In order that the general public, males and females, should be acquainted with the contents of this great popular volume, this author made a humble attempt and "Subodh Shri Guru Charitra" in Marathi prose was published in November 1952, on Datta Jayanti (Margashir Poornima).

It is an experienced fact that the reading of such literature gives mental peace to those who are worried due to different miseries of this worldly life and also encourages and guides them to go ahead on the path of self-emancipation by making their lives sublime and full of highest bliss. 

Sri Pada Sri Vallabh Paduka