Speaker 1:
Gurudev, Pranam.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Pranam.
Speaker 1:
Friends, after a long time, Gurudev is back with another episode. Today, Gurudev will talk about a great sage and deity. His name is Dattatreya. I request Gurudev to tell us something about Dattatreya.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
You see, Dattatreya has temples in many places. However, his most significant temple is in the Mahur district—Nanded district in Maharashtra, I believe. That is his birthplace. He was born in Mahur. His father was the sage Atri, and his mother was Anasuya. Atri Rishi was very old, while Anasuya was quite young. For some reason, they were married. They desired to bring the light of knowledge to the world. They prayed for a child who would illuminate the world and keep it enlightened.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Dattatreya had two brothers. One was Chandradev—the Moon you see in the sky—and the other was Durvasa, the sage whom even the gods feared because of his quick temper and his habit of giving curses that always came true. So, there were these three brothers: Chandra, Durvasa, and Dattatreya.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
They wanted a son who would light up the world. Dattatreya is considered a Hindu deity, but he was also a great scholar of the Rigveda. He didn't just compose it; he had immense knowledge of it. Besides that, he had other special powers. Everyone remembers him primarily for his connection to the Rigveda and his mastery over spiritual sciences that are otherwise difficult to attain. He had a great contribution to the Vedas, which earned him his fame.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Regarding his birth, there is no single agreed-upon account. Different people say different things. Some say he was born in Mahur; others say in the South Deccan region; some say near Kashmir, while others believe it was near the Amarnath Temple. There are various opinions, and I can't say for sure which one is definitive. However, he is worshipped as the embodiment of Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheshwar (Shiva). He is the Trimurti, born with the combined powers of these three deities.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
In the tradition of Tantra, he is called "Yogeshwar"—the Lord of Yoga. Even today in Mahur, during his birth anniversary, huge crowds gather. It is a major pilgrimage site. There is a pond there where it is said he still bathes regularly. It is also believed that he sleeps in a specific house in Mahur every night.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
We have also seen Dattatreya's presence near the Narmada River. There is a temple there where he is worshipped as the three-headed deity (Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva in one body). In Hindu scriptures, there is also a book called the Dattatreya Upanishad. While he is associated with it, many believe Lord Vishnu himself composed it. It is linked with the Atharvaveda.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Among the four Vedas—Rig, Sama, Yaju, and Atharva—the Rigveda is considered the highest. The Samaveda is widely followed in the South. The Yajurveda is what we follow here. As for the Atharvaveda, it is often taught to children who have been abandoned by their parents. They are brought to institutions to study the Atharvaveda. I saw this in Puri at the Bishwambar Das math; children were studying it there. It isn't a "bad" Veda at all. Then there is the "Fifth Veda," which is Rasayana (the science of alchemy and medicine). The medicine we take today originates from there.
Speaker 1:
The Dattatreya Upanishad is divided into three parts. The first is about Brahma and Vishnu, and the next is about Maheshwar.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Yes, as I said, he possessed the qualities of all three. He often said, "I am Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheshwar." Vishnu himself stated that he is Lord Dattatreya. It is said that by meditating on the form of Dattatreya, one can be saved from the "ocean of worldly existence" (Sansar Sagar). If one chants his name or performs rituals for him, they become a liberated soul.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
There is so much more to say about Dattatreya. We've read about him in books and on Wikipedia to get a general idea. He is a major Hindu deity. We worship him as such. As I mentioned, he is seen in Narmada and Maharashtra.
Speaker 1:
So, that was the first topic. Now, moving on—our annual puja is coming up on the 1st.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Yes, it's our annual festival for the Mother. It has been running for 35 years here. On every Mahalaya, we perform the Mother's puja. But she isn't worshipped alone; Kali is also worshipped here. Kali Thakur arrives at night and is immersed in the morning. Tara Puja and Kali Puja are performed by different priests. Other monks and seekers also come to perform their spiritual practices.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
There is also a "Mora Puja" (a ritual involving a corpse or skeleton). The "Mora" is offered food and given a bath. These are rituals we perform.
Speaker 1:
I had the good fortune of seeing it last year.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Many have seen it. In the past, it was done very strictly and secretly. Now, things have changed. People try to peek in. During the Amavasya (New Moon), we perform these rituals for various spirits, demons, and entities like Betaal and Pishach. The "Mora" is bathed and fed. We have a long list of rituals. Once those are completed, the Kali and Tara Pujas begin. We usually finish the "Mora Sadhana" by 2:00 AM before starting the main deity worship.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
This is all very confidential. It shouldn't really be made public, but it has been about 30–35 years now.
Speaker 1:
Well, since you yourself have become "open" to the public, there's no harm! Your name is "Gupta Sadhak" (Secret Seeker) Shyama Khyapa, but we have brought you to YouTube for everyone to see. In a way, it's good because so many people have benefited.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
I agree, people are benefiting from the fruits of my spiritual practice. But this year has been difficult. I mentioned before—this year, "He" (the Divine) has kept me bedridden. I couldn't work much. I worked for a bit, and then I ended up in the hospital. It took a lot of money; who will give me that much money?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Anyway, let's not get into details. I've been unwell. A boy came to me; I don't know what happened to him, but his skin was peeling off. His mother was crying at my feet. I tried several things, but nothing worked. Finally, I made a Kavach (talisman) for the boy. The day he put it on—it was a Monday afternoon—I suddenly fell ill. I was in the hospital for 22 days. I couldn't even drink water. My mouth, tongue, and throat were covered in sores.
Speaker 1:
Is that why some people worship you as a form of Shiva? We call him "Neelkantha" because he took the poison into his throat. If I compare you to him, it makes sense; you took that boy's suffering into your own body.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
(Laughs) I don't know about that! I am not that "Bhola" (Shiva). I am just "Moyra Bhola" from Bagbazar! People say many things, they call me "God"—I hear it to my face and behind my back. What can I do? People come to me, I do what I can, and they get better. That's all.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Let's not stretch this episode further. If you can, please come on the 1st for the Mother's annual puja. It will be a grand celebration. The puja goes on all night. We immerse the deity before sunrise. We spend some time with the Mother, show her affection, and then let her go.
Speaker 1:
Everyone, please come if you can. Stay healthy and stay well. Gurudev, Pranam.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Pranam, Baba. Pranam.