shirdi sai and dattatreya

IN THIS POST I WISH TO DELVE INTO THE

SAI-DATTA LINK.SAI WAS A SAMPOORNA DATTA AVATAR

It is said in the Hindu scriptures that the foremost in line of the divine teachers to incarnate on earth is Sri Dattatreya. To enable mankind to realize the ultimate truth which is but difficult to comprehend; the Lord kindly consented to incarnate on earth from time to time. The first and foremost time is considered to be as the son of Anasuya and Sage Atri to fulfill the promise as a boon to Anasuya. The Lord born to them was called "Datta Atreya", of which the later word is patronymic derived from Atri. Sri Datta, the Lord of the Avadhutas (the naked sages), first taught the highest truth to Sri Parasurama from whom it was passed on to Sri Haritayana and so on. Thus started the lineage of divine teachers on earth. The lord did promise that this tradition would continue till the earth remained in orbit. In the line of divine teachers many names are taken across the world, some very well known and some unknown. But one thing is common to all these divine teachers; they are pretty much self realized, reflect a personality that is very difficult to comprehend, majority of them have their early life shrouded in mystery and their life is dedicated to spiritual evolution of souls that get attracted to them. The tradition of Sri Datta also referred to as "Datta Parampara" continues uninterrupted even after so many millions of years.

Many consider Shri Sai Baba of Shirdi as being in the lineage of Shri Dattatreya. By His life and stories, Shri Sainath did propound the same principles that were first taught by Sri Dattatreya and by many divine teachers since then. Sri Sai Baba's teachings are more geared towards the current age yet the fundamentals remain unchanged. Among the few books Shri Sainath encouraged his devotees to read and listen was Sri Gurucharitra, the book on life and teachings of Shri Dattatreya! Not only did he encourage reading but to one devotee he explained the meaning of it too! When one reads Sri Guruchartitra they will find many parallels in the stories with that in the life of Sri Sainath. It can't be mere coincidence or chance that lead to this!

O Sai! Thou art the Datta Tatva

Who teacheth us to learn from everything. O Baba!

The year 1910 is written in gold on the heart of each of Your devotees, for that was the year that Govindrao Dabholkar alias Hemadpant visited Shirdi. On seeing You grinding wheat, his curiosity was aroused, and he wished with all his heart to write Your biography. When he did bow before You to seek Your permission through Shama, You were moved, and blessed him by giving him Your udi (vibhuti) and placing Your boon-bestowing hand on his head with these words, "Make a collection of stories and experiences; keep notes and memos; I'll help you. You are only an outward instrument. I should write Myself My autobiography and satisfy the wishes of My devotees. When your ego is completely annihilated and there is left no trace of it, Myself shall enter into you and shall write Myself."(Shri Sai Satcharita, Chapter 2) And Baba! rest is history, history of the God who descended on earth, history of the God who walked on the soil of Shirdi for 60 years. Nay, Baba! Nay, it is the history of the God who is still, and ever will be with His devotees wherever they be. O my Sadguru! Your 'entry into him' made him experience an epiphany, a spiritual flash that You are an "incarnation of Lord Dattatreya"

Hari Om Tatsat Jai Guru Datta Hari Om Tatsat Jai Guru Datta SAINATHA RUPA JAI GURU DATTA HARI OM TAT SATH JAI GURU DATTA