The Birth Story of Lord Dattatreya: Date, Puja Vidhi and Significance

Dattatreya Jayanti is one of the most sacred and auspicious days in the Hindu Dharma as this day is celebrated as the birth anniversary of the Hindu God Dattatreya. Lord Dattatreya is the only God who embodies the divine trinity of Brahma (the creator), Vishnu (the preserver), and Shiva (the destroyer). Lord Datta is illustrated as having three heads with six arms. Dattatreya is celebrated on the full moon of the November-December (Margashirsha month). People celebrate this festival with great excitement and devotion. Dattatreya Jayanti is very popular all over India, especially in states like, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat.

Table of Contents:

1. Dattatreya Jayanti Date and Time 2024
2. Dattatreya Jayanti significance
3. Story related to Dattatreya Jayanti
4. Dattatreya Jayanti Symbolises
5. Dattatreya Jayanti Puja Vidhi
6. Dattatreya Jayanti Mantras to Chant
7. What to do on Dattatreya Jayanti
8. Dattatreya Jayanti Rituals

Dattatreya Jayanti Date and Time 2024

Dattatreya Jayanti falls on 14 December 2024 and check the tithi timing:
Purnima Tithi starting - 4:58 PM on December 14th
Purnima Tithi Ending - 3:31 PM on December 15th

Dattatreya Jayanti significance

Dattatreya Jayanti holds a great value in the Hindu Dharma as this day is celebrated as the birthday of a deity who embodies the three supreme Hindu Gods (Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu, and Lord Brahma). This day is very auspicious because on this day devotees worship the god for his blessings. It is believed if you worship the deity on this day, you can gain knowledge, wealth, prosperity, and protection as a blessing. 

Story related to Dattatreya Jayanti

According to Hindu Puranas and Upanishads, Lord Datta was the son of the Sage Atri and Anusuya. Anusuya is known for her immense austerity and devotion towards her husband. The stories of her devotion reached heaven where it aroused the curiosity of the goddesses Saraswati, Lakshmi, and Parvati who are the wives of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva respectively. They wanted to test the devotion of Anusuyu so they asked their husband to take a test of her virtue. The three Gods disguised as Sage approached Anasuya and requested her to serve them food without wearing any clothes. Anusuya transformed the three sages into infants by using her spiritual powder, fed them as they requested, and also preserved her chastity. When the three goddesses see her divine power and purity, they ask her for her forgiveness and request her to restore their husbands to their original forms. The three supreme Gods blessed her with a son who embodied their combined divine aspects by seeing her virtue and devotion. That’s how Dattatreya was born with the qualities of three supreme Gods. Brahma gave him knowledge, Vishnu endowed him with compassion and preservation, and Shiva bestowed upon him spiritual wisdom and detachment.

Dattatreya Jayanti Symbolises

Dattatreya is considered the Adi Guru or teacher of self-realization and spirituality. Lord Datta teaches us to learn from nature and see the divine in all the creations. He is often illustrated as:
A mesmerizing figure with three heads which shows Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva.
He also has six hands in which he carries a rosary, a conch trident, a discus, a water pot, and a begging bowl. He is with four dogs (symbolizing the four Vedas) and a cow (symbolizing Mother Earth).

Dattatreya Jayanti Puja Vidhi

Here given below the Puja Vidhi of Dattatreya Jayanti step by step:
1. You should wake up early in the morning and take an early bath to purify your body and soul. The preferred water should be mixed with turmeric, sesame seeds, or holy river water, symbolizing the purification of the body and mind.
2. Some devotees observe fast all day from sunrise to sunset, consuming only water, milk, and fruits. Some also observe a strict waterless fast (Nirjala Vrat).
3. You should set up a clean altar with an image or idol of Lord Dattatreya and decorate it with flowers, garlands, incense sticks, and lamps.
4. A sacred water pot is also placed near the idol which attracts divine energy.
5. Chant the mantra and bhajans dedicated to the deity.
6. Many offerings are made for the deity such as:
7. Fruits and sweets like ladoos, kheer, and coconut.
8. Make Panchamrit with a mixture of milk, yogurt, honey, ghee, and sugar.
Bhakshya (Cooked Food) such as rice, dal, and jaggery-based dishes.
Flowers, incense, and sandalwood paste are also offered.
9. To praise the Lord, Devotees sing bhajans and kirtans which create a positive environment.
Ritual Bathing (Abhishekam) is done with the idol or his image. The bathing should be done with Milk for purity, Curd for prosperity, Honey for sweetness in life, Ghee for health, and Holy Water for spiritual cleansing.
10. After the bath, the deity is decorated with new clothes, jewelry, and garlands.
11. Aarti is performed while chanting “Jaya Deva Datta" to praise Lord Dattatreya.
12. After that, prasad is distributed among all devotees for the blessings of the deity.
13. Some devotees also sing the bhajan and kirtans all night.
14. Devotees can break the fast in the next morning by offering prayers and consuming the prasad.

Dattatreya Jayanti Mantras to Chant

Devotees can chant these mantras:
"Om Shri Gurudev Datta"
Devotees also chant the Dattatreya Gayatri Mantra:
“Om Digambaraaya Vidmahe
Avadhutaya Dheemahi
Tanno Datta Prachodayat.”

What to do on Dattatreya Jayanti?

On this auspicious day, devotees perform special bhajans, prayers, and rituals in temples dedicated to Dattatreya’s glory. They Read sacred texts such as the Avadhuta Gita and Guru Charitra. Some devotees also do fast and offer donations to the poor and needy. This festival is considered a day to seek knowledge, practice humility, and lead a life dedicated to self-realization and service to humanity.

Dattatreya Jayanti Rituals

Dattatreya Jayanti Rituals are deeply spiritual and devoted to Lord Datta. The ritual focuses on worship, meditation, and acts of charity. These rituals will help you to purify the mind, body, and soul. Check the rituals of Dattatreya Jayanti given below:
Wake up early in the morning and take a holy bath.
Some devotees observe a fast also.
Practice the puja and chant the mantras dedicated to Lord Dattatreya.
Read the sacred texts like the Guru Charitra, Avadhuta Gita, and Dattatreya Upanishad.
You should donate food and clothing.