Shri Dattatreya
Shri Dattatreya is a historical figure about whom much could be written. For our purposes however, we will confine his depiction here to those features important to the International Nath Order. Within the INO, Shri Dattatreya is recognized as an Avatar or divine incarnation and Adiguru (first teacher) of the Adinath Sampradaya into which Shri Mahendranath was initiated. In this sense, Dattatreya is considered as a historical figure and teacher of the highest essence of Indian thought.
Many Indian traditions view Dattatreya as their Adiguru. This includes some Nath traditions still flourishing, while other Nath panths or sub-sects give this role to Shiva, the historical figure Adinath or Gorakhnath, etc.. The greater Nath stream has never been a monolithic order where each initiate referring to themselves as “Nath” has conformed to a unified creation myth. What is important to any Nath sect is the passage of wisdom from Guru to disciple in an unbroken line through the principles of initiation, instruction and practice.
The Avadhuta Gita (Song of the Avadhut) is attributed to Dattatreya and is a wonderful compilation of the highest order of thought. It is written from the earthly viewpoint of a human being who cast off the fetters. This text was purportedly given to and recorded by two of Dattatreya’s disciples, Swami and Kartika.
The Markandeya Purana reports that Dattatreya dove into a lake where he stayed beneath the waters for many years. By doing so, he hoped to evade an assembly of Munis who waited patiently on the banks of the lake for his return. One day, Datta emerged from the water naked and in the company of a beautiful woman. The text relates that they made love, drank liquor and enjoyed singing and music. In spite of this, the Munis did not abandon him and Dattatraya, accompanied by his shakti, continued to engage their practices while being served and meditated upon by those longing for moksha.
In the Bhagavata Purana, Dattatreya enumerates a list of his twenty-four gurus: earth, air, ether, water, fire, sun, moon, python, pigeons, sea, moth, bee, bull elephant, bear, deer, fish, osprey, a child, a maiden, a courtesan, a blacksmith, serpent, spider, and wasp. Scholars will find this list to vary from place to place. In any case, Dattatreya was informed by nature in all of its aspects and awakened to the Absolute in understanding the divine integration of all.
In The Pathless Path to Immortality, Shri Gurudev Mahendranath writes:
“Shri Dattatreya was a dropout of an earlier age, than the period when Veda and Tantra merged to become one simple cult. It was men like Dattatreya who helped to make this possible. Three of his close disciples were kings, one an Asura and the other two both belonging to the warrior caste. Dattatreya himself was regarded as an avatar of Maheshwara (Shiva) but later was claimed by Vaishnavites as the avatar of Vishnu. Not such a sectarian claim as it appears; Hindus regard Shiva and Vishnu as the same or as manifestations of the Absolute taking form.”
Dattatreya is usually depicted with three heads, symbolizing Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva; this signifys the three lords of Creation, Preservation and Destruction manifesting in a single human form.
Read more:
Mahendranath, Shri Gurudev. Notes on Pagan India
Mahendranath, Shri Gurudev. The Pathless Path to Immortality