Importance of chanting the Name of Deity Datta to provide momentum to the departed ancestors and to protect ourselves from distress caused by dissatisfied souls of ancestors

Chanting the Name of Deity Dattatreya in Pitru Paksha further helps in protection from the distress due to the pitars !

A. If the ancestors are suffering in the form of negative energies, then after having shraddha food, distress such as vomitting, loose motions is caused; the remedy on it is to chant Deity Datta’s Name : If the acestors of the house are suffering in the form of negative energies, since they are Tama-predominant, the distressing vibrations at the shraddha venue increase when they arrive. There is a possibility that these distressing vibrations will congregate in the food and in the body of the jivas (Embodied souls). By consuming food charged with such distressing vibrations, as a result of congregation of black energy from it in the body, distressing effects such as food poisoning, vomitting, loose motions are noticed. To protect ourselves from all these distressing effects, everyone at the shraddha venue should chant ‘Shri Gurudev
Datta’ to create a protective sheath around ourselves. – A Scholar (Through the medium of H.H. [Mrs] Anjali Gadgil, 13.8.2006, 12.33 p.m.)

B. How does chanting Deity Dattatreya’s Name provide protection from the distress caused by ancestors ?

1. Ancestors gain momentum : Majority of people in Kaliyug do not perform spiritual practice, and hence, they are trapped in Maya (The Great Illusion). As a result, their subtle-bodies remain dissatisfied after death. Such dissatisfied subtle-bodies get trapped in the Martyalok (Region of the dead, situated between the earth and the Nether region). By chanting the Name of Deity Dattatreya, the ancestors trapped in Martyalok gain momentum. Thereafter, depending on their karma, they advance to progressively higher regions. Thus, automatically the trouble caused by them to their descendants on the earth reduces.

Some people build the final resting place for their departed family members in front of or beside their residence and regularly worship them with flowers. As a sign of affection and remembrance, their photos are put up in the house. In some places, it is a tradition to keep coins in the temple at home to commemorate the pitars. All these acts entrap the subtle-bodies of the departed family members in such places. Consequently, their spiritual sojourn is obstructed and they have to undergo suffering.

King Bhagirath performed severe austerities to liberate his ancestors, and brought Ganga onto the earth. This is an ideal example of repaying the debt unto ancestors. If we keep our ancestors entrapped in physical objects as mentioned above and do not chant, etc. to provide them momentum, we fail to repay the debt unto the pitars. In such cases, since they remain distressed, they create obstacles in our spiritual practice. To repay the debt unto our ancestors and provide them with momentum to progressively higher regions based on their karma, we should chant ‘Shri Gurudev Datta |’ and perform shraddha for them.

2. Creation of a protective sheath : Energy generated by chanting the Name of Deity Dattatreya creates a protective sheath around the individual who is chanting this Name.

3. Deity Dattatreya destroys pitars which have become distressing energies : Pitars who torment their descendants are known as ‘ancestor distressing energies’. When their pot of sins is full, Deity Dattatreya punishes them.

C. Chanting the Name of Deity Dattatreya based on the severity of the problem of pitars : In the present times, almost everyone is afflicted with the problem of pitars; hence, all of us should chant ‘Shri Gurudev Datta |’ everyday for at least 1 to 2 hours. If the distress is medium in nature, chant this Name for 2 to 4 hours and in case of severe distress, chant this Name for 4 to 6 hours.

For elimination of distress due to ancestors, chant Deity Datta’s Name, pray and perform the Shraddha ritual during Pitru-paksha

During this period distress due to ancestors increases, and hence, we should chant ‘II Om Om Shri Gurudev Datta Om Om II’ at least an hour every day.

1. Seekers who perform regular spiritual remedies to eliminate the distress caused by negative energies : Such seekers should chant the Name of Deity Datta at least an hour every day in addition to their normal spiritual remedies to eliminate the distress caused by negative energies. Chanting should be done by joining the fingers with the thumb and performing nyas at the Anahat-chakra with one hand and nyas at the Manipur-chakra with the other hand.

Seekers who do not perform spiritual remedies, should ensure that they chant the Deity Datta’s Name at least an hour while doing their personal chores, bathing, cleaning sevas, etc.. However, if they experience distress due to negative energies, they should sit and chant Deity Datta’s Name along with the above mentioned nyas.

2. For protection from distress caused by negative energies, pray intermittently to Deity Datta during the day.

3. If possible, seekers must perform the Shraddha ritual during the Pitru Paksha. This will eliminate their distress caused by ancestors and additionally, they will obtain their blessings to performing spiritual practice.

– Sadguru (Dr.) Mukul Gadgil, Sanatan Ashram, Ramnathi, Goa. (3.9.2021)