Datta Jayanti (26th December)

Deity Dattatreya was born on Margashirsha Purnima (Full Moon Day in the Hindu month of Margashirsha) in the evening.

History

In ancient times, demonical energies in the subtle and visible forms increased tremendously on the Earth. They were called ‘Daityas’ (Demons). All the attempts of various Deities to destroy them went in vain. Therefore, on Deity Brahma’s instructions, Deity Datta had to incarnate at various places in different forms. The demons were then destroyed. Hence, this day is celebrated as ‘Datta Jayanti’.

Deity Dattatreya and our ancestors

God gives man a chance to get liberated from the debt of ancestors through the ritual that gives momentum to ancestors’ onward journey and by chanting the Name of Deity Dattatreya (II Shri Gurudev Datta II).

One cannot get rid of the ancestors’ debt merely by remembering them infrequently, displaying their photos in the house or publishing their photos in newspapers on their death anniversaries.

It is only when we chant the Name of Deity Datta that our ancestors get momentum to go on their further journey in the true sense. From this, we can realise that it is imperative to worship Deity Datta to get liberated from the ancestors’ debt. This also reduces the debt of God on us.

Importance of the Datta Principle

Datta Principle is active a 1,000 times more on this day on the Earth. Worship of Deity Datta and chanting His Name helps obtain the benefit of the increased Datta Principle in the atmosphere.

Through the energy generated by chanting Deity Datta’s Name, a protective sheath gets created around the person who chants.

The Principle that makes available to the Jeeva (Embodied soul) the gross as well as the subtle (manifest and unmanifest) vibrations of higher or lower Gods and Deities in shorter time is called Deity Datta.

The very meaning of Datta is – ‘One who provides vibrations of Chaitanya (Divine consciousness)’.

How to celebrate the birth of Datta ?

There are no specific rituals mentioned in the Scriptures to celebrate His birth. Usually, the Holy book ‘Gurucharitra’ is read for 7 days before the day of the celebration. These 7 days are called ‘Gurucharitra Saptaha’ (Saptaha denotes a week). The forms of worship such as bhajans (Devotional songs), pujan (Worship of the Deity with specific rituals) and especially kirtan (Discourse with devotional songs in between) are popular.

The special places of Shreekshetra Audumbar, Narsobachiwadi, Ganaga-pur, etc. in Maharashtra, where Deity Datta is predominantly worshipped, have special importance during the festival of Datta Jayanti. There is also a tradition to celebrate Datta Jayanti in Tamil Nadu.

(Ref.: Sanatan’s Text – ‘Datta’)