Guru Parampara
“GURUR-BRAHMA, GURUR-VISHNUH; GURU-DEVO MAHESWARAHA;
GURUR-SAKSHATH PARAM BRAHMA; THASMAI SREE GURAVE NAMAHA:”
“OM GURU DEVAYA VIDHMAHE, PARABRAHMANE DHEEMAHEE, THANNO GURU PRACHODAYAT”
Most of you must be aware that the origin of Guruparmapara traces back to Lord Dattatreya. Firstly, let me offer salutations to Lord Dattatreya before proceeding further. After Lord Dattatreya, the tradition of Guru parampara continued with Sri Sripada Srivallabha, Sri Narasimha Saraswathi, Sri ManikPrabhu, Sri Akkalakota Maharaj and Sri Shirdi Sai Baba. The last three incarnations have taken place during the Nineteenth century. Lord Dattatreya has taken incarnations in various personalities but the main aim and objective remained centered around to offer protection to HIS devotees and rid them from miseries and drive towards Spiritualism.
Please refer Sai Satcharitra – Baba has indicated indirectly that He is the incarnation of Lord Dattatreya in various chapters. In the story of Goa Gentleman, He has taken Rs.15/- from a Datta Devotee, which he owed to Lord Dattatreya. When Nanasaheb chandorkar, a Datta devotee arrived at Shiridi along with his co- son in law, Shirdi bypassing his normal visit to the Datta Mandir at Kopargaon, Baba told him not to repeat such things in future. On a Guru Poornima day, Baba advised Dhadha Kelkar to worship the ‘Pillar’ at Dwarakamai, indicative of telling to worship Lord Dattatreya – considered as the pillar of Datta Parampara. At the request of all the devotees, Baba finally allowed His devotees to worship Him. With this, Baba confirmed that He is incarnation of Lord Dattatreya. Baba instructed Hari Vinayak Sathe to read Guru Charitra twice and Kushabhavu 108 times. With this Baba has indirectly told His devotees, His origin and the connectivity with Sri Dattatreya.. We should make a note that Baba never told that He is God. He always used to say that He is the servant of the God. Precisely I feel that must be the reason why HE never expressed directly that He is the incarnation of Lord Dattatreaya.
Datta Guru Parampara
Bharat and Bharatiyas have a great common heritage. The heritage of perfection is called Guru Parampara. The Siddha heritage has Lord Dattatreya as its pinnacle, being the Guru of Gurus. Understandably, we never call Brahma, Vishnu, Shankara, Ganesha as Gurudevas. But we call Dattatreya as "Sri Guru Deva Datta". Lord Dattatreya is a "Smartugami". You "just remember Him. He is there'. He is an ever living incarnation. In such an illustrious Guru Parampara there have been great sages and seers who were all guided by this heritage. Records of most of them are not available. But by the grace of Lord Dattatreya, the life-stories of a few Siddhas/Mahatmas, are available. Shri Shripada Shri Vallabha is the one, who is an incarnation of Datta Himself.
"I bow to him the Sadguru who is the embodiment of the bliss of Brahman, the bestower of Supreme happiness, the absolute, and the personification of pure knowledge, who is beyond duality (as pleasure and pain). He is all pervasive like the sky. He is the final goal of the Vedic dictum "Thou art that!" He is one eternal. Pure, Steadfast and the witness of all thoughts, abiding ever beyond all modifications of mind and body and attributes of the three gunas - Raja, tama and sattva (all the three qualities of passion, ignorance and excellence). "
