[WARNING] This article contains language that may be considered profane in some parts, although the author has no intention of doing so.
The header image of this article is taken from the following mantra:
SHREE GURU DATTATREYA MANTRA BY SADHANA SARGAM
It's called "Gurudatthatrya Mantra", where Dattatreya is explained in the following:
I learned Dattatreya from this mantra. As written in the above Wikipedia article, "He is considered to be an avatar and combined form of the three Hindu gods Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, who are also collectively known as the Trimurti, and as the manifestation of Parabrahma, the supreme being..." for which I wondered for a moment, honestly speaking. My knowledge of Dattatreya is virtually nil, but this mantra is unforgettable.
The same mantra is found in the following long one starting at 01:10:09 as No.11. Gurudattatrya Mantra:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mfi_VunJ0Sk&t=4205s
Its transcript (in English) is as follows:
Shree Avadhut Chintan Gurudev Dutt, Trimukh Digamber Sadguru Datta
Shripad Vallabh Sahastra Datta, Bramhahari Shiv Yogesh Datta
Without any exaggeration, the music of this mantra is not only light and memorable with lovely voice by Sadhana Sargam, but also very entertaining, and even a bit comical, which is an adjective inappropriate for a mantra…
The phrase "Yogesh Datta" sounds like 「預言者だった」in Japanese, meaning "he was a prophet"...🤔🙃
My apologies for any blasphemy implied🙇
Incidentally the next one No.12 in the long version is "Shree Hanuman Mantra", another very nice mantra as described in the following article:
The following performance, however, is not impressive for me, though I'm not supposed to expect "entertaining" aspect in mantras 😶
The following one is probably good for serious praying:
Back to Dattatreya,
Birth and Parentage: Dattatreya is believed to have been born to the sage Atri and his wife, Anasuya. According to Hindu mythology, the three deities Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva were pleased with Anasuya's chastity and devotion to her husband. To reward her, they granted her a son who embodied all three of their qualities. This son was Dattatreya, whose name translates to “Datta” (given) and “Atreya” (son of Atri). This birth story symbolizes the unity of creation (Brahma), preservation (Vishnu), and destruction (Shiva), as Dattatreya embodies all three.
This reminds me of two characters
Ātreya (आत्रेय) in Mahābhārata
Atreyu in The Neverending Story (Die unendliche Geschichte) by Michael Ende
I'm sure someone will be able to shed some light on the etymology of these names, which is beyond my ability.
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