Sri Guru Charitra

History & Context

Sri Guru Charitra is an ancient sacred scripture based on the life story of Sri Narasimha Saraswati (1378-1459), written in Ovi form (a Marathi metre) by the 15th-16th century poet Sri Saraswati Gangadhar. His ancestor, Sayamdev, had personally lived and served Guru Narasimha Saraswati. The book was later translated into Sanskrit by Sri Vasudevananda Saraswati (Tembe Swami), who lived about a hundred years ago and was regarded by many as an incarnation of Lord Dattatreya. Until a few years back, the book was only available in Marathi and Kannada languages. Recently, Telugu translations have become available, as well as an English version. The English version is a newly rendered and abridged version of the original Guru Charitra.

Aside from the life stories of the first two Avatars of Lord Dattatreya, Sripada Srivallabha and Sri Narasimha Saraswati, the book also contains their spiritual philosophy and relevant life stories that illustrate how they delivered the truths of Sanatana Dharma through each and every one of their words and actions. 

The book is written in a conversational form between Naamdharak and his Guru, Sri Siddha Muni, a disciple of Sri Narasimha Saraswati who consistently allays the doubts of his disciples by sharing various examples and stories from the lives of the first two Datta Avatars. The work is divided into three parts: Dhyankand (Knowledge section), Karmakand (Work section) and Bhaktikand (Devotion section). 

Prior to 2001, when the biography of Sripada Srivallabha, the Sripada Srivallabha Charitamrutam, came to light, the Guru Charitra was the only source of information about the first incarnation of Lord Dattatreya

Contents

Sri Guru Charitra is a holy book for those who seek to follow the tenets of the Dattatreya Tradition. The book affirms that the Guru is divine, gracious and caring, and will always protect his disciples. Many of the stories in the book outline the same message, that one can achieve liberation solely by connecting to and following the instructions of a qualified Guru. Some of the harsh lessons given by the Guru in these stories are often used teach the disciples important lessons about life and about how the principles of faith and trust in the Guru and the Divine are absolutely key when following the path of Lord Dattatreya. The Guru Charitra does not insist that one should pray to a particular deity. Datta Gurus rarely preach about the superiority of any particular God or Goddess. Both Avatars mentioned in the book endorse the devotional methods that were socially acceptable and within the civilised limits of that time period. The ‘vratas’ or devotional rituals described in the book are from Shaivaite (Shiva) as well as Vaishnavite (Vishnu) sects, and there is never encouragement for dogmatical adherence to any particular religious denomination or sect. Because the book is a treasure trove of significant spiritual events related to the life of Sri Narasimha Saraswati, it is read with great reverence by the devotees of Lord Dattatreya. In fact, the regular reading (traditionally known in Hindusim as parayana) of the Guru Charitra gives inspiration, strength and encouragement to spiritual aspirants to continue with their sadhana. The book is regarded as divine, capable of blessing one and all who read it with reverence, and is placed with images of Gods and adored in almost all devotees’ houses in Maharashtra. Within the Dattatreya Tradition, it has a similar status to the Vedas, Ramayana, Mahabharata, Bhagavatam and other Puranas in Sanskrit, and Dnyaneshwari, Dasbodh, Eknathi Bhagwat, etc., in Marathi. In the last century, the influence of Sri Guru Charitra has spread far and wide, and now legion are the experiences of devotees who read it regularly with genuine devotion. Many miraculous deeds associated with the two Dattatreya Gurus are related in the book – five such deeds are attributed to Sripada Srivallabha (chapters 5 to 10), and twenty-six are related to Sri Narasimha Saraswati (chapters 11 to 51). In addition to these miraculous events or ‘lilas’, many mythological tales have also been narrated by way of illustration. Overall, it can be said that the book’s main aim is to extol the greatness of the Guru and dispel the ignorant notion that a real Guru is just another ordinary, yet slightly elevated, human being. It is an experienced fact that reading sacred literature like the Guru Charitra gives mental peace to those who are worried due to the various miseries of worldly life, and it also encourages and guides them to proceed on the path of liberation by gradually making their lives sublime and full of the highest bliss.

Key Passages

Even at the moment of his birth, He uttered the mystic syllable ‘Om’, and by the mere touch of His hand, he transmuted iron into gold. Even before he learnt the alphabet, he taught the Vedas to his disciples and expounded the Vedanta to his parents in his childhood. Even at that young age, he visited the holy places of pilgrimage, practiced yoga and restored the tradition of renunciation to its pristine purity through his own practice. He cured the intestinal illness of his devotee by making him partake of the very food which is prohibited to such by medical science. He transformed a tongue-less man into an elegant expounder of wisdom. He terminated the poverty of a Brahmin by his mere blessing, and he enabled him to visit three holy places in the wink of the eye.

– Chapter I

He revived the dead and made a barren cow yield milk. He conferred the vision of His cosmic form on his devotee, Trivikrama and humbled the pride of the learned. He made a devotee of low caste recite the Veda by his mere blessing. He terminated the widowhood of a lady and expounded the subtleties of karma yoga to a devotee. He made a withered twig grow into a tree and blessed a barren woman with offspring by his mere look. He cured one of leprosy.

– Chapter I

It may be possible to count the stars in the sky, the grains of sand on earth and the drops of water in the ocean, but not the infinite divine attributes of the Lord. Though He is a spirit without any form, he miraculously assumes a form and enters His devotee’s hearts through the gateway of his hearing and cleans his heart and liberates him in this very life from Ignorance.

– Chapter XI

 

 

Recommended Editions

Guru Charitra Paperback by Shree Swami Samarth Vishwa Kalyan Kendra
Sterling Publications; UK edition (Aug. 7, 2008)

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