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The process of purification and what we call as the ‘spiritual path’ are, in essence, absolutely synonymous. Reality, or the Supreme Consciousness, is already primordially present as the substratum identity of everything that can ever possibly appear to exist. Therefore, Reality is not something that we need to re-create or manufacture, because it is always already present. The work of spiritual practice, or sadhana, is simply that of removing the dirt of our karmic patterns of perception that prevent us from perceiving what is real in an absolute sense and what is merely real in a relative and even illusory way.
Everything that we do on the spiritual path is ultimately geared towards purification. Purification means, first, the gradual relaxation of the tight, fearful and self-centred patterns of thinking, feeling and acting, and later, the complete dissolution of all such patterns. To become purer is to become lighter. This lightness should not just be felt when we are sitting quietly in a spiritually charged environment; it should also permeate the entirety of our lives in the world of action, interaction and expression. We know that we are becoming purer when we begin to feel that we are holding everything in our lives in a lighter, easier way.
If we have come into the fold of the Datta Tradition, either through encountering a living Datta Master, or even by connecting to a still-active and available spiritual superforce like Shirdi Sai Baba, then its safe to say that the process of purification has already begun. As long as we remain fastened to the energy and intelligence of the Tradition, then purification will certainly be going on. Anything that is recommended to us by a Datta Master can only be for sake of purification. Every interaction that we have with a Datta Master is also only for the sake or purification.
One of the longstanding elements within the Datta Tradition and its intimate brother-like tradition, the Nath Tradition, is the dhuni, or sacred fire. Shirdi Sai Baba was known to constantly maintain his dhuni and still, in Shirdi, Baba’s dhuni remains lit and continues to produce the sacred ash that works many miracle for his devotees.
The function of the dhuni is simultaneously symbolic and esoteric. On a symbolic level, the dhuni represents the living fire of awareness, which when brought a great enough pitch and intensity, consumes all of our karmic patterns of perceiving and thinking within itself. Usually, the fire – the energy – of that awareness is dispersed and diluted through conceptual thinking and the activity that arises as its result. When that energy begins to be withdrawn, then the heat of that fire, the intensity of awareness, gradually increases. When all karmic patterns related to limited earthly existence are incinerated, then Liberation is said to have occured.
The esoteric function of the dhuni is to create portal though which higher, disincarnate spiritual beings to can appear, support and bless the activity of the Master who is presiding over the dhuni.
Because everything that we do within the sphere of Datta Sadhana aids our gradual process of purification, there is no singular practice that can be recommended solely for purification. However, we do recommended the practice of Datta Aarti as beautiful way to connect to, worship and purify ourselves within the pure essence of Lord Datta. By practising aarti it is as if we are lighting our ‘dhuni’ every day and then respectfully offering it to Reality, and Its representatives, as a symbol of our limitations that we wish to dissolve. And in fact, this offering is not merely symbolic but very real when we perform the aarti full heartedly and with perfect concentration – in such cases, Reality Itself is invoked in whatever form we choose to worship It in order to bless and grace us with the raw energy of purification and refinement.
We do not need an elaborate set-up to practise Datta Aarti. We only require a picture of Lord Dattatreya, an oil lamp and either our own voice or another way of playing the aarti recording. The ideal way to perform aarti is with a five-wick aarti lamp (which represents the five elements) whilst reciting the aarti with our own voice, but a small, single wick oil lamp and listening to a recording is also acceptable. There are many different variations around the waving of the lamp, making other offerings and accompanying the chanting that people use when performing aarti, but within this Sadhana we suggest aspirants to initially keep the practice of aarti as simple as possible.
After lighting the lamp, we should hold it with our right hand and simply circle the image of Lord Dattatreya in a clockwise motion whilst reciting or listening to the aarti theme. If others are present, they may also recite the theme in unison with us and even clap along or ring a bell at the same time. When the aarti is complete, we should switch to holding the lamp in our left hand and use our right hand for fanning the aarti flames over anything in the space that we would like to receive the blessing of purification. Other people present may also fan the aarti lamp over themselves with both hands.
Trigunatmak Trimurti Datta Ha Jana
Datta is the incarnation of the three gunas, three faces that create the qualities of people in the world
Triguni Avatar Trailokya Rana
He is the Lord of the three worlds, and incarnation of the three gunas
Neti Neti Shabda Na Ye Anumana
One can try to logically define Him, but words cannot describe Him
Survar Munijan Yogi Samadhi Na Ye Dhyana
God, saints and ascetics try to meditate but cannot figure Him out, even in the state of samadhi
Jai Dev Jai Dev Jai Shri Gurudatta
Praise God, Praise God, Praise Guru Datta
Aarti Ovalita Harli Bhavachinta
We offer you a lamp, the worry of day-to-day life is taken away.
Jai Dev Jai Dev
Praise God, Praise God
Jai Dev Jai Dev Jai Shri Gurudatta
Praise God, Praise God, Praise Guru Datta
Aarti Ovalita Harli Bhavachinta
We offer you a lamp, the worry of day-to-day life is taken away.
Jai Dev Jai Dev
Praise God, Praise God
Sabahya Abhyantari Tu Eka Datta
Inside and outside you are the only God
Abhagyasi Kaichi Kalel Hi Maata
But those who do not have faith, how can they understand
Parahi Paratali Tethe Kaicha Ha Het
When one reaches the ultimate goal
Janma Maranacha Purlase Anta
The cycle of birth and death ceases
Jai Dev Jai Dev
Praise God, Praise God
Jai Dev Jai Dev Jai Shri Gurudatta
Praise God, Praise God, Praise Guru Datta
Aarti Ovalita Harli Bhavachinta
We offer you a lamp, the worry of day-to-day life is taken away.
Jai Dev Jai Dev
Praise God, Praise God
Datta Yeuniya Ubha Thakala
Datta came and stood in front of me
Sadbhave Sashtange Pranipat Kela
Reverentially with devotion, I bowed down to Him (in sastanga namaskaram)
Prasanna Houni Aashirwad Didhala
Which made Him happy, and he gave me His blessing
Janma Maranacha Phera Chukavila
The blessing is to end the cycle of birth and death
Jai Dev Jai Dev
Praise God, Praise God
Jai Dev Jai Dev Jai Shri Gurudatta
Praise God, Praise God, Praise Guru Datta
Aarti Ovalita Harli Bhavachinta
We offer you a lamp, the worry of day-to-day life is taken away.
Jai Dev Jai Dev
Praise God, Praise God
Datta Datta Aise Lagale Dhyana
I meditated upon Datta
Harpale Mann Jhale Unmana
The mind became free and got into a trance
Mi Tu Panachi Jhali Bolvana
And then the distinction of a separate God and person was driven out
Eka Janardani Shri Datta Dhyana
Now there is just Oneness between Datta and the composer of this Aarti (Eknath Maharaj)
Jai Dev Jai Dev
Praise God, Praise God
Jai Dev Jai Dev Jai Shri Gurudatta
Praise God, Praise God, Praise Guru Datta
Aarti Ovalita Harli Bhavachinta
We offer you a lamp, the worry of day-to-day life is taken away.
Jai Dev Jai Dev
Praise God, Praise God
© MyDattatreya 2021 All rights reserved
Designed by Tamara Lj.