Sri Guru Charitra

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.