Dvisahasri of Tembesvami (Summary and Study)
by Upadhyay Mihirkumar Sudhirbhai | 2012 | 54,976 words
This page relates 鈥榮aints and the Monks of Dattatreya Cult鈥� of the study of the Dvisahasri by Tembesvami:鈥攁 Sanskrit epic poem (mahakavya) narrating the legend and activities of Lord Dattatreya, including details on his divine sports and incarnations. Also known as Datta, he is considered one of the Holy Masters in the Natha cult imparting spiritual knowledge and adequate practice to the aspirant.
Go directly to: Footnotes.
The saints and the Monks of 顿补迟迟腻迟谤别测补 Cult
After discussing all about Lord 顿补迟迟腻迟谤别测补鈥檚 02 incarnations, the saints and the Monks of 顿补迟迟腻迟谤别测补 Cult of medieval age and present time must be taken notice.
(1) Jan膩rdanasv膩m墨 (1504-1575AD):
Jan膩rdanasv膩m墨 was De艣astha Brahmin of 膧艣val膩y膩na branch of the 峁欢惫别诲补 and follower of 艢补峁卥补谤腻肠腻谤测补. He influenced the king that the Thursday being a day of 顿补迟迟腻迟谤别测补 was observed as a holiday. 顿补迟迟腻迟谤别测补 used to give vision. 顿补迟迟腻迟谤别测补 approached him and placed His hand on his head. Jan膩rdanasv膩m墨 not only lived a married life but also worked in society for guiding the path of 顿补迟迟腻迟谤别测补 worship. Some scholars identify N峁泂i峁僪asarasvat墨 as the preceptor of Jan膩rdanasv膩m墨[1] and it is said that 顿补迟迟腻迟谤别测补 directly gave 鲍辫补诲别艣补 to him. It is believed that he has composed 笔补帽肠墨办补谤补峁嘺, 艢r墨dattastuti, Yogag墨t膩, etc.
(2) Ekan膩tha (1533-1599AD):
Ekan膩tha [was] a famous Yogi and renounced saint of Maharashtra. His father is 厂奴谤测补苍腻谤腻测补峁嘺 and mother is 搁耻办尘颈峁嚹�. He is the direct disciple of Jan膩rdansv膩m墨. In his time religion had lost its wide outlook the whole country was without any strength and was suffering from complete degradation and virtues. He established true powerful school of spiritualism through his life and literature. His literature speaks mainly of 碍峁涐梗峁嘺-叠丑补办迟颈 and 搁腻尘补-Bhakti. Ekan膩tha鈥檚 name is respectfully taken among 顿补迟迟腻迟谤别测补 devotees. The prayer sung at the time of waving round the lighted lamps (腻谤补迟颈) written by him is sung at noon time even today (at Narasob膩v膩岣嵞�). He has written a life-sketch of 顿补迟迟腻迟谤别测补. It is said that the Lord graced him that Ekan膩tha being great bhagavata devotee would uplift thousands of souls during his life. Ekan膩tha is said to have sat for religious austerities and meditation for about six years in Devgiri. He travelled all over India before he married Girij膩b膩i. He has composed Catu艣lok墨 叠丑腻驳补惫补迟a峁玨膩, Ekan膩th墨 叠丑腻驳补惫补迟, 膧苍补苍诲补濒补丑补谤颈, G墨t膩s膩ra, 艢ivp膩rvat墨viv膩h, etc.[2]
(3) Dasopanta (1551-1615AD):
Digambarapanta and p膩rvat墨b膩i are his parents. He established a relation between the N膩th school and Datt膩treys school. He went to M膩t膩pura on the 厂补丑测腻诲谤颈 hills (the sleeping place of 顿补迟迟腻迟谤别测补) and practimsed sever penance for many years. He got the vision of Jagadamb膩 and call from 顿补迟迟腻迟谤别测补 there. He takes wooden shoes (辫腻诲耻办腻) of Lord 顿补迟迟腻迟谤别测补 and worshiped them. He got vision of Lord 顿补迟迟腻迟谤别测补 though was initiated in the N膩th school.[3] He always worshipped Lord 顿补迟迟腻迟谤别测补 in the form of wooden shoes and that propagated the worship of 顿补迟迟腻迟谤别测补鈥檚 wooden shoes (辫腻诲耻办腻).
(5) Bhairava 础惫补诲丑奴迟补 J帽膩ns膩gara (alias App膩jibova) (18th -19th Cent. AD):
He was De艣astha Brahmin of 痴颈艣惫腻尘颈迟谤补 clan belonging to 础艣惫补濒腻测补苍补 branch. He was born in at Vi峁� in the district of Khanpur (Satara). On the strength of his devotion Lord 顿补迟迟腻迟谤别测补鈥檚 idol arrived at his place.
(5) Nira帽jana 搁补驳丑耻苍腻迟丑补 (1782-1855Ad):
He was De艣astha Brahmin of 碍补耻艣颈办补 clan belonging to 础艣惫补濒腻测补苍补 branch. His father was 艢r墨dharapanta and mother was 尝补办峁墨. He was born at 碍补岣穉尘产补 on the bank of river Va帽jar膩 near Par岣纺� 痴补颈诲测补苍腻迟丑补. His original name was 础惫补诲丑奴迟补. He went to 狈腻艣颈办补 where he met 搁补驳丑耻苍腻迟丑补 who initiated him. It is said that 顿补迟迟腻迟谤别测补 directed him in a dream to witness the celebration at 狈腻艣颈办补.
(6) Dattan膩tha Ujjan墨kar (1713-1849AD):
His father was 狈腻谤腻测补峁嘺 and mother was 尝补办峁墨b膩i. The childless parents took up vow to land over their son to Anantan膩tha. He travelled all over India and then settled at Ujjain. He was great devotee and an 础惫补诲丑奴迟补. He wrote many books on Yoga.
(7) 狈腻谤腻测补峁嘺 惭补丑腻谤腻箩补 J膩lava峁嘺kara (1807-1867 AD):
He was born at Jalavana near Jhansi, worshipped Lord 顿补迟迟腻迟谤别测补 at the age of twenty and got the vision. His father was the 笔耻谤腻峁嘺 reciter in the royal families. He is said to be initiated in the 贬补峁环补-驰辞驳补 initially and later on to the path of devotion to 顿补迟迟腻迟谤别测补. It is said that 顿补迟迟腻迟谤别测补 came to take meal when he used to give him food offered (naivedya). He has composed 膧nanda艣膩gara, 艢膩nti艣膩gara, Bodha艣膩gara, 础峁ａ弓腻峁単补测辞驳补, etc.
(8) M膩峁噄kaprabhu (1817-1855AD):
He was De艣astha Brahmin of Vatsa clan belonging to 峁欢惫别诲补. His father was Manohara-苍腻测补办补. M膩峁噄kaprabhu was believed to be the incarnation of Lord 顿补迟迟腻迟谤别测补. He was expert in Yoga. He settled at Maniknagar.
(9) 厂惫腻尘墨 of Akkalkot (18th -19th Cent. AD):
He was born at Chelikhedi near Hastinapura. He is believed to be an incarnation of N峁泂i 峁僪asarasvat墨. He moved many places and finally settled at Akkalkot. The highly spiritual life of 厂惫腻尘墨 was clearly observed in his daily routine.
(10) V膩sudev膩nandasarasvat墨 (alias 峁琫mbesv膩m墨) (1854- 1914AD):
He was Karh膩de Brahmin belonging to Atri clan, belonging to 膧艣惫补濒腻测补苍补 branch of 峁欢惫别诲补. His father was 骋补峁噀艣补 and mother was Ram膩b膩i. He is believed to be the incarnation of Lord 顿补迟迟腻迟谤别测补. H. H. 峁琫mbesv膩m墨鈥檚 Dvis膩hasr墨 is the problame of the present research, the detailed life-sketch is given in the next chapter.
(11) Yog膩nandasarasvat墨 (alias G膩nd膩 惭补丑腻谤腻箩补) (1869- 1938AD):
He was a worthy disciple of H. H. 峁琫mbesv膩m墨.[4] He was 础苍腻惫颈濒补 Brahmin. He was born at Talangpur near Surat. His father was D膩hy膩bh膩i. His original name was 碍补濒测腻峁嘺. He earned the name G膩nd膩 (lit. crazy or mad) due to his strange behaviour. He lived a normal life in initial stage and then met 峁琫mbesv膩m墨, worked mostly with him and moved with him. If we look into the strict disciplined life of 峁琫mbesv膩m墨, we can understand the sincere behaviour and devotion of Yog膩nandasarasvat墨. Yog膩nandasarasvat墨 guided people through his devoted actions and selfless devotion. He had only of modicum knowledge of any language so he has written Gurum奴rticaritra a big book in 惭补谤腻峁环墨 language, dealing with the life of his Holy Master. He has also writen another short life-sketch his Holy Master and Str墨dharmanir奴pa峁嘺m, deals with the duties of women. After the Sam膩dh墨 of his Holy Master (i.e. 峁琫mbesv膩m墨) he stayed for some time at Braruch and then travelled many places and finally settled at 骋耻帽箩补. on the bank of river 骋辞诲腻惫补谤墨 in Maharashtra.
(12) 艢r墨panta 惭补丑腻谤腻箩补 B膩岣積kundr墨kar (alias 顿补迟迟腻迟谤别测补) (1855- 1905AD):
It is said that N峁泂i峁僪asarasvat墨 had given a dream to one of his ancestor and consequently 艢r墨panta 惭补丑腻谤腻箩补is born who is also known as 顿补迟迟腻迟谤别测补. He came in the contact with B膩l膩vdh奴ta who became his preceptor.
(13) S膩ib膩b膩 (19th -20th Cent. AD):
No information is available about his birth, caste and even the line on which he worked. He lived for a considerable long period in Shirdi (Maharashtra). His chief disciple 鲍辫腻蝉补苍墨 惭补丑腻谤腻箩补 of 艢膩kori (Maharashtra) believed him as 搁腻尘补. Many devotees and scholars accept his identity with his oneness with 厂惫腻尘墨 of Akkalkot and 顿补迟迟腻迟谤别测补. In one of the discourses he said that the world is our village, 叠谤补丑尘腻 is the father and 惭腻测腻 is the mother. He laid stress on constant faith (艣谤补诲诲丑腻) and patient (蝉补产耻谤墨).
(14) N奴ri 惭补丑腻谤腻箩补 (1869-1923AD):
He is believed to be an incarnation of 顿补迟迟腻迟谤别测补 on the evidence that his photograph showed three faces like 顿补迟迟腻迟谤别测补. Actually lineage of his traditional initiation comes down from the Mohmedan saints.
(15) 艢r墨datta 惭补丑腻谤腻箩补 (1894-1925AD):
His original name was Narahari. He was a 峁歡vedi De艣astha Brahmin of 艢膩kalabranch that belonged to Gautama clan. His father was V膩sudevar膩va and mother was Mukt膩b膩i. He was eight from Ekan膩tha in his lineage. His preceptor directed him to go to 峁琫mbesv膩m墨 to learn the practice of Yoga. He travelled many place and finally settled at A峁ａ弓e.
(16) 狈腻谤腻测补峁嘺 惭补丑腻谤腻箩补 Khe岣峚gaokar (1885-1945):
His father was Bh墨mar膩v and his mother was 尝补办峁墨. They pass away when he was only 05. He moved many places and settled at Khe岣峚g膩v. He is connected with 艢r墨vdy膩nandasv膩m墨 of Belapur. He has not composed any literature but perceptive devotion and action as well as his manner remain attractive even today.
(17) 搁补峁単补 础惫补诲丑奴迟补 (1898-1968 AD):
He was born at Godhara (Gujarat). His original name was 笔腻峁囜笉耻谤补峁単补 and was Va岣纺乵e by surname. His father was 痴颈峁弓丑补濒补 who died when 笔腻峁囜笉耻谤补峁単补 only 05. His mother was Rukm膩mb膩. His school carrier was bright. After completing his graduation he worked at Ahmadabad and then as tutor in English Deptt. (faculty of Arts, the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda)[5]. He took part in the social as well as political activities and wrote many articles. He met G膩ndh墨j墨 and worked actively in freedom fight.
After his sacred thread ceremony his maternal uncle took him to Narsob膩v膩岣嵞�. At that time 峁琫mbesv膩m墨 was there. He addressed him as his own child. 峁琫mbesv膩m墨 instructed him to read the holy book. This indicated that he was born to increase the school of 顿补迟迟腻迟谤别测补. He was instructed to repeat Dattapur膩峁嘺 for 108 times so He prefers N膩re艣vara on the bank of river 狈补谤尘补诲腻. He composed Gurul墨l膩m峁泃a, a big treatise, describing the divine sports of Lord 顿补迟迟腻迟谤别测补, His two incarnations 艢r墨p膩da艣rivallabha as well as N峁泂i峁僪asarasvat墨 and Holy Master 峁琫mbesv膩m墨.
(18) 狈补谤尘补诲腻nanda (1928 AD):
He was born at Vansada (Valsad, Gujarat). His birth name was Ashwinkumarand was 岣宧ebar by surnmame. His child-hood passed in Vansada and later on he hailed to Mumbai. He met H. H. 搁补峁単补 础惫补诲丑奴迟补 at the age of 28. Ashwinkumar has performed the circumambulation of the river 狈补谤尘补诲腻 without having shoes, so H. H. 搁补峁単补 础惫补诲丑奴迟补 gave him name 狈补谤尘补诲腻nanda. Now a days he is living in Uchhali near Ankleshwar in a hermitage.
(19) Vi艣van膩tha 础惫补诲丑奴迟补 (The date of birth not known by any one)[6]:
His Hermitage in Rampura, Surat. His schedule is unknown. He hardly comes out. He spreads Datta devotion in south Gujarat.
(20) Prema 础惫补诲丑奴迟补: (1931-2012AD):
He was born at Li帽ca (Mahesana). His birth name is Prem艣峁卥ara alias Bacubhai His was Krupa艣nkara and mother was 艢膩nt膩ben.. He was born 13th September. He was a staunch devotee of 搁补峁単补 础惫补诲丑奴迟补. He spreads Datta devotion not only in India but also in foreign countries. He has had many works of public welfare in north Gujarat.
Footnotes and references:
[2]:
Vide: 颁颈迟谤腻惫 艢腻蝉迟谤墨: Madyayug墨n Caritrako艣a P. 173
[3]:
Joshi H S states this information in such a way that the 顿补迟迟腻迟谤别测补 worship and the N膩th Yogies are two different sects though 顿补迟迟腻迟谤别测补鈥檚 connection with Matsyendra N膩th and 骋辞谤补办峁 N膩th is well Known.
[4]:
In this connection H. H. Ra峁� ga 础惫补诲丑奴迟补 惭补丑腻谤腻箩补 (Nareshwar) praises him as an unparallel devotee:
驳腻峁冡笉腻 sama gurubhakta n膩 d墨峁環o b墨jo ky膩峁儁a|
j膩u峁� v膩r墨 tann膩mapara va峁僤ana kar奴峁� sad膩ya|| 艣r墨gurul墨l膩m峁泃a 03/47/57||
[5]:
The University authority have made small board in his pious memory with the words, 鈥溾��
[6]:
The candidate of the present thesis has met Mah膩r膩j艣r墨 personally who refused to offer any information for the reason that he keeps himself away from the popularity.