The Shri Guru Charitra is a book based on the life of Shri Nrusimha Saraswati (a.k.a. Narasimha Saraswati), written by the 15th-16th century poet Shri Saraswati Gangadhar.
The book is based on the life of Shri Narshimha Saraswati, his philosophy and related stories. The language used is the 14-15th century Marathi. The book is written as a conversation between Siddha (who is a disciple of Shri Narasimha Saraswati) and Naamdharak who is listening to Siddha.
Guru Charitra is divided into 3 parts: Dnyan kaand (Knowledge), Karma kaand (Work) and Bhakti Kaand (Devotion). It has 53 Chapters in which, the 53rd chapter is also called as ′Gurucharitra Avatarnika′ which is the summary of the book.
The book is assumed to be written in a village in Karnataka known as Kadaganchi. The writer was Saraswati Gangadhar who was a poet and an extreme vanshaj of Sayamdev Sakhare one of the disciples from four favorite disciples of Shri Narasimha Saraswati.
Concept and narration Shri Guru Charitra begins with the story of a character called Naamdharak, who is a personification of a common man, buried with mundane burdens. Naamdharak is troubled with the worldly pains and sets out in search of a Guru for some spiritual guidance. During his journey, he first sees a yogi in his dream. He is wonderstruck to see the same yogi in real when he wakes up. The yogi introduces himself as Siddha, a disciple of Sree Nrusiha saraswati. This is the point where Naamdharak asks Siddha to narrate him the holy Guru Chartira.
At the start of each chapter, Siddha and Naamdharak converse on a question, a thought or on an incident from the past chapter. This is how the chapters progress into either a story or an incident-miracle or biographical anecdotes from the life of a holy Datta incarnation.
Structure Shri Guru Charitra contains 53 chapters in total.
1 to 24 chapters are considered as ‘Gyana Kaand’ 25 to 37 chapters are considered as ‘Karma Kaand’ 38 to 53 chapters are considered as ‘Bhakti Kaand’
Chapter 4 celebrates the birth of Lord Dattatreya. From this chapter on the biography of Datta avatars start.
Chapter 5 to 10 has accounts of Sreepaad Sreevallabh, the first incarnation of Lord Dattatreya. These chapters describe Birth, travels and miracles performed by Sreepaad Sreevallabh. However, Sree Guru Charitra presents a brief account of Sreepaad Sreevallabh. A more comprehensive biography of Sreepaad Sreevallabh is presented in another 17th century text named ‘Sreepaad Sreevallabh Charitra Amrut’
From Chapter 11, Sree Nrusimha saraswati's life is described. Nrusimha Saraswati is born in Karanja in Washim district of Vidarbha in Maharashtra and at a very young, he adopted Sanyasi life style, travelling to holy places across India. At Kashi Nrusimha Saraswti accepted Krishna Saraswati as his guru and hence came to be known as Nrusimha Saraswati.
Since chapter 13, Guru Charitra chronicles the life journey of Sree Nrusimha Saraswati. He performed countless miracles, taught the righteous path of dharma and karma. Chapter 23 describes an important event – establishment of Mutt at Ganagapur .
In chapters 25, 26,27 the essence of Vedas is encapsulated very accurately.
Chapter 31, 32 and 36 elaborate about code of conduct of a Woman, Widow and a Brahmin respectively.
Stories connected to Rudraksh, Bhasma (holy ash), Ashvatt tree, Karma, sins and atonement Pryashchitta are also explained by Sree Guru himself.
Chapter 51 narrates the account of Sree Guru Nrusimha Saraswati ending his avatar.
Chapter 53 is a summary of all the chapters, known as ‘Guru Charitra Avatarnika’
Chronology The chronology introduced in the Shri Guru Charitra of Shri Guru Narasimha Saraswati is as follows:
The main events of Sri Narasimha Saraswati's life are given below. Possible years and dates are given according to descriptions of the lunar and stellar events calendar mentioned in the Shri GuruCharitra. Sha. 1300 (1378 CE): Birth Sha. 1307 (1385 CE): Upanayan Sha. 1308 (1386 CE): Left home Sha. 1310 (1388 CE): Took Sanyas Sha. 1338 (1416 CE): Arrived back home at Lad-Karanja Sha. 1340 (1418 CE): Travelled along the banks of the river Gautami Sha. 1342 (1420 CE): Stayed at Parali-Vaijanath Sha. 1343 (1421 CE): Stayed at Audumbar (near Bhilawadi) Sha. 1344-1356 (1422-1434 CE): Stayed at Narsobawadi (Narsobachi Wadi, Narasimhapur) Sha. 1357-1380 (1435-1458 CE): Stayed at Ganagapur (Gandharvapur) Sha. 1380 (14 January 1459 CE): Nijanandagaman at Shrishailasm Mountain The extreme 24 characteristics of Shri Gurumurti Narsahimha saraswati swami maharaj.
#GuruObservationDattatreya's learning1.EarthSteadfastly productive, does its dharma, gets abused, heals and is steady in giving nourishment.forebearance, remain undisturbed even if oppressed, keep healing even if others injure you2.WindPasses through everything and everyone, unchanged, unattached, like Truth; sometimes becomes a gale, disturbs and changes the world, like Truth.be free like the wind, yet resolute true to your own force3.Skythe highest has no boundaries, no limits, is unaffected even if clouds and thunderstorms come and gothe highest within oneself, the Atman (self, soul) has no limits, it is undifferentiated nondual no matter what, let the clouds of materiality pass, be one with your soul and the Universal Self4.Waterserves all without pride, discrimination; is transparent to everyone; purifies and gives life to everyone it touchesa saint discriminates against no one and is never arrogant, lets other give him impurity, yet he always remains pure and cleanses5.Firepurifies and reforms everything it comes in contact with, its energy shapes thingsthe heat of knowledge reforms everything it comes in contact with, to shape oneself one needs the energy of learning6.Moonwaxes and wanes but its oneness doesn't changebirth, death, rebirth and the cycle of existence does not change the oneness of soul, like moon it is a continuous eternal reality7.Sunsource of light and gives its gift to all creatures as a sense of duty; in rain puddles it reflects and seems like distinct in each puddle, yet it is the same one Sunthe soul may appear different in different bodies, yet everyone is connected and the soul is same in all; like Sun, one must share one's gifts as a sense of duty8.Pigeonsthey suffer losses in the hands of violent hunters, warn against obsessive attachments to anyone or to material things in this worlddo not be obsessive, don't focus on transient things such as damage or personal loss, human life is a rare privilege to learn, discover one's soul and reach moksha9.Pythoneats whatever comes its way, makes the most from what it consumesbe content with what you have, make the most from life's gifts10.Bumblebeeactive, works hard to build and create its reserve by directly visiting the flowers, but is selective and uses discretion, harmonious with flowers and never kills or over consumesbe active, go directly to the sources of knowledge, seek wisdom from all sources but choose the nectar, be gentle, live harmoniously and leave others or other ideologies alone when you must11.Beekeeperprofits from honeybeesdon't crave for material pleasures or in piling up treasures, neither the body nor material wealth ever lasts12.Hawkpicks up a large chunk of food, but other birds harass him, when it drops its food other birds leave him alonetake what you need, not more13.Oceanlucid at the surface, but deep and undisturbed within; receives numerous rivers yet remains the samelet rivers of sensory input not bother who you are deep inside, know your depths, seek self-knowledge, be unperturbed by life, equipoise14.Mothis deceived by its senses, it runs to the fire in misunderstanding which kills itquestion your senses, question what others are telling you, question what you see, know senses can deceive, seek reason15.Elephantis deceived by his lust, runs after the smell of a possible mate, and falls into a pit made by mahout's then fettered and useddon't lust after something or someone, don't fall into traps of others or of sensory gratification16.Deeris deceived by his fear, by hunters who beat drums and scare him into a waiting netfear not the noise, and do not succumb to pressure others design for you17.Fishis deceived by bait and so lured to its deathgreed not the crumbs someone places before you, there are plenty of healthy opportunities everywhere18.Courtesanexchanges transient pleasure with body, but feels dejected with meaningless life, ultimately moves onmany prostitute their time, self-respect and principles for various reasons but feel dejected with their career and circumstances, seek meaning and spirituality in life, move on to doing things you love to do19.Childlives a life of innocent blissbe a child, curious, innocent, blissful20.Maidenshe is poor yet tries her best to feed her family and guest, as she cooks she avoids attracting attention to her kitchen and poverty, by breaking all her bangles except one on each wristdon't seek attention, a yogi accomplishes and shares more through solitude21.Snakelives in whatever hole that comes his way, willingly leaves bad skin and moltsa yogi can live in any place, must be ready to molt old ideas and body for rebirth of his spirit22.Arrowsmiththe best one was so lost in his work that he failed to notice the king's procession that passed his wayconcentrate on what you love to do, intense concentration is the way to self-realization23.Spiderbuilds a beautiful web, destroys and abandons the web, then restarts againdon't get entangled by your own web, be ready to abandon it, go with yourAtman24.Caterpillarstarts out closed in a tiny nest but ultimately becomes a wasplong journeys start small, a disciple starts out as insignificant but ultimately becomes a spiritual master
Datta Sampradayas With time, many learned saints and seers have formed different traditions based on Datta Bhakti. These Traditions or Sampradayas are commonly known as Datta Sampradayas.
Nath Sampradaya The Nath yogis, that metamorphosed into a warrior ascetic group, consider Dattatreya as their theological founder. This group grew and became particularly prominent during the Islamic invasions and Hindu-Muslim wars in South Asia, from about the 14th to 18th century, although the Dattatreya roots of the peaceful Nath yogis go back to about the 10th century. The group was most active in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Nepal. The tradition believes that the legendary Nath sampradaya yogi and Hatha Yoga innovator Gorakshanath was inspired and shaped by Dattatreya. Regional efforts and texts of the Nath tradition such as Yogi sampradaya vishkriti discussed Dattatreya.
Avadhuta Sampradaya The nine Narayanas of the Avadhuta sampradaya are attributed to Dattatreya, an idea also found in the Natha sampradaya. A panth started by Pantmaharaj Balekundrikar of Balekundri near Belgavi is related to this.
Dasanami sampradaya and Shakti pithas Dattatreya is revered in Dasanami and goddess-oriented Shaktism traditions.
Bhakti traditions Dattatetreya's theology emphasizing simple life, kindness to all, questioning the status quo, self pursuit of knowledge and seeking spiritual meaning of life appealed to Bhakti sant-poets of Hinduism such as Tukaram and Eknath, during an era of political and social upheaval caused by Islamic invasion in the Deccan region of India. They reverentially mentioned Dattatreya in their poems. The use of his symbolism was one of the many syncretic themes of this period where the ideas of Vaishnavism and Shaivism holistically fused in popular imagination.
Mahanubhava Sampradaya