Today is Datta Jayanti
Mahurgud Dattatreya Temple, also known as the Mahur Datta Mandir, is one of the most famous and oldest Dattatreya temples of Nanded District in Maharashtra. The temple is situated on a hill, and it is believed that Mahur was the birthplace of Guru Dattatreya. It is one of the most important pilgrimage sites for devotees of Lord Dattatreya.
Datta Bhagavan is known as Chiranjeevi or the immortal form. He is believed to exist in a subtle or smallest form (Sookshma Roopa) in all his sacred places (Kshetras). Mahur is considered one of the places where Datta Guru comes to rest. According to belief, Datta Prabhu takes his daily bath (Nitya Snan) in Meruwada Talao at Mahur, has Bhiksha (offered meal) at Kolhapur, eats food (Bhojan) at Panchleswar, and then returns to Mahur to sleep. The Devadeveswar Temple in Mahur is said to be Lord Dattatreya’s resting place.
Lord Dattatreya was born as the son of Sage Atri and Anusuya, a virtuous couple from the Vedic age. Anusuya, renowned for her devotion to her husband, embodied chastity and purity. Her spiritual power was so immense that even hard ground would turn soft beneath her feet.
One day, the three Gods – Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva – decided to test her virtue and approached her in disguise as mendicants. They requested alms but with the strange condition that she serve them food without wearing any clothes. In Indian tradition, a guest (Athithi) is considered divine and cannot be turned away. Faced with this dilemma, Anusuya reflected on her pure life and saw no harm in their request. She viewed them as her own children, not as strangers.
Her purity transformed the mendicants into three infants. When Sage Atri returned, he found his wife caring for the babies. Anusuya explained that they were a divine gift to the childless couple. Sage Atri named them Datta, meaning “gift.”
The three Gods then revealed their true forms, praising Anusuya’s chastity and purity. At the couple’s request, they agreed to remain as their sons and merged into one form, giving rise to Lord Dattatreya, who is revered as Gurudeva Datta, the Guru of all Gurus.
Datta Jayanti is celebrated with great devotion and enthusiasm at the temple. Thousands of devotees gather to participate in special rituals and prayers during this occasion.
