The story of Lord Dattātreya’s birth

The Mārkaṇḍeya Purāṇa Ch. 16 narrates the story of Lord Dattātreya’s birth: Brahmin called Kauśika has lost all control over senses. But he has a chaste wife named Śāṇḍilī. Though his character is bad she considers him to be her Lord. Kauśika is attached to a harlot and spends most of his time with her. One day Kauśika becomes penniless so the harlot stops him from coming to her place. He returns home with broken heart. Śāṇḍilī welcomes him affectionately.

She observes that her husband is suffering from diseases and hence cannot move. One day Kauśika requests his wife to take him to the harlot. Obedient Śāṇḍilī collects her ornaments, places them on one of her shoulders, Kauśika on the other, takes him who has her shoulder’s support and starts for the harlot’s house. It is the time of the dark night and Śāṇḍilī walks cautiously in the darkness. On the way she meets with the another problem that sage Māṇḍavya (also called Aṇimāṇḍavya) on piked pillar (śūlī) as a punishment of theft in the palace by some thieves, though the sage suffers the pain on the piked pillar without any offence is still alive because of his yogic power. Due to dense darkness Kauśika’s stretched leg pushes the sage who feels utter pain and consequently curses, “he who has given me pain will die before sunrise.”^[1] On hearing this Śāṇḍilī is disturbed, yet sends an effective appeal to the Sun, not to rise.^[2]

The Sun has to obey the wish of Śāṇḍilī, the chaste wife. The activities in the world are stopped. The gods are bereft of their share (i.e. oblation) of the sacrifices. The entire cycle of rain, grain and daily routine stands still and the disorder prevails.

The gods approach to Lord Viṣṇu who instructs them to propitiate Anasūyā, the chaste woman because only she can re-establish the position that is lost due to Śāṇḍilī’s strong appeal. The gods led by Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Maheśa go to Anasūyā and requests her to convince Śāṇḍilī. Anasūyā accompanies them. After meeting and discussing with Śāṇḍilī, Anasūyā convinces her to withdraw her statement of stopping the Sunrise because the whole world is in trouble. Anasūyā assures her for regaining Kauśika’s life. The withdrawal of the permits the Sun to rise and Kauśika dies. Anasūyā revives him by her power of chastity. The gods are greatful for Anasūyā’s deed, are pleased and offer her a boon.

Anasūyā prays them that the principal gods Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Maheśa may be born as her son.^[3] The gods grant the boon and retire. As time passes Anasūyā begets the three sons Soma (the partial incarnation of Brahmā), Datta (the partial incarnation of Viṣṇu) and Durvāsā (the partial incarnation of Maheśa).

After some time Soma goes to heaven, Durvāsā starts wandering in the world and Dattātreya desiring Liberation, renounces the world. Moreover the account states further that Dattātreya dives in the lake for a quite long period where there are the youth who do not leave the place. Dattātreya tries to test the youth but they became his staunch followers.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

sūryadaye'vaśaḥ prāṇairvayokṣyati na saṃśayaḥ || [Mārkaṇḍeya-purāṇa] 16/30||

[2]:

tasya bhāryā tataḥ śrutvā taṃ śāpamatidāruṇam|
provāca vyathitā sūryo naivodayamupeṣyati|| [Mārkaṇḍeya-purāṇa] 16/31-32||

[3]:

Some what about Anasūyā getting Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Maheśa as her sons is described in other texts.