Dvisahasri of Tembesvami (Summary and Study)

by Upadhyay Mihirkumar Sudhirbhai | 2012 | 54,976 words

This page relates ‘Works of Dattatreya’ of the study of the Dvisahasri by Tembesvami:—a 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.

Works of Dattātreya

The literary works indicates the narration in the Purāṇa texts on Dattātreya are in considerably good in number. But there are only 03 texts ascribe to Dattātreya.

(1) Avadhūtagītā:[1]

It contains 200 verses in 08 chapters (adhyāya). The 01st chapter discusses that the detachment produced through the grace of the Lord, instructs to the soul esp. to the mind and the state of Avadhūta in 76 verses. 02nd chapter talks about the greatness of the Holy Master (guru) and characteristics of the Consciousness in 40 verses. 03rd chapter contains salutations to Lord Śiva of the form of the Earth. 04th chapter discusses about the path of Liberation-wishers in 25 verses. 05th chapter discusses the great utterance ‘Thou Art That’ (‘tattvamasi’) in 32 verses. 06th chapter presenting the concept of Liberation puts forth different queries about the necessity of the objects as well as the standard of comparison, sacrifices as well as austerities understanding the Reality beyond the reach of the mind and speech, the difference between the individual as well as the Cosmic Intelligent, etc. in 27 verses. 07th chapter elaborates the state of Avadhūta in 15 verses. 08th chapter furnishes the definition each letters of the word Avadhūta.

The printed edition seems not to follow the norms of editing because the concluding statement reads svāmikārtikasaṃvāde in chapters 04-08, but no such reference either in 1st chapter or in the text of the rest of the chapters.

(2) Dattātreya Tantra:[2]

It comprises of 285 verses including prose text in 24 folds (paṭala). It discusses various ritual of the black magic (tantra) such as killing (māraṇa), mesmerism (mohana), stupefying (stambhana) and so on. It is dialogue form between Dattātreya and Lord Śiva. Most of the chapters ends with the black magic formulas.

(3) Jīvanmuktagītā:[3]

It[4] comprises of 24 verses only discussing the characteristics of the Liberated one.

Over and above this composition, Dattātreya’s teaching to the direct disciples is well known in Purāṇa texts of medieval as well as modern literature. His famous disciples are Yadu, Alarka, Paraṣurāma and Sahasrārjuna.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Shasrti G. M., Sastu Sahitya, Ahmedabad 1947.

[2]:

Edi.: Ācārya Pt. Śivadtta Mishra. Varaṇasī, 1985.

[3]:

Edi.: Dhere R. C. Nilakantha Prakashana, Puna 1936.

[4]:

Forms the part of appendix of the book Datta Sampradāyā ce itihāsa.

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