Works of H. H. Ṭembesvāmī

H. H. Ṭembesvāmī has composed many treatises on Datta cult. He has composed all to propagate the importance of the Knowledge, Action and Devotion. He has composed many books and translation works as well as Hymns (Stotras ). Most of the works are written during his Monsoon-stay. He has used His pen in both language viz. Sanskrit as well as Marāṭhi.

His Sanskrit books:

His Sanskrit works are as under:

(01) Dvisāhasrī:

This book is a problem of the present thesis. The book is written in1889 when He was householder in Maṇagāon. The work Dvisāhasrī , also famous by the name Śrīgurucaritam [Śrīgurucarita] incorporates the complete history of Lord Dattātreya and His two incarnations viz. Śrīpāda Śrīvallabha and Nṛsiṃha Sarasvatī. As the name indicates, it means a composition of 2000 verses but it contains 2207 (Śrīgurustuti =112 + 2008 of Dvisāhasrī + 87 of the two Rahasyas) verses in 23 chapters including 01 Śrīgurustutiḥ [Śrīgurustuti]and 02 Rahasyas (as the appendices).

It is said that His auto-commentary on this book was written after ten years chapters 01-09 along with the Śrīgurustutih  in 1899 AD at Prabhāsapāṭaṇa (Gujarat) and the rest 10-23 along with the 02 Rahasyas during His Monsoon-stay at Dvārikā. It is important to note that he writes the auto-commentary without having the text. The commentary of each chapter starts with the introductory stanza which explains the theme of the chapter. It is concise form of the Gurucaritam [Gurucarita] (Marāṭhī) of Sarasvatī Gaṅgādhara. It comprises of 6471 verses (called Ovi ) in 51 chapters. The work depicts all the matter of 6471 verses in just 2008 verses in 23 chapters.

It is said that Lord Dattātreya has ordered him to compose a work. He wrote it and then Dattātreya says him in His dream that the work will become famous by name Dvisāharī. Ṭembesvāmī could not understand what He wants to say, then he count the verses including the Uvāca . They are 2008.

(2) Dattapurāṇa [Dattapurāṇam]:

The Puraṇa comprises of 3500 verses in 08 Aṣṭka, each one contains 08 Chapters (means total 64 chapters). The matter of surprise is that Ṭembesvāmī gives the total number of the syllable at the end of the text. The section of Knowledge comprises of 02 (01-02) Aṣṭka (i.e. 16 chapters), The section of Devotion comprises of 04 (03-06) Aṣṭka (i.e. 32 chapters) and the section of Action comprises of 02 (07-08) Aṣṭka (i.e. 08 chapters).

The work Dattapurāṇam [Dattapurāṇa] is composed in 1892 AD during His Monsoon-stay at Brahmāvrta (Uttarapradeśa). He wrote auto-commentary on the work which gives the easy rendering of the difficult verses or a word. The commentary of each chapter starts with the introductory stanza which describes the whole of the plot of the chapter. Basically Dattapurāṇam, the Purāṇa of the Datta cult contains the narratives of the Divine sports of Lord Dattātreya. But it is nicely interwoven with the philosophies like Vedānta, Yoga, etc.

(3) Triśatigurucaritra (Triśati-gurucaritra):

This work is written in 1901 AD during Ṭembesvāmī’s Monsoon-stay at Mahatpura (Madhya Pradeśa). The poem contains 309 verses but it is divided in three Śatakakāvyas so it is called Triśati (the poem, containing 03 poems of hundred verses) The first one contains 100 verses, second 102 and third 107. They describe briefly the life and the lesson of Lord Dattātreya, and his two incarnations Viz. Śrīpāda Śrīvallabha and Nṛsi ṃhasarasvatī. The language of the poem is quite difficult.

(4) Samaślokī-gurucaritra:

This translation work is written in 1902 AD during Ṭembesvāmī’s Monsoon-stay in Brahmāvarta (Uttara Pradeśa) where He stays for long time after taking renunciation. This book is translation in Sanskrit of Gurucaritam [Gurucarita] (Marāṭhī) of Sarasvatī Gaṅgādhara. It comprises of 6471 verses (called Ovi ) in 51 chapters. Samaślokī Gurucaritra is also famous by the name Gurusaṃhitā because the original work Gurucaritam is respected as the Vedas by the devotees of the duttacult. He wrote it’s summery (i.e. Curṇikā) too in 1907 during His Monsoon-stay at Tuñjāvara (Tamil Nadu).

(5) Śrīdattacampu:

As its name indicates this poem is a mixed of prose and poetry. The work as is written during his Monsoon stay Narasī (Maharashtra) 1905AD. The book is divided in 03 chapters called Stambaka . The book comprises of 355 verses mixed with the prose text. The teaching of Lord Dattātreya to Alark, Nahuṣa, etc. is explained in the book.

(6) Kumāraśikṣā:

It is composed during the Monsoon stay at Hampi (Karnataka) in 1907AD. It comprises of 104 verses. It discusses the importance of the path of the Action.

(7) Yuvāśikṣā:

It is compose during his Monsoon stay at Muktyālā (Andhra Pradesha) in 1908 AD. It comprises of 101 verses. It describes the path of Devotion and the depth of the devotion.

(8) Vṛddhaśikṣā:

It is a composition of only 70 verses but it discusses very important topic of the form of the Lord Dattātreya according to the different Upaniṣads. It is composes during his Monsoon stay at Muktyālā (Andhra Pradesha) in 1908 AD.

His Marathi books:

(1) Laghuvāsudevamanansāra:

it is composed during the Monsoon stay at Brahmāvrta 1903AD.

(2) Dattlīlāmṛtābdhisāra:

it is divided in to 10 chapters. Each of the chapter contains 100 verses so the total number of the 1000verses. It is composed during His Monsoon stay at Petlad (Madhya Pradesh) in 1897AD.

(3) Striśkṣā:

It is composed during His stay at Muktyālā (Andhra Pradesh) in 1908.

(4) Māghamāhātmya:

It composed during the Monsoon stay at Cikhalada in 1900AD.

(5) Śrīdattamāhātmya:

It is a translated work. He translates His own text Dattpurāṇam during his Monsoon stay at Mahatpura in 1901AD.

H. H. Ṭembesvāmī has composed many eulogies hymns or prayer in honour of Lord Dattātreya listed alphabetically.

Śrīdattātreyastotraṇi

1. advaitamālāmantraḥ|
2. advaitaṃ dattātreyavarmastotram [dattātreyavarma-stotra]|
3. āyurājakṛtadattātreyastotraṃ campustham|
4. audumbara-pādukāstotram [pādukā-stotra]|
5. dakārādidattātreyāṣṭottaraśatanāmastotram [dakārādidattātreyāṣṭottaraśatanāma-stotra]|
6. dattastavastotram [dattastava-stotra]|
7. nakṣatramālikāstotram [nakṣatramālikā-stotra]|
8. narasiṃhavāṭīkāvarṇanam|
9. padyam|
10. padyam|(02)
11. padyam|(03)
12. bālāśiṣaḥ|
13. prārthanāstotram [prārthanā-stotra]|
14. śrīdattagurupañjakam [śrī-dattagurupañjaka]|
15. śrīdattaprārthanātārāvalī [śrī-dattaprārthanātārāvalī]|
16. śrīdattastotram [śrī-datta-stotra]|
17. śrīdattastotram | (02)
18. śrīdattātreyakavacam [śrī-dattātreyakavaca]|
19. śrīdattaprabodhastavaḥ [śrī-dattaprabodhastavaḥ]|
20. śrīdattātreyaprātaḥsmaraṇam [śrī-dattātreyaprātaḥsmaraṇa]|
21. śrīdattātreyaprārthanāstotram [śrī-dattātreyaprārthanā-stotra]|
22. śrīdattātreyaprārthanāstotram [śrī-dattātreyaprārthanā-stotra]|
23. śrīdattātreyaprārthanāstotram | (02)
24. śrīdattātreyamānasapūjā [śrī-dattātreyamānasapūjā]|
25. śrīdattātreyastotram [śrī-dattātreya-stotra]|
26. śrīdattātreyastotram |(02)
27. śrīdattātreyastotram |(03)
28. śrīdattātreyastotram |(04)
29. śrīdattātreyahṛdayam [śrī-dattātreyahṛdaya]|
30. śrīdattātreyāparādhakṣamāpānastotram [śrī-dattātreyāparādhakṣamāpāna-stotra]|
31. śrīdattātreyāṣṭottaraśatanāmastotram [śrī-dattātreyāṣṭottaraśatanāma-stotra]|
32. śrīdattātreyāṣṭottaraśatanāmastotram [śrī-dattātreyāṣṭottaraśatanāmastotra]| (02)
33. śrīnṛsiṃhavāḍī dattapādukāṣṭakam [śrī-nṛsiṃhavāḍī dattapādukāṣṭaka]|
34. śrīpādaśrīvallabhastotram [śrī-pādaśrīvallabha-stotra]|
35. śrīnṛsiṃhasarasvatīprārthanāṣṭakam [śrī-nṛsiṃhasarasvatīprārthanāṣṭaka]|
36. śrīnṛsiṃhasarasvatī [śrī-nṛsiṃhasarasvatī]|

H. H. Ṭembesvāmī has composed many eulogies hymns or prayer in honor of Lord Dattātreya. Following the tradition established by Ādi Śaṅkarācārya to compose his own eulogies and prayers in honour of the gods and goddesses, holy places and the holy rivers he visited during his journey to all over India. H. H. Ṭembesvāmī has also composed the eulogies and the prayers in honour of other gods, goddesses, holy rivers and holy places.

It is said that this tradition of composing prayers eulogies prayers rather devotional songs is continued by H. H. Ranga Avadhūta Mahārāja (Nareśvara) (though in Gujarati language) such devotional sons are published by Avadhuta Prakashan Trust, Nareshwar.

Śrīgaṇeśastotrāṇi:

37. gītipūrvakam śrīgaṇapatistotram [śrī-gaṇapati-stotra]|
38. śrīvināyakastotram [śrī-vināyaka-stotra]|
39. samantrakaṃ śrīgaṇapatistotram [śrī-gaṇapati-stotra]|
40. śrīgaṇapatistotram [śrī-gaṇapati-stotra]|

Pañjāyatanamāhātmyāni:

41. gaṇeśasya|
42. viṣṇoḥ|
43. śakteḥ|
44. śaṅkarasya|
45. sūryasya|

Śrīśaṅkarastotrāṇi:

46. amareśvarastotram [amareśvara-stotra]|
47. anādikalpeśvarastotram [anādikalpeśvara-stotra]|
48. dvyarthirāmeśvarastotram [dvyarthirāmeśvara-stotra]|
49. prārthanāstotram [prārthanā-stotra]|
50. mṛtyuñjayamantragarbhitastotrama|
51. viśveśvarādistutiḥ [viśveśvarādi-stuti]|
52. śaṅkarastotram [śaṅkara-stotra]|
53. śaṅkarāparādhastotram [śaṅkarāparādha-stotra]|
54. śrīkāśīviśveśvarastotram [śrī-kāśīviśveśvara-stotra]|
55. śrīnāganāthastotram [śrī-nāganātha-stotra]|
56. śrīśaṅkarastotram [śrī-śaṅkara-stotra]|
57. sadāśivenadrastotram [sadāśivenadra-stotra]|
58. śavaraprasādavarṇanam|

Viṣṇustotrāṇi:

59. gadyapadyātmakaṃ rāmakṛṣṇacaritam|
60. daśāvatārastotrapadyam|
61. daśāvatārastotram [daśāvatāra-stotra]|
62. padyātmakaśrīrāmastotram [padyātmakaśrīrāma-stotra]|
63. paraśurāmastotram [paraśurāma-stotra]|
64. lakṣmīnārāyaṇastotram [lakṣmīnārāyaṇa-stotra]|
65. śrīkeśavarājāṣṭakam [śrī-keśavarājāṣṭaka]|
66. śrīnṛsiṃhastotram [śrī-nṛsiṃha-stotra]|
67. śrīnṛsiṃhastotram |(02)
68. śrīnṛsiṃhāṣṭakam [śrī-nṛsiṃhāṣṭaka]|
69. śrīmuralīdharagopālāṣṭakam [śrī-muralīdharagopālāṣṭaka]|
70. śrīrāmastotram [śrī-rāma-stotra]|
71. śrīvyaṅkaṭeśastotram [śrī-vyaṅkaṭeśa-stotra]|
72. śrāveṅkaṭeśastotram [śrāveṅkaṭeśa-stotra]|

Devīstotrāṇi:

73. anasūyāstotram [anasūyā-stotra]|
74. tulajāpuravāsinīstotram [tulajāpuravāsinī-stotra]|
75. reṇukāstotram [reṇukā-stotra]|
76. śryannapūrṇāstotram [śrī-annapūrṇā--stotra]|
77. śrīdevīstotram [śrī-devī-stotra]|

Śrīsarasvatīstotrāṇi:

78. sarasvatīstotram [sarasvatī-stotra]|
79. sarasvatīstotram [sarasvatī-stotra]|
80. śrīsarasvatīstotram [śrī-sarasvatī-stotra]|

Nadīstotrāṇi:

81. karatoyānadīstotram [karatoyānadī-stotra]|
82. kṛṣṇāpañjagaṅgāsaṅgamastotram [kṛṣṇāpañjagaṅgāsaṅgama-stotra]|
83. gaṅgāstotram [gaṅgā-stotra]|
84. godāvarīstotram [godāvarī-stotra]|
85. ghaṭaprabhāstutiḥ [ghaṭaprabhā-stuti]|
86. candrabhāgāstutitrikam|
87. jñānatīrthastotraṣaṭpadī|
88. tāpīstotram [tāpī-stotra]|
89. tunaṅgabhadrāstutiḥ [tunaṅgabhadrā-stuti]|
90. payoṣṇītrikam|
91. bahudānadīstutiḥ [bahudānadī-stuti]|
92. mantragarbhanarmadāstotram|
93. malāpahāstutiḥ [malāpahā-stuti]|
94. yamunāstotram [yamunā-stotra]|
95. viśvāmitristutiḥ|
96. vedagaṅgāstutiḥ [vedagaṅgā-stuti]|
97. hiraṇyakeśīstutiḥ [hiraṇyakeśī-stuti]|
98. śrīkṛṣṇāpañjakastotram [śrī-kṛṣṇāpañjaka-stotra]|
99. śrīkṛṣṇāveṇīpañjagaṅgāstotram [śrī-kṛṣṇāveṇīpañjagaṅgā-stotra]|
100. śrīkṛṣṇāṣṭakam [śrī-kṛṣṇāṣṭaka]|
101. śrīkṣaprātrikam [śrī-kṣaprātrika]|
102. śrīgodāvarīstotram [śrī-godāvarī-stotra]|
103. śrīturaṅgāṣṭakam [śrī-turaṅgāṣṭaka]|
104. śrīveṇyāstotram [śrī-veṇyā-stotra]|
105. śrīvetravatīstotram [śrī-vetravatī-stotra]|
106. sarasvatīnadīstotram [sarasvatīnadī-stotra]|

Tīrthastotrāṇi:

107. aruṇācalastutiḥ [aruṇācala-stuti]|
108. kālahastīstutiḥ [kālahastī-stuti]|
109. kāverīstutiḥ [kāverī-stuti]|
110. cidambarastutiḥ [cidambara-stuti]|
111. dhanyavāḍikākṣetramāhātmya|
112. nṛsiṃhavāṭikāsthaśuklādyaṣṭatīrthastotram [nṛsiṃhavāṭikāsthaśuklādyaṣṭatīrtha-stotra]|
113. pakṣitīrthastutiḥ [pakṣitīrtha-stuti]|
114. pinākinīstutiḥ [pinākinī-stuti]|
115. bhārgavībhārgavakṣetrastutiḥ [bhārgavībhārgavakṣetra-stuti]|
116. varadānadītīrasthamadhukeśvarastutiḥ|
117. śivaviṣṇukāñjīstutiḥ [śivaviṣṇukāñjī-stuti]|
118. śrīkṛṣṇālaharī [śrī-kṛṣṇālaharī]|
119. śrīnarmadālaharī [śrī-narmadālaharī]|
120. sadgurutīrthastotrām|
121. saptapurīstotram [saptapurī-stotra]|

Vedāntastotrāṇi:

122. brahmasūtram [brahmasūtra]|
123. mānasapūjā|
124. vedāntaparatriveṇī|
125. vedāntaparabhāgavatam [vedāntaparabhāgavata]|
126. ṣaṭpañjāśikā|
127. vedāntapararāmāyaṇam|

The above given list exhibits the fact that the modern Sanskrit literature of 19^th - 20^th centauries enjoyed the unparalleled erudition of H.H. Ṭembesvāmī (1854 to 1914 A.D.). Who in his life-span of just sixty years contributed considerably a lot. His constant travelling and religious practices alongwith spiritual progress did not create any hurdle in his literary activities. Therefore world of Sanskrit students and scholars will always remember him with the words, “Salutations to your holy feet, O, Ṭembesvāmī Vasudevananda Sarasvati.”