Florida Shirdi Sai Temple

Shri Guru Charitra

Introduction

'Shri Guru Charitra' is the life of 'Shri Guru Dattatreya' (an incarnation of Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara). It was originally written in Ovi form(a Marathi Metre) in Marathi by Shri Saraswati Gangadhar, whose ancestor Sayamdeo had personally lived and served with devotion, Guru Narasimha Saraswati, an incarnation of Shri Dattatreya about 600 years ago. It was later translated into Samskrit by Shri Vasudevananda Saraswati (Tembye Swamy), who is regarded by many as an incarnation of Shri Dattatreya and who lived about a hundred years ago. It has been later translated into several other languages.

This volume is regarded as divine, capable of blessing one and all who read it with respect and is placed with images of Gods and adored in almost all devotees' houses of Maharashtra. It is much respected and is very popular like Vedas, Ramayan, Mahabharat, Bhagawat and other puranas in samskrit and Dnyaneshwari, Dasbodh, Eknathi Bhagwat etc. in Marathi. In the last century, it has spread its influence far and wide and legion are the experiences got by those devotees who read it regularly with respect.

Shri Dattatreya had taken birth at the Ashram of Atri and Anasuya in very very old times (Krita Yug) and it is believed that his two incarnations namely Shripada Shri Vallabha and Shri Narasimha Saraswati had taken place in the Deccan in about the 14th and 15th Century(A. D.) respectively. Shri Manikya Prabhu, Shri Akkalkot Maharaj, Shri Sai Baba of Shirdi and Shri Vasudevananda Saraswati are some of the great Saints who are considered as the Avatars (incarnations) or Amsas (taking a part of His powers) of Shri Dattatreya.

This is the historical period when the Bahamani Kingdom was split up into five different Kingships, one of which viz,'Bidar' is mentioned in this volume. "Shri Guru Charitra" depicts the life missions of these two incarnations.

The original volume contains 52 chapters and it is written in the form of conversation between Naamdharak and his spiritual Guru Shri Siddha Muni, who was a disciple of Shri Narasimha Saraswati. Several miraculous deeds are associated with these two Gurus - 5 such deeds are relating to Shripada Shri Vallabh (chapters 5 to 10) and 26 are relating to Shri Narasinha Saraswati, (chapters 11 to 51) besides many mythological (pouranik) tales have also been narrated in this volume by way of illustration. The main aim of the book is to extol the greatness of the Spiritual preceptor (Guru) and to dispel the ignorant notion that He is just another human.

According to researches made in connection with Shri Guru Charitra, by a Gurubhakta, Shri R. K. alias Annasaheb Kamat of Durga Datta Mandir, Mashail, Goa, ' Shri Guru Charitra' contains "Shri Guru Geeta" as its 49th chapter. It is composed of 176 Sanskrit slokas and 34 Marathi Ovis - 13 at the begining and 21 in the end. In some of the latter scripts it seems that this chapter of Shri Guru Geeta is deleted, probably it being in Sanskrit and the 41st chapter is split up into two chapters, keeping the number of chapters the same i. e. 52. The gist of Shri Guru Geeta is included in this volume. (Shri Guru Gita is a dialogue between Shri Siva and His Divine consort Shri Parvati and forms a part of Skanda Puran. It deals with the greatness of Guru and establishes that Guru is Brahma, Guru is Vishnu, Guru is Maheswara, why, it proclaims, Guru is identical with Para Brahma, Who is considered the Origin of all including the Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswara. Since Sri Dattatreya is also an incarnation of the three Deities, He is revered as the Adi Guru. Shri Dattatreya is an Avinash Avatar, i.e. He did not shed His body when His mission was completed like Sri Rama, Sri Krishna etc., but is continuing even today. His mission is to help all His devotees cross this Ocean of Worldly existence.)

The research scholars of Medical Sciences have a good opportunity of thinking over and analysing the means that have been used by Shri Guru for cure of acute gastric pain, leprosy, toxic irritations, revival to life, sterilty of females etc. Of course it is an admitted fact that the yogic and Divine power of Shri Guru is mainly responsible for these miracles to a great extent. Shri Sai Baba of Shirdi also performed similar 'miracles' to reinforce the faith of His devotees.

In order that the general public, males and females, should be acquainted with the contents of this great popular volume, a humble attempt was made by this author and "Subodh Shri Guru Charitra" in Marathi prose was published in November, 1952, on Datta Jayanti (Margashirsh Poornima). The author desires to bring about an edition in Hindi, the National language of Bharat and also an English edition of this book for the interested readers spread all over the world.

It is an experienced fact that the reading of such literature gives mental peace to those who are worried due to different miseries of this worldly life and also encourages and guides them to go ahead on the path of self-emancipation by making their lives sublime and full of highest bliss.

S. N. Huddar