Happy Dattatreya Jayanti! 

Contributed by Andra Baylus, Regional Director of the Meher Baba Spiritual Community

The important Hindu festival of Dattatreya Jayanti is celebrated on the Full Moon Night (Purnamasi) of the Margashirsha (Agrahayana) month. It is also known as Datta Jayanti. In 2024, it fell on December 14th.

Shri Datta Jayanti was the day Lord Dattatreya was born across the country.

As per the Hindu scriptures, Lord Dattatreya symbolizes the fusion of the three Gods of the Hindu male trinity (Trimurti)…. namely Brahma (the creator), Vishnu (the nurturer) and Mahesh (Lord Shiva, the destroyer).

” Dattatreya also signifies nature – our inner nature and nature around us. Dattareya is here to remind us who we are, where we came from and where we will return.

Three heads symbolically represent three aspects of existence – birth, life, and death; Waking state, dream state, and deep sleep state; Body, mind, and spirit; etc.

Various weapons in the hands signify the will to destroy various aspects of ignorance such as greed, lust, ownership, possessiveness, anger, hatred, jealousy, insecurities, lust, ego, pride etc.

The cow signifies purity, while the dogs represent the four Vedas (ancient scriptures) or guarding and protection of the ultimate truth.

By connecting to Dattatreya we connect to nature. When we are one with nature, we are healthy, balanced, and effective. Everything is part of nature. Everything has come from nature, and everything will dissolve back into nature.”

Wishing our Hindu brothers and sisters a blessed Dattatreya Jayanthi.

This blog post is the expressed opinion of its writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Tysons Interfaith or its members.