| Temples & Legends Of
Maharastra |
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| Temples & Legends Of
India |
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GANAGAPUR -DATTATREYA |
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| The description
of these sthanas cannot be brought to a close without reference to a peculiar circumstance
regarding all the three places. All are famous as spots where redemption from the troubles
of evil spirits like ghosts, witches and other varieties like brahmarakshasas is obtained.
The victim is to be taken to the shrine and made to attend the worships and more
especially the prayer or aratis. Due to the influence of the god, the spirits gradually
become uneasy and ultimately leave their captive alone. At the time of the prayers
one often sees in the shrine victims dancing, constantly bending backwards and
forwards, and the entire atmosphere is filled with their wailings and shrieks. Although
most of the deities are objects of Sakama bhakti none except Dattatreya is as prominent in
the field of evil spirits and black magic. There is no kind of logical or historical
explanation of how the Dattatreya cult came to be associated with this business. In the
legends and myths concerning Dattatreya there is nothing to connect him so closely with
the so called power over the evil spirits. The only significant factors are some two or
three incidents in the lives of Shripad Shrivallabha and Shri Nrisimha Sarasvati, when
they redeemed bedevilled persons from the grasps of brahmarakshasas and pishachas.
Whatever it might be, the fact remains that all these centres of the Datta cult today are
more well known for their miraculous supernatural powers rather than as centres of
philosophical leanings or yoga. There is little doubt the latter would have been more
befitting Shri Dattatreya’s role as Guru-the preacher of dharma. |
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