Bhagwan Dattatreya- datta (given to), atreya (sage Atri) is the Hindu deity who is the supreme personification of the ancient Hindu idea of Trideva (three gods)- Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva around whom revolves the germination, functioning, and dissolution of the universe. Also known as Datta and Datta Guru (teacher) in the western and south-western regions of India, he is considered the son of Brahmarishi Atri and his wife Sati Anusuya, a couple who with their Tapasya (asceticism) and Bhakti (devotion) transformed the primordial Tridevas into a heavenly child. Revered as the provider of all knowledge- revealed and esoteric, and an ultimate Yogi (one who has mastered “Yoga” or union with the Brahama Gyana or supreme knowledge) Guru Dattatreya is represented in this life-size Panchaloha bronze in his deific Trimukha (tri-three, Mukha- face), Shadabhuja (Shada-six, bhuja-arm) form, the most potent visualization of Om (the primordial sound which represents the Trideva) in a sculpture.
The iconography of this bronze Bhagwan Dattatreya statue follows the stories of his arrival in the hermitage of sage Atri. Rishi Atri was born from the mind (Mana) of Lord Brahma and had as his wife the daughter of Prajapati and Devahuti, Anasuya, with whom he was asked by Brahma himself to carry on the task of creation by following Grihastha dharma (duty of a householder). Accompanied by the virtues of his wife, sage Atri’s capabilities knew no bounds and the power of his Tapas (penance) reached a stage where it pleased the Tridevas who descended to his hermitage with their retinue. The celestial aura of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva was as if lightning had struck sage Atri. Overwhelmed by what he experienced, he opened his eyes, offered adulations to the great gods, and received the boon of having the Trideva as his son. As soon as the Trinity went back to their heavenly abode, a transcendental being appeared in front of Atri and Anasuya. This divine being is Bhagwan Dattatreya, whose unmatched brilliance is recreated by the makers of this gigantic Panchaloha.
The son of Atri, Dattatreya had three faces and six hands. Each of the faces as seen in this Guru Dattatreya icon represents one member of the Trinity. All three heads have high-raising Jatamukuta (crown made out of Jata or hair strands) with the locks intricately delineated with flowing incised lines and held together with ornate hair ornament with a Makara motif on it. From the crescent moon that adorns the head in the center and the miniature figure of anthropomorphic Maa Ganga sprouting from his hair, we can infer that it belongs to Shiva and the other two are Brahma and Vishnu. With impeccable detailing, the artist of this bronze Dattatreya icon has rendered the incomprehensible loveliness of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva in the facial features of the great Yogi. A U-shaped Tilak between the shapely eyebrows beautifies it, almond eyes draw our attention to them, and a sharp nose and lips with a hint of inward smile animate the three divine visages of Guru Dattatreya. Furthering the description of Bhagwan Dattatreya as the supree yogi, the Sthapati has offered the Lord with tasteful ornaments fashioned out of Rudrakasha beads that form four layered necklace, armlets and earrings. The serpent with its hood raised from Sri Dattatreya’s left shoulder tastefully framing his torso swiftly calls the eye to observe the balance of sturdiness and gracefulness discernible in his physique. The patterned dhoti (lower body garment) worn by Guru Dattatreya is described as a Pitambara (yellow cloth), which appears to be naturally clinging to his legs to reveal his robust legs with identical curves on both legs and a single wavy flow in the middle to suggest delicate folds of the fabric.
In his three arms, Sri Dattatreya holds the damru (drum), Kamandalu (water pot), and Shankha (conch), while his other three hands are positioned variously in gestures of carrying a Chakra (discus), Gada (mace) and Trishula (trident). All these attributes belong to the Tridevas and their presence in the iconography of Bhagwan Dattatreya underlines his emergence as a culmination of their divine powers. The cow, realistically sculpted and adorned with bells and ornaments is none other than the mother Earth or Prithvi, who is a source of nourishment and motherly affection and finds refuge in the feet of the Tridevas with the assurance of her peaceful maintenance. Bhagwan Dattatreya in this ethereal form as the sanctuary of Devi Prithvi and master of the Vedas is an iconic fusing of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, who are inseparable and indistinguishable to the mind which has achieved absolute wisdom-Brahma Gyan. A potli (cloth bag) used by Hindu ascetics hangs from the left shoulder of Guru Dattatreya. Endowed with the otherworldly brilliance of Tridevas, Bhagwan Dattatreya is the foremost yogi, in whose feet lie the wisdom of the universe and the path to self-realization.
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