Original text
त्रिगुणात्मक त्रैमूर्ती दत्त हा जाणा । त्रिगुणी अवतार त्रैलोक्य राणा । नेती नेती शब्द न ये अनुमाना ॥ सुरवर मुनिजन योगी समाधी न ये ध्याना ॥ जय देव जय देव जय श्री गुरुदत्ता । आरती ओवाळिता हरली भवचिंता ॥ सबाह्य अभ्यंतरी तू एक दत्त । अभाग्यासी कैची कळेल हि मात ॥ पराही परतली तेथे कैचा हेत । जन्ममरणाचाही पुरलासे अंत ॥ दत्त येऊनिया ऊभा ठाकला । भावे साष्टांगेसी प्रणिपात केला ॥ प्रसन्न होऊनि आशीर्वाद दिधला । जन्ममरणाचा फेरा चुकवीला ॥ दत्त दत्त ऐसें लागले ध्यान । हरपले मन झाले उन्मन ॥ मी तू पणाची झाली बोळवण । एका जनार्दनी श्रीदत्तध्यान ॥
Transliteration
Trigunatmak Traimurti Datta Ha Jana Triguni Avatar Trailokya Rana Neti Neti Shabda Na Ye Anumana Suravar Munijan Yogi Samadhi Na Ye Dhyana Jai Dev Jai Dev Jai Shri Gurudatta Arati Ovalita Harali Bhavachinta Sabahya Abhyantari Tu Ek Datta Abhagyasi Kaichi Kalel Hi Mat Parahi Paratali Tethe Kaicha Het Janmamaranachahi Puralase Ant Datta Yeuniya Ubha Thakala Bhave Sashtangesi Pranipat Kela Prasanna Houni Ashirvad Didhala Janmamaranacha Phera Chukavila Datta Datta Aisen Lagale Dhyan Harapale Man Jhale Unman Mi Tu Panachi Jhali Bolavan Eka Janardani Shridattadhyan
Dattatreya and Eknath's aarti
Dattatreya, son of the sage Atri and Anasuya, is Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva in a single form, usually shown with three heads and six arms, accompanied by a cow and four dogs. He is above all the Adi Guru, the first teacher, and is especially loved in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Gujarat. This aarti, in Marathi, was composed by the sixteenth-century saint Eknath of Paithan, whose own guru Janardan Swami was a Datta devotee; Eknath signs it "Eka Janardani", Eka of Janardan.
What the aarti says
- The three in one: "know that Datta is the threefold Trimurti, the incarnation of the three gunas, king of the three worlds". Even "neti neti" ("not this, not this") cannot reach him by inference, and the best of gods, sages and yogis cannot hold him in meditation.
- The refrain: jai dev jai dev jai Shri Gurudatta, aarti ovalita harli bhavachinta, "victory to Gurudatta; as I wave the aarti, the anxiety of worldly life is gone".
- Within and without: "inside and outside, you alone are Datta; how could the unfortunate understand this?" Even Para, the highest speech, turned back from him, and the round of birth and death came to an end.
- Datta comes: Datta came and stood before me; I bowed fully with devotion; pleased, he blessed me and ended the cycle of birth and death.
- Dissolving: "Datta, Datta" became my meditation; the mind was lost and became unman, beyond mind; the sense of "I" and "you" was sent away, says Eka Janardani, in meditation on Shri Datta.
When to sing it
- In the daily evening aarti in Marathi homes, often after Sukhkarta Dukhharta.
- On Datta Jayanti, Margashirsha Purnima, and on Thursdays, Datta's day.
- At Datta temples such as Ganagapur, Narsobawadi and Audumbar, and with the Gurucharitra parayan.
Frequently asked questions
Who wrote the Datta aarti "Trigunatmak Traimurti"?
Sant Eknath of Paithan; the last line, "Eka Janardani", is his signature, naming his guru Janardan Swami.
When is Datta Jayanti?
On Margashirsha Purnima, usually in December.
What does "aarti ovalita harli bhavachinta" mean?
"While waving the aarti, the worry of worldly existence was taken away." Ovalne is Marathi for waving the lamp in circles.
Why is Dattatreya called Trimurti?
He is the combined form of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, born to Atri and Anasuya as a boon.
Can non-Marathi speakers sing it?
Yes. The transliteration above follows the Marathi pronunciation; the meaning section explains each stanza.
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