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.) 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 Narasimha
Saraswati, (chapters 11 to 51) besides many mythological (Puranik) 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. 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 beginning 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 Skandha Puran. It deals with the greatness of Guru and establishes that Guru
is Brahma, Guru is Vishnu, Guru is Maheshwara, why, it proclaims, Guru is identical with Para
Brahma, Who is considered the Origin of all including the Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and
Maheshwara. Since Sri Dattatreya is also an incarnation of the three Deities, He is revered as the
Aadi 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, sterility 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, this author made a humble attempt and "Subodh Shri Guru Charitra" in
Marathi prose was published in November 1952, on Datta Jayanti (Margashir Poornima). 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.
