Lord Brahma stimulated the intellect of his mind-born son Atri and of His shadow-born son Kardama Prajapati. This stimulation culminated in the marriage of Atri and Anasuya (daughter of Kardama Prajapati) which led to the birth of Adi Guru Datta, the embodiment of the Trinity. The story of Datta is the proof that the Guru principle transcends the three attributes of Nature.
I often ask devotees to read Datta’s story 7 times or 40 times. The tradition of Datta is aligned with all traditions and does not conflict with any tradition. We also understand that Datta, the embodiment of Trinity, is the fundamental principle for Guru-principle. That is why people of all paths, knowingly or unknowingly contemplate upon the Trinity Datta Sadguru through the hymn- Gurur Brahma Gurur Vishnu…
One more doubt that could crop up in the mind of some listeners- ‘Initiation into Guru- principle should be taken at the time of retirement, is it not? Why should an ordinary person who is in the prime of youth worry about it? Isn’t it true that by listening to such preaching, the youth could run the risk of taking renunciation at an early age?’
This approach is wrong. Why did we begin all this discussion in the first place? We discussed that every living being has crores of desires that he seeks to be fulfilled. These desires have been accumulating over births. Having forgotten the past desires, we seek newer ones. The ever-compassionate Guru does not forget your desires even if they have been erased from your memory. He ensures that they are fulfilled. It is for the fulfillment of these desires that we take on innumerable births.
The story of Kartaviryarjuna explicitly explains how Datta Sadguru fulfills both the worldly and spiritual desires of his devotees in totality. Can there be a better story than this to highlight this fact? Can anyone seek more desires than what Kartaviryarjuna sought? His story is detailed in Datta’s story- (the Datta Darshana book published by Ashram).
What is the difference between other forms of worship and Guru worship? Other forms of worship grant whatever you seek and then stop with that. Unlike it, when Guru is worshipped, He grants far more than the devotee has desired and more importantly, without the knowledge of the devotee causes a spiritual transformation in his/her intellect! This spiritual transformation gradually paves the way to liberation.
That is why even though Kartaviryarjuna initially approached Datta with an intention of securing his kingdom, he gradually moved up step by step and reached the state wherein he merged with the Almighty.