Siddha Yogi again referred the curse of Durvasa Rishi on Lord Vishnu. Due to this curse, Lord Vishnu had to take quite many incarnations on earth. Each of the incarnations subdued evil, re-established Dharma, destroyed the wicked people and helped and protected the good.
Like the incarnations of Vishnu in the earlier Yugas, in the Kali Yuga, Lord Dattatreya too had to take many incarnations to promote righteousness, to dispel spiritual ignorance which had overtaken the world due to the influence of Kali, and to light the lamp of wisdom among people. Lord Dattatreya was born as Sripada Sri Vallabha. The Siddha Yogi narrated about his Avatar to Namdharak as under:
There is a place called as Peethapuram* on the eastern coast of southern India. There lived a pious Brahmin couple in this place; the husband's name was Appalaraju and the wife's name was Sumata. Managing the household, Sumata was devotedly assisting her husband in the religious rituals. She was very hospitable and used to serve guests with great veneration.
One one Amavasya (new moon day), there was a Shraddha ceremony (i.e., death anniversary of one of the family ancestors) in the house. All the food preparations were ready, but the priests still had to take the sacramental food. At this juncture, a mendicant (Sanyasi) came near the back door and asked for food. How to offer food to this strange guest before the priests were fed, was a dilemma for Sumata. On Shraddha days to feed someone before the priests ( who symbolize and represent the departed souls, the pitru devatas) are fed is prohibited; If anyone else is fed, it is supposed to detract from and nullify the merit and purpose of the Shraddha ceremony. In her dilemma, Sumata looked with embarrassment at the face of the Sanyasi. She instantaneously felt 'the guest', was no ordinary being.
"Has God Himself come to test me?" she felt. She forgot everything as to what was right and what was wrong, and rushed to serve him food. Lo! "the mendicant" was Guru Dattatreya Himself. Dattatreya was extremely pleased with Sumata for her goodness of heart, and said, "Mother! I am very pleased with you. Ask for whatever boon you may wish". At this, Sumata was overjoyed. In that ecstasy, she spoke out, "Maharaj!. Let the word 'Mother' (Amma), you addressed me become true and real (i.e., may you be born to me). That is all what I beseech you". The Lord said, "so be it!" and instantly disappeared.
In course of time, Sumata became a mother and
Sripada Sri Vallabha, the incarnation of Lord Dattatreya, was born to her as her son. In truth, it was not a birth in normal sense. It was the manifestation of Lord as a child in her House. How blessed is the Mother that bore the Lord as her child! The child was named "Sripada", as advised by the priests of he place, as the child's feet bore all auspicious and holy marks and signs like the conch, chakra, etc.
Sripada's thread ceremony (Upanayama Samskara) was performed at the age of seven. Just as the initiation ceremony commenced , Sripada shone like Jnanan-Bhaskara (Sun of Wisdom), and started reciting Vedic Mantras with great mastery. All the pundits and scholars were dazed at Sripada's self-manifest knowledge and wisdom, and bowed down to him.
When Sripada attained marriageable age, one alliance came. When the parents told him about it, Sripada smilingly said, "renunciation (Vairagya) alone is my companion in life and every single woman in the world is none other than my mother". As he said that "the Vairagya Stree" (Yoga Stree) would be would be his life's companion he came to be known as 'Sri Vallabha' (Sripada Sri Vallabha). Sripada further said that "My mission is to go out in the world, to give initiation to and guide the sadhus." Saying thus, he sought permission from his parents to take to Sanyasa and leave the home. But it was too much for the parents to give their consent. How could they forgo such a son? The situation was all the more poignant because, among the other two children they had, one was dumb and deaf and the other was blind, and both were invalids and mentally retarded. If Sripada Sri Vallabha forsook them, who would look after them in their old age? What would be the plight of the family? That was the anxiety and anguish of the parents.
Sripada understood their worry and anxiety. He called his brothers near him, cast a divine and benevolent glance at them with overflowing love, and what a wonder! Instantly their physical and mental disabilities disappeared. They became perfectly normal and also gained instantaneous knowledge of all the Vedas and scriptures. All were overwhelmed with joy. Sripada then blessed all of them saying that they would have a healthy and prosperous life. He enjoined on his brothers to serve the parents with love and devotion and assured them all, liberation in that birth itself.
Sripada Sri Vallabha then decided to set out on his mission. He bade good-bye to his parents. To his mother he said. "Mother, don't be sorry that I am leaving you now. I have got a divine mission to fulfill. I have to redeem the world from ignorance it is steeped in. I have taken this birth as your son only to redeem humanity. I have to instill into all people faith in God and reveal to them the Divine Glory". He consoled all his relatives with his kindly advise and loving words and went out of sight in a trice. Using his yogic power, he traveled with the speed of mind, and reached the holy Varanasi (Kashi) instantly. There he remained incognito. He then went to Badarikasaram on a pilgrimage, worshipped the deity there and then went to South. He arrived at Gokaran-Mahabaleswar*. Gokaran is a hallowed place; it is the seat of Mahabaleswara Siva Linga. Sripada Sri Vallabha stayed there for three years and by his stay made it even far more holy.
*This place is in Karnataka state.
Thus ends the Fifth Chapter of Sri Guru Charitra describing "the Reincarnation of Lord Dattatreya as Sripada Sri Vallabha."
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