1. Shri Dattatreya - One who provides frequencies of Divine consciousness!

The principle that makes available to an embo-died soul both gross and subtle (i.e. manifest and unmanifest) frequencies of higher or lower Gods and Deities in a shorter time is called Datta or Shri Dattatreya). The very meaning of Datta is the 'One who provides frequencies of Divine consciousness'. - A Scholar (Through the medium of Ms. Anjali Gadgil, 2.54 pm on 7.6.2005)

2. Other Names of Shri Dattatreya

2.1 Avadhut

The One who controls the eight faculties in the body of an embodied soul and shows it the path to the unmanifest dimension through the manifest dimension. Avadhut is a medium that connects both the manifest form of Shri Datta and His unmanifest form. He is a manifest form (the gross manifestation) of the three principles - Brahma, Vishnu and Shiv. He is also related to the unmanifest dimension (manifestation of these three principles in the form of light). 'Avadhut' comes alive with the radiance of Shri Dattatreya.

2.2 Digambar

Is the principle which gives company to an embodied soul till it gets Final Liberation in the radiance of the sky, i.e. beyond all the directions.

2.3 Shripad

'Shri' is the never-ending principle of God. The principle that takes an embodied soul to that principle of God or to the Holy Feet of 'Shri' principle is the Datta principle in Shripad.

2.4 Vallabh

The Datta principle in the form of Vallabh protects the Universe from the circular-shaped distressing frequencies that create a fear psychosis, and thus protects the embodied souls. - A Scholar (Through the medium of Ms. Anjali Gadgil, 2.54 pm on 7.6.2005)

3. Function of Shri Dattatreya

Shri Dattatreya bestows His grace on man by giving speed to the journey of his ancestors to the next region and reducing his distress from ancestors. God gives man a chance to get liberated from the debt of ancestors through the ritual that gives speed to ancestors onward journey and through chanting the Name of Dattatreya.
One cannot get rid of the ancestors' debt merely by remembering them off and on, displaying their photos in the house or publishing their photos in newspapers on their death anniversaries. It is only by chanting the Name of Dattatreya that the ancestors get speed to go on their onward journey in true sense. From this we can realise that it is imperative to worship the Deity to get liberated from the ancestors' debt. This also reduces the debt of God on us. - A Devotee of Datta (Through the medium of Ms. Madhura Bhosale, 2.36 pm on 11.5.2005)

4. Worship of Shri Datta (who has one head)

Till the Satya Yuga, the spiritual level of all embodied souls was high and they acquired knowledge on the strength of their own spiritual practice. They possessed the state of 'Soham' (I am He). So Shri Dattatreya was required for the functions of dissolution and imparting knowledge to a very limited extent. Only the Vishnu principle in Him was active that time. As a symbol of this, the idol of Datta had only one head. Thereafter, during the Treta Yuga, the spiritual level of the embodied souls started to come down and they found it difficult to protect themselves and acquire knowledge on their own. To impart more knowledge to them through the subtle dimension, Shri Dattatreya had to bring out the dormant Brahma and Shiv principle in Him. To symbolise this, the three-headed idol of Dattatreya became prevalent.

4.1 The Japamala (rosary) in Shri Datta's hand represents perennial spiritual practice

Brahma of the three-headed Datta has a rosary in His hand. Datta's chanting goes on continuously, without a break. Perennial spiritual practice is the quality of Lord Shiv too. This feature of 'perennial spiritual practice' of both the Deities is found in Shri Dattatreya. Perennial spiritual practice in the present Era means functioning either in a saviour or a destroyer form, as is required.' - A Devotee of Datta (Through the medium of Ms. Madhura Bhosale, 12 noon on 11.5.2005)

4.2 Kamandalu (water-pot with a specific shape carried by ascetics)

Contains water which has the potential to absorb the unmanifest waves emanating from the Lord and to draw a protective sheath in a moment around the three celestial regions for protecting them from the distress of negative energies in the Universe.' - A Scholar (Through the medium of Ms. Anjali Gadgil, at 11.39 am on 8.5.2005)

5. Benefit of chanting Shri Dattatreya's Name

A. The ancestors get speed in their journey to the next region and this makes the atmosphere in the house pleasant.
B. An embodied soul gets energy from Lord Shiv also.
- Lord Ganesh (Through the medium of Bharat Miraje, 8.30 pm on 2.11.2005)