Dattatreya Jayanti

festivals

Also known as: Duttatreya Jayanti

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2026 Festival Date & Muhurta

Dattatreya Jayanti

Wednesday, December 23, 2026

Lunar Month: Margashirsha

Tithi / Muhurta Timings

Tithi Begins:10:48 AM, Dec 23

Tithi Ends:06:58 AM, Dec 24

About Dattatreya Jayanti

Dattatreya Jayanti celebrates the birth of Lord Dattatreya, the supreme sage who embodies the combined essence of the Hindu Trinity—Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. It falls on the full moon day (Purnima) of the Margashirsha month and is celebrated with great fervour in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Gujarat.

Born to the sage Atri and his devoted wife Anusuya, Dattatreya is depicted with three heads and six hands, symbolising the unity of creation, preservation, and dissolution. He is revered as the Adi Guru (first teacher) and is the author of the Avadhuta Gita, a profound text on non-duality.

Lord Dattatreya is said to have twenty-four gurus, including the earth, air, sky, water, fire, the moon, the sun, and even a bee—teaching that wisdom can be drawn from all of creation. His Jayanti is therefore a day of deep reflection, scriptural study, and the practice of detachment.

Vrat Vidhi & Fasting Rules

Devotees observe a fast, worship Lord Dattatreya, and read sacred texts to honour the birth of the Adi Guru.

Step-by-Step Fasting Procedures:

Rise early, bathe, and wear clean clothes; set up an altar with an image or paduka of Lord Dattatreya.
Apply sacred ash (bhasma) and vermilion; offer flowers, bilva leaves, incense, and a ghee lamp.
Chant the Dattatreya Mantra, Datta Bavani, or the Avadhuta Gita throughout the day.
Observe a fast from grains and pulses; take fruits, milk, and simple satvik food if necessary.
Feed Brahmins or devotees and donate clothes, food, and sesame seeds to the needy.
In the evening, perform aarti and listen to the Dattatreya Jayanti Katha.

Vrat Katha: The Birth of Lord Dattatreya

Sage Atri and his wife Anusuya were renowned for their perfect chastity and devotion. The wives of the Trimurti—Saraswati, Lakshmi, and Parvati—wished to test Anusuya's virtue and sent their husbands to her ashram disguised as guests.

The guests asked Anusuya to serve them food on the condition that she appear before them naked. Bound by the code of hospitality and protected by her purity, Anusuya sprinkled water from her palm and transformed the three guests into infants.

When the goddesses discovered what had happened, they begged Anusuya to restore their husbands. She agreed, but her motherly love and the boons of her virtue caused the three infants to merge into a single divine child with three heads and six hands—Lord Dattatreya, the combined form of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Why is Dattatreya Jayanti observed on Margashirsha Purnima?

It is believed that Lord Dattatreya was born on this full moon, making it the most auspicious day for his worship.

Q: What is the significance of Dattatreya's twenty-four gurus?

They represent the idea that the entire creation can teach spiritual wisdom to one who observes with humility and insight.

Panchanga on This Day

Dattatreya Jayanti · Dec 23, 2026

New Delhi, IndiaFull Dainik Panchang →

Festivals in the Same Lunar Month

Margashirsha

Nov30Kalabhairav JayantiMargashirsha Dec13Vivah PanchamiMargashirsha Dec13Naga PanchamiMargashirsha Dec14Champa ShashthiMargashirsha Dec14Skanda ShashthiMargashirsha Dec15Mitra SaptamiMargashirsha

Note: All timings are represented in 24-hour notation in local time of the selected location with DST adjustment (if applicable).

Hours which are past midnight are suffixed with next day date. In Panchang, a day starts and ends with local sunrise.

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About Dattatreya Jayanti

Vrat Vidhi & Fasting Rules

Devotees observe a fast, worship Lord Dattatreya, and read sacred texts to honour the birth of the Adi Guru.

Step-by-Step Fasting Procedures:

Rise early, bathe, and wear clean clothes; set up an altar with an image or paduka of Lord Dattatreya.
Apply sacred ash (bhasma) and vermilion; offer flowers, bilva leaves, incense, and a ghee lamp.
Chant the Dattatreya Mantra, Datta Bavani, or the Avadhuta Gita throughout the day.
Observe a fast from grains and pulses; take fruits, milk, and simple satvik food if necessary.
Feed Brahmins or devotees and donate clothes, food, and sesame seeds to the needy.
In the evening, perform aarti and listen to the Dattatreya Jayanti Katha.

Vrat Katha: The Birth of Lord Dattatreya

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Why is Dattatreya Jayanti observed on Margashirsha Purnima?

It is believed that Lord Dattatreya was born on this full moon, making it the most auspicious day for his worship.

Q: What is the significance of Dattatreya's twenty-four gurus?

They represent the idea that the entire creation can teach spiritual wisdom to one who observes with humility and insight.