Guru-Charitra is a supremely sacred and grace-filled scripture whose divine experience can be felt by anyone, at any time. The entire text revolves around the Guru in whose memory it was composed. What is narrated in this scripture was spoken by the Guru Himself — that is, by Lord Dattatreya, the combined form of Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesh. The Guru-Charitra contains countless stories, teachings, and profound principles. Its method of imparting knowledge is unique. It reveals the purpose of human life, the meaning behind the events that unfold in our lives, and the ultimate goal of the soul. Its composition dates back approximately five thousand years.
Five thousand years ago, Lord Dattatreya incarnated on Earth in a human form. The purpose of this incarnation was clear: to strengthen devotion in the hearts of seekers and to help humanity navigate the adverse effects of Kali-yuga. Imagine Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesh — the very Lords who uphold creation — appearing among ordinary people in a human form, hiding divine power beneath a simple exterior. Only after the conclusion of their earthly mission does the world realise who they truly were. Human nature often fails to recognise the extraordinary when it stands before us in an ordinary form.
Who saw Lord Dattatreya five thousand years ago? Who witnessed the events narrated in the Guru-Charitra? Who received this sacred knowledge, and who conveyed it? Is such an event possible today? If a Guru of that stature were to incarnate now, would we be able to recognise Him? A seeker naturally faces these questions.
All I can say is this: The same kind of Sadguru described in the Guru-Charitra — one who guides humanity and uplifts lives through His mere presence — I myself have seen. For nearly forty years, I lived under His companionship. I experienced Him in countless ways. This Sadguru lived in a simple human body, in an ordinary family, in an ordinary village. He carried out intense spiritual and Nath-panth work for fifty-six years. Through His actions He demonstrated mastery over the five elements — earth, water, fire, air, and ether. He showed effortlessly how one’s *prarabdha* and *sanchita* karma can be transformed. Though impossible for the ordinary mind, I and many others witnessed this directly.
Guru-Charitra is a scripture of history. Traditionally, realised saints are honoured as Siddha-Purushas and addressed as “Anantakoti Brahmandanayak” after they attain samadhi. Consider a modern example: Shri Gajanan Maharaj of Shegaon. During His lifetime many mocked Him as a “madman.” Today lakhs visit His temple. How many recognised Him when He walked among them? Recognition of a living saint and the privilege of receiving His grace comes only through one’s pūrva-sañchita karma.
Many wonder: Guru-Charitra belongs to the past; Lord Dattatreya has already incarnated. How will such an event happen again? The truth is that the Gurutattva — the eternal Guru-principle embodied by Brahma-Vishnu-Mahesh in the form of Lord Dattatreya — is unbroken, timeless, and eternally active. He is the spiritual preceptor not only of the gods but of all beings on Earth. His mission of guiding humanity continues ceaselessly.
*Guru-Charitra is a continuously flowing divine stream; one must taste this current for oneself.*
Just as Namadharak from the Guru-Charitra was drawn to the Guru, so too was Narendra Choudhari — later known as Narendranath Maharaj — drawn to his Sadguru. And under that divine gaze, a mere stone was transformed into a deity.
How the Guru-Charitra written five thousand years ago and the living Guru-Charitra of the twentieth century are one and the same was beautifully explained by Shri Narendranath Maharaj in a powerful series of articles published in 2022 under the title “Padi Lagata Dhanya Houni Gelo” (Blessed the Moment I Reached His Feet). That entire series is now organised section-wise under Spiritual-Journey (अध्यात्मिक-वाटचाल).
Responses to this series may be read here: Readers’ Comments – Part 1 Readers’ Comments – Part 2