Lord Dattatreya Lives on Earth in Human Form

Lord Dattatreya is the only deity who roams the Earth every single day in a human body. He is the Supreme Master of the Nath Tradition, and all Nath-related spiritual work happens exactly according to His direction.

Even today, Lord Dattatreya personally oversees the Nath lineage. He selects new Gurus, tests chosen disciples, and then instructs their spiritual Guru to pass the sacred responsibility to them. Thus, the very purpose for which the Nath tradition was created continues unchanged.

The divine work that the Nine Nathas performed long ago is carried out even today in the same tradition, same spirit, and same discipline.

When Lord Dattatreya wishes, He comes directly to the Nath Gurus — in whatever form He chooses — and guides them. No one can easily recognize Him. Their meetings do not occur through ordinary spoken words. Instead, they communicate instantly through the eyes or subtle gestures. What may take us hours to speak, they exchange in a fraction of a second.

However, when speaking with ordinary people, Dattatreya appears completely normal and hides His identity. If someone begins to recognize Him, He deliberately creates confusion and prevents them from coming close.

Bhāḍali Rishi described a mystical formula for recognizing the direction in which Lord Dattatreya appears on specific days:

*“Alaa vaar poores deejey savvya Chhodun apasavya keejey Jikade Guruvaar Tikade Dattatreya Darshan.”*

In short:

- To take darshan on Monday, stand facing the East. - Place your sacred thread (*janeu*) in the *apasavya* position (left-side orientation). - When East is taken as Monday, the South becomes Thursday. - Therefore, on Monday, Lord Dattatreya resides in the South.

This means that true seekers may attain His darshan through inner vision in that direction.

During the annual celebration at Devgaon, about 150–200 devotees had gathered. At noon, a faqir arrived and asked, “Bankatnath Maharaj hai kya?” People told him, “Yes, Maharaj is upstairs.”

Without speaking another word, he walked directly up the stairs and entered Maharaj’s room. The moment he entered, the door closed behind him. He remained inside for quite some time.

When the door finally opened, everyone watched him curiously.

A devotee named Kunawar from Hinganghat approached him. Sensing that the devotee suspected his divine identity, the faqir immediately changed his form, saying:

“You have mistaken me. I am not who you think. I am the one who committed the recent robbery in Hinganghat.”

His appearance changed so convincingly that Kunawar became frightened and stepped back.

Venkateshnath Maharaj then told a disciple:

“Take this towel and accompany him to the river. When he finishes bathing, give him the towel.”

The disciple, confused and unsure, followed the faqir to the river. The faqir bathed, came out, and the disciple handed him the towel.

The faqir then performed an astonishing act — He passed the towel through one eye and out the other, revealing a fierce divine form. Seeing this, the disciple panicked and ran back.

He narrated everything to Maharaj.

Maharaj calmly replied:

“Could an ordinary man do such a thing? You should have stayed there and bowed to him. It was none other than the Lord Himself.”

The faqir was Lord Dattatreya in human form.

He had come to speak privately with Venkateshnath Maharaj. They closed the door, conversed in subtle divine language, and then He went to the river. After the disciple fled, no one saw where He disappeared.

Thus, Lord Dattatreya continues to take human form and walk the Earth. Only by true Guru’s grace can one receive His direct darshan.