Bavanna Shloki Shri Gurucharitra: 52-Verse Datta Parayana
Bavanna Shloki Shri Gurucharitra (बावन श्लोकी श्री गुरुचरित्र) - Opening Verses
ॐ नमोजी विघ्नहरा ।
गजानना गिरिजाकुमरा ।
जयजयाजी लंबोदरा ।
शकदंता शूर्पकर्णा ॥ १ ॥
त्रिमूर्तिराजा गुरु तूंचि माझा ।
कृष्णातिरी वास करुनी ओजा ।
सद्भक्त तेथे करिती आनंदा ।
त्या देव स्वर्गी बघती विनोदा ॥ २ ॥
जयजयाजी सिद्धमुनी ।
तूं तारक भवार्णवांतुनी ।
संदेह होता माझे मनी ।
आजि तुवां कुडें केले ॥ ३ ॥
ऐशी शिष्याची विनंती ।
ऐकुनि सिद्ध काय बोलती ।
साधु साधु तुझी भक्ति ।
प्रीती पावो श्रीगुरुचरणी ॥ ४ ॥
भक्तजनरक्षणार्थ ।
अवतरला श्रीगुरुनाथ ।
सागरपुत्रांकारणें भगीरथें ।
गंगा आणिली भूमंडळी ॥ ५ ॥
तीर्थे असली अपार परी ।
समस्त सांडुनि प्रीति करी ।
कैसा पावला श्रीदत्ताची ।
श्रीपादश्रीवल्लभ ॥ ६ ॥
ज्यावरी असे श्रीगुरुची प्रीति ।
तीर्थमहिमा ऐकावया चित्ती ।
वांच्छा होतसे त्या ज्ञानज्योती ।
कृपामूर्ति यतिराया ॥ ७ ॥
गोकर्णक्षेत्री श्रीपादयती ।
राहिले तीन वर्षे गुप्ती ।
तेथूनी गुरु गीरीपुरा येती ।
लोकानुग्रहाकारणें ॥ ८ ॥
श्रीपाद कुरवपुरी असतां ।
पुढें वर्तली कैसी कथा ।
विस्तारुनी सांग आतां ।
कृपामूर्ति दातारा ॥ ९ ॥
सिद्ध म्हणे नामधारकासी ।
श्रीगुरु महिमा काय पुससी ।
अनंतरुपे परियेसी ।
विश्र्वव्यापक परमात्मा ॥ १० ॥
(The full work comprises 52 verses (bavanna shloki). The verified opening ten verses are reproduced here as an excerpt; the remaining verses continue the dialogue between Sage Siddha and the disciple Namadharaka, narrating the leelas of Sri Dattatreya and Sripada Srivallabha.)
Transliteration (Roman)
oṁ namojī vighnaharā, gajānanā girijākumarā, jayajayājī laṁbodarā, śakadaṁtā śūrpakarṇā ॥1॥
trimūrtirājā guru tūṁci mājhā, kṛṣṇātirī vāsa karunī ojā … ॥2॥
(The verses are in Marathi ovi metre, invoking Ganesha, then Sri Guru Dattatreya, and the sage's dialogue with the disciple.)
Meaning
The poem opens with salutations to Ganesha, the remover of obstacles. It then hails Sri Guru as the king of the three deities (Trimurti) who dwells on the bank of the Krishna river, where devotees rejoice and the gods themselves look on with delight. The disciple Namadharaka prays to Sage Siddha - "you are the ferryman across the ocean of worldly existence" - and the sage, pleased with his devotion, begins to narrate the glory of Sri Guru Dattatreya, who incarnated as Sripada Srivallabha and later as Sri Narasimha Saraswati to uplift the world.
About this Stotra
The Bavanna Shloki Gurucharitra is a 52-verse Marathi devotional distillation of the celebrated Shri Gurucharitra, the foundational scripture of the Dattatreya sampradaya composed by Saraswati Gangadhar in the 15th–16th century. The original Gurucharitra runs to 52 chapters; this "bavanna shloki" condenses its essence into 52 verses for daily parayana (recitation), structured as the dialogue between the sage Siddha and the seeker Namadharaka. It is treasured especially by devotees of Sri Dattatreya, Sripada Srivallabha and Sri Narasimha Saraswati of Ganagapur.
Significance & Spiritual Benefits
Daily recitation of the Bavanna Shloki is believed to invoke the protection and grace of Sri Guru Dattatreya, remove obstacles and afflictions, fulfil sincere desires, and bestow peace and prosperity on the household. Devotees recite it as a quick yet complete substitute for the lengthy full Gurucharitra, particularly on Thursdays and during Guru-related observances. It is held to ward off negativity and to strengthen one's bond with the Guru principle.
Astrological Relevance
Dattatreya is the supreme Guru, and worship of Him directly strengthens Guru (Jupiter) - the karaka of wisdom, dharma, children and fortune. The Gurucharitra is also a classic remedy invoked during Sade Sati and Shani (Saturn) transits, as Sri Narasimha Saraswati's grace is traditionally sought to soften Saturn's trials; Ganagapur is a major centre for Shani-shanti and relief from affliction. Those facing a weak or afflicted Jupiter, guru-chandala yoga (Jupiter–Rahu), or pitru-related difficulties turn to this recitation for the Guru's protecting grace.
How to Chant (Vidhi)
Bathe and sit before an image of Sri Dattatreya or Sri Narasimha Saraswati. Light a lamp with cow's ghee and offer fragrant flowers. Recite the 52 verses with devotion in a single sitting, ideally after a vow (sankalpa). Maintaining a sattvic diet and inner purity during a period of regular parayana is traditionally advised.
Best Day & Time
Thursday (Guruvar), sacred to the Guru and to Dattatreya, is the prime day. Datta Jayantis and Saturdays (for Shani-shanti through Datta's grace) are also auspicious. Early morning after bathing is the recommended hour.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Bavanna Shloki Gurucharitra?
It is a 52-verse Marathi summary of the full Shri Gurucharitra, the principal scripture of the Dattatreya tradition, recited daily by devotees as a complete short parayana.
Why are only the opening verses shown here?
The work is a long 52-verse composition; the verified opening ten verses are reproduced as an excerpt, with the meaning and significance of the whole explained.
Which deity does it honour?
It honours Sri Guru Dattatreya in His incarnations as Sripada Srivallabha and Sri Narasimha Saraswati of Ganagapur.
The Bavanna Shloki as a daily bridge between devotee and Datta Guru
The Bavanna Shloki Gurucharitra is a beloved devotional condensation in the Marathi tradition, distilling the vast narrative and spiritual teaching of the Shri Gurucharitra into fifty-two verses accessible enough for daily recitation. For devotees of Sri Dattatreya - particularly those who revere the historical manifestations of Sripada Srivallabha and Narasimha Saraswati - this compact parayana serves as a living thread connecting their ordinary daily life to the miraculous and grace-filled world of the Guru lineage. The Gurucharitra as a whole is considered a Vedatulyā scripture in the Datta tradition, and the Bavanna Shloki allows devotees who cannot complete the full parayana to maintain regular contact with its spiritual current through a manageable daily practice.
The traditional practice is to recite the Bavanna Shloki on Thursdays - Guruvar, the day of the Guru planet Jupiter - and during prescribed parayana periods, particularly on Dattatreya Jayanti and during Margashirsha month, when the Gurucharitra maha-parayana is traditionally undertaken. The mood evoked is one of profound shraddha - faithful trust in the Guru's grace to guide the devotee through life's difficulties. In the Jyotish tradition, the Datta lineage is explicitly linked with Jupiter (Guru) as the planet of wisdom, teaching, and dharmic guidance, while the tradition's emphasis on resolving ancestral karma also connects it with Saturn (Shani), the planet governing karmic debts across lifetimes. Devotees believe that sincere engagement with this parayana helps dissolve deep-rooted karmic patterns with the Guru's grace as the active force of transformation.