Datta Stavam Stotram: A Powerful Hymn to Bhagavan Dattatreya
Datta Stavam Stotram - Opening Verse
॥ श्री गणेशाय नमः ॥
भूतप्रेतपिशाचाद्या यस्य स्मरणमात्रतः ।
दूरादेव पलायन्ते दत्तात्रेयं नमामि तम् ॥१॥
(Opening verse only. The Datta Stavam was composed by the modern saint Sri Vasudevananda Saraswati [Tembe Swami, 1854–1914]; out of respect for a named author's work, only the first verse is reproduced here, with meaning and context below. Each of its verses ends with the refrain "Dattatreyam namami tam" - "I bow to that Dattatreya.")
Transliteration (Roman/IAST)
bhūtapretapiśācādyā yasya smaraṇamātrataḥ |
dūrādeva palāyante dattātreyaṃ namāmi tam ||1||
Meaning
The opening verse declares: "At the mere remembrance of whom ghosts, spirits, goblins and the like flee far away; I bow to that Dattatreya." The succeeding verses, in the same pattern, praise Dattatreya as the one whose name destroys distress, sin, suffering, fear, the torment of evil planets and bad dreams; who cures leprosy, plague, cholera, epidemics, snakebite and poison; who calms calamities and nullifies hostile spells, sorcery and divine afflictions; and who restores what is lost. Each verse ends with the surrendering refrain, "Dattatreyam namami tam" - "I bow to that Dattatreya" - and the hymn closes by promising that one who recites this praise of Datta, the giver of victory, gain, fame, enjoyment and liberation, becomes dear to him.
About this Stotra
The Datta Stavam is a celebrated short hymn to Bhagavan Dattatreya, the avadhuta sage who embodies the Trimurti - Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva - in a single form, and who is revered as the Adi Guru, the primordial teacher. As its colophon states, it was composed by Sri Vasudevananda Saraswati (Tembe Swami), one of the most revered saints of the Datta sampradaya in the 19th–20th centuries. Because it is the work of a named modern author rather than an anonymous ancient scripture, this article reproduces only its opening verse and focuses on meaning, significance and worship.
Significance & Spiritual Benefits
The Datta Stavam is cherished as a protective and healing prayer. Devotees recite it for freedom from fear, illness and epidemics, for protection from negative entities, black magic, hostile spells and the malefic effects of planets, and for the recovery of lost things and stability in times of crisis. Each verse reaffirms total surrender to Dattatreya, cultivating faith, fearlessness and the peace that comes from refuge in the Guru. It is considered an especially powerful daily prayer in the Datta tradition for both worldly protection and inner liberation (bhoga and moksha).
Astrological Relevance
As Dattatreya unites the powers of the Trimurti, his worship is invoked for relief from a wide range of planetary afflictions. The hymn's emphasis on warding off evil spirits, sorcery and the torment of "cruel planets" (krura-graha) makes it a favoured remedy for afflictions of Saturn (Shani), Rahu and Ketu - the shadow planets associated with fear, confusion, unseen obstacles and occult influences. Because Dattatreya is the supreme Guru, his worship also strengthens Jupiter (Guru), the karaka of wisdom and dharma, benefiting those in a difficult Guru, Rahu or Ketu period. Thursday, the day of the Guru, is the natural day for his worship.
How to Chant (Vidhi)
Bathe and sit before an image of Bhagavan Dattatreya. Light a lamp, offer flowers, incense and naivedya, and meditate on his three-faced form accompanied by the four dogs and the cow. Recite the stotra with devotion and surrender, dwelling on the refrain "Dattatreyam namami tam." It may be recited daily, especially in times of fear, illness or trouble, with full faith in the Guru's protection.
Best Day & Time
Thursday (Guruvar), sacred to the Guru, is ideal, as is the early morning or the dusk lamp-lighting hour. Datta Jayanti (the full moon of Margashirsha) and Datta-related observances are the most auspicious occasions for its recitation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who composed the Datta Stavam?
It was composed by Sri Vasudevananda Saraswati (Tembe Swami, 1854–1914), a revered saint of the Dattatreya tradition. Because it is his named work, only the opening verse is reproduced here.
What is the Datta Stavam recited for?
It is recited for protection from fear, disease, evil spirits, black magic and the malefic effects of planets, for recovery of lost things, and for the grace and refuge of Bhagavan Dattatreya.
Who is Dattatreya?
Dattatreya is the avadhuta sage who embodies Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva in one form, revered as the Adi Guru, the primordial teacher, and worshipped across India, especially in Maharashtra and Karnataka.
Dattatreya's triple light and the stotra that invokes his shelter
The Datta Stavam carries a provenance that adds to its devotional weight: it is composed by Sri Vasudevananda Saraswati, the revered nineteenth-century saint known as Tembe Swami, who is regarded within the Datta sampradaya as among the most authoritative transmitters of the Dattatreya tradition in modern times. This lineage context matters because the Datta tradition itself is built on transmission - on the guru-disciple relationship - and a stotra composed by a realized master within that lineage is understood to carry a particular potency that cannot be separated from its source.
Dattatreya - the triple-formed deity embodying Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva in a single figure - is approached by devotees who seek comprehensive protection: from fear, from disease, from the disturbances of unseen forces, and from the accumulated weight of difficult karma. Thursdays are traditionally his day of worship, and the Datta Stavam is recited especially on Margashirsha Purnima and during the Datta Jayanti celebrations in December. In the Jyotish tradition, Dattatreya's three-in-one nature is sometimes invoked as a remedy for the combined malefic influence of multiple planets, and devotees believe that even sincere remembrance of his name - let alone sustained recitation of this stotra - cuts through layers of difficulty with the swift, compassionate grace that only a teacher who has traversed every dimension of existence can offer.