Shri Dattatreya Shodashakshara Mahamantra

Sarvamanokāmnāsiddhikara śrī dattātreya ṣoḍaśākṣara mahāmantraḥ

(सर्वमनोकाम्नासिद्धिकर श्री दत्तात्रेय षोडशाक्षर महामन्त्रः)

Source – Dattātreya Kalpaḥ.

Initiation – Required.

Purpose – Wish fulfillment and complete protection from all dangers and misfortunes.

Prologue – Lord Dattātreya is a combined form of the trinities Brahma the Creator, Viṣṇu the Preserver and Rudra the Destroyer. He is therefore the representor of all the triads and a fulfiller of all wishes and desires. He is considered extremely benevolent and easy to please with devotion and sincerity. Various avatars of Him are associated with eminent saints like Shri Akkalkot Swami Samarth Maharaj, Shirdi Sai Baba etc.

1. Viniyogaḥ (विनियोगः) -

asyaśrī dattātreya mahāmantrasya ।

sadāśiva ṛṣiḥ ।

gāyatrī chandaḥ ।

śrī dattātreyo devatā ।

om̐ bījaṃ ।

svāhā śaktiḥ ।

dattātreya kīlakaṃ ।

mama sarvābhīṣṭa siddhyarthe dattātreya anugraha-prāptyarthe śrī-guror-anujñāyā mahāmantra jape viniyogaḥ ॥

अस्यश्री दत्तात्रेय षोडशाक्षर महामन्त्रस्य ।

सदाशिव ऋषिः ।

गायत्री छन्दः ।

श्री दत्तात्रेय देवता ।

ॐ बीजं ।

स्वाहा शक्तिः ।

दत्तात्रेय कीलकं ।

मम सर्वाभीष्ट सिद्ध्यर्थे दत्तात्रेय अनुग्रहप्राप्त्यर्थे श्रीगुरोरनुज्ञाया महामन्त्र जपे विनियोगः ॥

Meaning - This prayer/mantra japa is to invoke Śrī Dattātreya in our heart, perform mantra japa to obtain His complete grace in all aspects, including the four puruṣārthas – dharma (following own nature), artha (wealth), kāma (desires) and mokṣa (liberation) and all desires that one may seek from the Divine. The sage who visually saw this mantra (ṛṣiḥ) is Śrī Sadāśiva. The meter (chandas) for the mantra is Gāyatrī of twenty-four syllables and its variations. The deity is Śrī Dattātreya, the seed (bījaṃ) is om̐, the power (śakti) is svāhā. The key (kīlaka) that binds the mantra is dattātreya. By the grace and command of our guru and the guru lineage, we pledge to undertake the mantra japa in full earnest.

2.Ṛṣyādi nyāsa (ऋष्यादि न्यास) -

S.no.	IAST	Devanāgari	Procedure
1	Sadāśiva ṛṣaye namaḥ śirasi ।	सदाशिव ऋषये नमः शिरसि ।	Open the right palm and touch the top of the forehead with the ring and middle fingers joined at the top of the head.
2	gāyatrī chandase namaḥ mukhe।	गायत्री छन्दसे नमः मुखे ।	Now touch the lips of the mouth with the four fingers in the right palm, excluding thumb.
3	śrī dattātreya devatāyai namaḥ hṛdi ।	श्री दत्तात्रेय देवतायै नमः हृदि ।	Touch the heart with the right index, middle and ring fingers
4	om̐ bījāya namaḥ guhye ।	ॐ बीजाय नमः गुह्ये ।	Touch the area of genitals with the right ring finger and thumb joined together.
5	svāhā śaktaye namaḥ pādayoḥ ।	स्वाहा शक्तये नमः पादयोः ।	Touch both the feet with the right ring finger and thumb joined together.
6	dattātreya kīlakāya namaḥ nābhau।	दत्तात्रेय कीलकाय नमः नाभौ।	Touch the navel with the right ring finger and thumb joined together.
7	mama sarvābhīṣṭa siddhyarthe dattātreya anugraha-prāptyarthe śrī-guror-anujñāyā mahāmantra jape viniyogāya namaḥ sarvāṅge ।	मम सर्वाभीष्ट सिद्ध्यर्थे दत्तात्रेय अनुग्रहप्राप्त्यर्थे श्रीगुरोरनुज्ञाया महामन्त्र जपे विनियोगाय नमः सर्वाङ्गे ।	Run both the palms all over the body.
8	iti ṛṣyādi nyāsaḥ ॥	इति ऋष्यादि न्यासः ॥	Thus ends the Ṛṣyādi nyāsa.

3.Kara nyāsaḥ (करन्यासः) -

S.no.	IAST	Devanāgari	Procedure
1	om̐ aim̐ - aṅguṣṭābhyāṃ namaḥ ।	ॐ ऐँ - अङ्गुष्टाभ्यां नमः ।	Use both the index fingers and run them on both the thumbs.
2	klām̐ klīm̐ klūm̐ - tarjanībhyāṃ svāhā ।	क्लाँ क्लीँ क्लूँ - तर्जनीभ्यां स्वाहा ।	Use both the thumbs and run them on both the index fingers.
3	hrām̐ hrīm̐ hrūm̐ - madhyamābhyāṃ vaṣaṭ ।	ह्राँ ह्रीँ ह्रूँ - मध्यमाभ्यां वषट् ।	Use both the thumbs and run them on both the middle fingers.
4	sauḥ - anāmikābhyāṃ huṃ ।	सौः - अनामिकाभ्यां हुं ।	Use both the thumbs and run them on both the ring fingers.
5	dattātreyāya - kaniṣṭikābhyāṃ vauṣaṭ	दत्तात्रेयाय - कनिष्टिकाभ्यां वौषट् ।	Use both the thumbs and run them on both the little fingers.
6	svāhā - karatalakarapruṣṭābhyāṃ phaṭ ।	स्वाहा - करतलकरप्रुष्टाभ्यां फट् ।	Open both the palms; run the opened palms of the right hand on the front and back sides of the left palm and repeat the same for the other palm.
7	iti kara nyāsaḥ ॥	इति कर न्यासः ॥	Thus ends the six-part Kara nyāsa.

4. Ṣaḍāṅga nyāsaḥ (षडाङ्गन्यासः) -

S.no.	IAST	Devanāgari	Procedure
1	om̐ aim̐ – hṛdayāya namaḥ ।	ॐ ऐँ – हृदयाय नम: ।	Open index, middle and ring fingers of the right hand and place them on the heart chakra.
2	klām̐ klīm̐ klūm̐ - śirase svāhā ।	क्लाँ क्लीँ क्लूँ - शिरसे स्वाहा ।	Open middle and ring fingers of the right hand and touch the top of the head.
3	hrām̐ hrīm̐ hrūm̐ - śikhāyai vaṣaṭ ।	ह्राँ ह्रीँ ह्रूँ - शिखायै वषट् ।	Open the right thumb and touch the back of the head. This is the point where there is a tuft of hair.
4	sauḥ - kavacāya huṃ ।	सौः - कवचाय हुं ।	Cross both the hands and touch both shoulders with the palms.
5	dattātreyāya - netratrayāya vauṣaṭ ।	दत्तात्रेयाय - नेत्रत्रयाय वौषट् ।	Touch the eyes with the right index and ring fingers, with the middle finger touching the ājña cakra.
6	svāhā - astrāya phaṭ ।	स्वाहा - अस्त्राय फट् ।	Open up the left palm and strike it three times with index and middle fingers of the right hand.
7	iti ṣaḍaṅga nyāsaḥ ॥	इति षडङ्ग न्यासः ॥	Thus ends the six-part Ṣaḍāṅga nyāsa.

bhūr-bhuva-ssuvarom-iti digbandhaḥ ॥

भूर्भुवस्सुवरोम् इति दिग्बन्धः ॥

Meaning: May the directions be charmed and bound, to prevent any external obstacles from the powers residing in the triads – the Earth, atmosphere and the heavens.

5. Dhyānam (ध्यानम् ) -

mandāra-mūle maṇi-pīṭha-saṃstham suvarṇadānaika nibaddha-kakṣam ।

dhyāyet paṭhītam nava-nitya-siddhaiḥ dāridryadāvānala kālamegham ॥

मन्दारमूले मणिपीठसंस्थम् सुवर्णदानैक निबद्धकक्षम् ।

ध्यायेत् पठीतम् नवनित्यसिद्धैः दारिद्र्यदावानल कालमेघम् ॥

Meaning: Salutations to the Divine Lord Śrī Dattātreya who is immersed in a single pointed, focused deep meditation seated on a golden jewel studded seat, at the base of a red coral tree. Let us meditate on this form of the Divine Lord, who appears eternally young and is ever enthusiastic and never failing in His actions to remove all types of poverty and misery enveloping us. He dispels the dark clouds of misery and dangers enveloping us and also dispels all the financial worries like a forest fire, engulfing everything in its path.

The Nava Nityas is also a subtle reference to the Nitya Devis of Śrī Tripura Sundarī represented in the Śrī Cakra that has the power to fulfill any and every wish of the sincere sādhaka.

6.Pañcapūjā (पञ्चपूजा) -

S.no.	IAST	Devanāgari	Procedure
1	lam̐ pṛthvyātmane gandham kalpayāmi namaḥ ।	लँ पृथ्व्यात्मने गन्धम् कल्पयामि नमः ।	Hold the lower tip of the bottom phalange of the little fingers of both hands with the upper tip of the thumbs.
2	ham̐ ākāśātmane puṣpam kalpayāmi namaḥ ।	हँ आकाशात्मने पुष्पम् कल्पयामि नमः ।	Hold the lower tip of the bottom phalange of the thumbs of both hands with the upper tip of the index fingers.
3	yam̐ vāyvyātmane dhūpam kalpayāmi namaḥ ।	यँ वाय्व्यात्मने धूपम् कल्पयामि नमः ।	Hold the lower tip of the bottom phalange of the index fingers of both hands with the upper tip of the thumbs.
4	ram̐ vahnyātmane dīpam kalpayāmi namaḥ ।	रँ वह्न्यात्मने दीपम् कल्पयामि नमः ।	Hold the lower tip of the bottom phalange of the middle fingers of both hands with the upper tip of the thumbs.
5	vam̐ amṛtātmane naivedyam kalpayāmi namaḥ ।	वँ अमृतात्मने नैवेद्यम् कल्पयामि नमः ।	Hold the lower tip of the bottom phalange of the ring fingers of both hands with the upper tip of the thumbs.
6	sam̐ sarvātmane karpūramiśrita tāmbūlādi sarvopacārān kalpayāmi namaḥ ।	सँ सर्वात्मने कर्पूरमिश्रित ताम्बूलादि सर्वोपचारान् कल्पयामि नमः ।	Hold the fingers of each palm in a folded manner with the tips of the fingers of both hands touching each other and the thumbs facing the heart, in a Namaste position.
7	Iti Pañcap ūjā ॥	इति पञ्चपूजा ॥	Thus ends the Pañcapūjā.

7.Mūla Mantraḥ (मूलमन्त्रः) -

om̐ aim̐ klām̐ klīm̐ klūm̐ hrām̐ hrīm̐ hrūm̐ sauḥ dattātreyāya svāhā ॥

ॐ ऐँ क्लाँ क्लीँ क्लूँ ह्राँ ह्रीँ ह्रूँ सौः दत्तात्रेयाय स्वाहा ॥

The 16 lettered Śrī Dattātreya mantra should be recited at least 108 times. Initiation is essential.

Meaning -

This is a sixteen syllabled mantra with some syllables representing bīja (seed) mantras. The parts of the main mantra including the bījas are described below. –

The bīja (seed) mantra “om̐ (ॐ)” consists of – ‘au’ => healing and deep cleansing, ‘m̐’ => removes misery. Ushers in auspiciousness.
The Aiśvarya mātṛkā, Viṣṇu māyā and Sarasvatī b īja “aim̐ (ऐँ)”, dispels ignorance and bestows immense knowledge, mastery in arts and amazing creativity.
The bīja/seed mantra “klām̐ (क्लाँ)”, consists of - ‘k’ is for Kāmadeva or Kṛṣṇa, indicating all our wishes, aspirations and desires, ‘l’ for indra indicating victory in all undertakings, ‘ā’ for ākarṣaṇa, meaning attraction, ‘m̐’ for sukha, meaning enjoyment as well as removal of all miseries and facilitation of self-realization and ultimate liberation. Overall, the bīja represents deep attraction and drawing out all the available resources in the entire Creation, to fulfill our wishes and desires.
The bīja (seed) mantra “klīm̐ (क्लीँ)” consists of – ‘k’ is for Kāmadeva or Kṛ ṣṇa, indicating all our wishes, aspirations and desires, ‘l’ for indra indicating victory in all undertakings, ‘ī’ for tuṣṭi, meaning fulfillment and contentment, ‘m̐’ for sukha, meaning enjoyment as well as removal of all miseries and facilitation of self-realization and ultimate liberation. This bīja indicates success in fulfilling all our desires to our contentment.
The bīja (seed) mantra “klūm̐ (क्लूँ)” consists of – ‘k’ is for Kāmadeva or Kṛṣṇa, indicating all our wishes, aspirations and desires, ‘l’ for indra indicating victory in all undertakings, ‘ū’ for Vidārī, the one who tears apart, ‘m̐’ for sukha, meaning enjoyment as well as removal of all miseries and facilitation of self-realization and ultimate liberation. This bīja indicates removal of all obstacles in obtaining and maintaining our cherished possessions.
The Śiva/Hara bīja (seed) mantra “hrām̐ (ह्राँ )” consists of - the letter ‘h’ representing Brahman/Śiva signifying auspiciousness, ‘r’ represents fire and desire, ‘ā’ for ākarṣaṇa, representing massive power of attraction, expansion and assimilation, ‘m̐’ is for removal of all miseries and facilitation of self-realization and ultimate liberation.Overall, the bīja provides significant expansion of our consciousness and helps in overcoming all the obstacles to usher in auspiciousness and fulfillment.
The bīja (seed) mantra “hrīm̐ (ह्रीँ)” consists of – ‘h’ => Brahman/śiva, ‘r’ => fire and drive within us, ‘ī’ => energy and the source of all power that helps us ascend, ‘m̐’ => removal of all miseries and facilitator of self-realization and ultimate liberation. This bīja provides all types of power and authority that we can ever ask for.
The Vaivasvatāntaka/Yama bīja (seed) mantra “hrūm̐ (ह्रूँ)” consists of - vyomavaktra (h), kṣatajastha (r), bidārī (u), nāda-bindu (m̐). The letter ‘h’ represents Brahman/Śiva signifying auspiciousness, ‘r’ meaning fire and drive within us, ‘ū’ representing Vidārī, meaning tearing apart to facilitate the expansion of power and excellence, ‘m̐’ is for removal of all miseries and facilitation of self-realization and ultimate liberation. This bīja provides for massive expansion of authority and retention of power, that we have already sought and obtained.
The Parā b īja (seed) mantra “sauḥ (सौः)” consists of - ‘s’ meaning śakti or power and also dhūmadhvaja, meaning fire and drive, as well as Sarasvatī meaning knowledge - both material and spiritual. The letter ‘au’ => healing and deep cleansing, ‘ḥ’ => grants self-realization and leads to liberation. Overall, this bīja mantra leads us to obtain all types of knowledge that we seek, be it material or spiritual and over a duration of time, it can lead us to self-realization and pave the path towards the ultimate goal of liberation.
The word “dattātreyāya (दत्तात्रेयाय)” refer to the Divine eminence of Śrī Dattātreya referred in the vocative case.
The Vahnisundarī b īja (seed) mantra “svāhā (स्वाहा)” represents complete submission and surrender to the Divine.

Salutations to the highly revered Divine in the form of Śrī Dattātreya, the great guru who is the amalgamation of the trinities Brahma the Creator, Viṣṇu the Preserver and Rudra the Destroyer. May He bestow abundance in all aspects and fulfill all our wishes.

9. Ṣaḍāṅga nyāsaḥ (षडाङ्गन्यासः) -

S.no.	IAST	Devanāgari	Procedure
1	om̐ aim̐ – hṛdayāya namaḥ ।	ॐ ऐँ – हृदयाय नम: ।	Open index, middle and ring fingers of the right hand and place them on the heart chakra.
2	klām̐ klīm̐ klūm̐ - śirase svāhā ।	क्लाँ क्लीँ क्लूँ - शिरसे स्वाहा ।	Open middle and ring fingers of the right hand and touch the top of the head.
3	hrām̐ hrīm̐ hrūm̐ - śikhāyai vaṣaṭ ।	ह्राँ ह्रीँ ह्रूँ - शिखायै वषट् ।	Open the right thumb and touch the back of the head. This is the point where there is a tuft of hair.
4	sauḥ - kavacāya huṃ ।	सौः - कवचाय हुं ।	Cross both the hands and touch both shoulders with the palms.
5	dattātreyāya - netratrayāya vauṣaṭ ।	दत्तात्रेयाय - नेत्रत्रयाय वौषट् ।	Touch the eyes with the right index and ring fingers, with the middle finger touching the ājña cakra.
6	svāhā - astrāya phaṭ ।	स्वाहा - अस्त्राय फट् ।	Open up the left palm and strike it three times with index and middle fingers of the right hand.
7	iti ṣaḍaṅga nyāsaḥ ॥	इति षडङ्ग न्यासः ॥	Thus ends the six-part Ṣaḍāṅga nyāsa.

bhūr-bhuva-ssuvarom-iti digvimokaḥ ॥

भूर्भुवस्सुवरोम् इति दिग्विमोकः ॥

Meaning: May the directions get unlocked to allow ourselves to experience the grace from all the triads of the three realms.

9. Dhyānam (ध्यानम् ) -

mandāra-mūle maṇi-pīṭha-saṃstham suvarṇadānaika nibaddha-kakṣam ।

dhyāyet paṭhītam nava-nitya-siddhaiḥ dāridryadāvānala kālamegham ॥

मन्दारमूले मणिपीठसंस्थम् सुवर्णदानैक निबद्धकक्षम् ।

ध्यायेत् पठीतम् नवनित्यसिद्धैः दारिद्र्यदावानल कालमेघम् ॥

10. Pañcapūjā (पञ्चपूजा) -

S.no.	IAST	Devanāgari	Procedure
1	lam̐ pṛthvyātmane gandham kalpayāmi namaḥ ।	लँ पृथ्व्यात्मने गन्धम् कल्पयामि नमः ।	Hold the lower tip of the bottom phalange of the little fingers of both hands with the upper tip of the thumbs.
2	ham̐ ākāśātmane puṣpam kalpayāmi namaḥ ।	हँ आकाशात्मने पुष्पम् कल्पयामि नमः ।	Hold the lower tip of the bottom phalange of the thumbs of both hands with the upper tip of the index fingers.
3	yam̐ vāyvyātmane dhūpam kalpayāmi namaḥ ।	यँ वाय्व्यात्मने धूपम् कल्पयामि नमः ।	Hold the lower tip of the bottom phalange of the index fingers of both hands with the upper tip of the thumbs.
4	ram̐ vahnyātmane dīpam kalpayāmi namaḥ ।	रँ वह्न्यात्मने दीपम् कल्पयामि नमः ।	Hold the lower tip of the bottom phalange of the middle fingers of both hands with the upper tip of the thumbs.
5	vam̐ amṛtātmane naivedyam kalpayāmi namaḥ ।	वँ अमृतात्मने नैवेद्यम् कल्पयामि नमः ।	Hold the lower tip of the bottom phalange of the ring fingers of both hands with the upper tip of the thumbs.
6	sam̐ sarvātmane karpūramiśrita tāmbūlādi sarvopacārān kalpayāmi namaḥ ।	सँ सर्वात्मने कर्पूरमिश्रित ताम्बूलादि सर्वोपचारान् कल्पयामि नमः ।	Hold the fingers of each palm in a folded manner with the tips of the fingers of both hands touching each other and the thumbs facing the heart, in a Namaste position.
7	Iti Pañcapūjā ॥	इति पञ्चपूजा ॥	Thus ends the Pañcapūjā.

11. Samarpaṇam (समर्पणम्) –

guhyādi guhya goptvātvam gṛhaṇāsmat kṛtaṃ japaṃ ।
siddhirbhavatu me deva tvat prasadān mayī sthirā ॥

गुह्यादि गुह्य गोप्त्वात्वम् गृहणास्मत् कृतं जपं ।

सिद्धिर्भवतु मे देव त्वत् प्रसदान् मयी स्थिरा ॥\

Meaning: O Lord, you are the most hidden secret of all secrets. May these mantra japa counts performed by me, be offered to you in totality. Our prayers and hope, are that your grace shall remain with us always.

12. Puraścaraṇa (पुरश्चरण) -

Japa	1,600,000
Homa	160,000
Tarpaṇa	16,000
Mārjana	1,600
Bhojana	160

This article is written by Krishna Vallapreddy and can be contacted at Krishna@manblunder.com

Shri Dattatreya Shodashakshara Mahamantra - Variation 1

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