The Rishi Dattatreya and His 24 Gurus

One of my favorite Vedic myths.

A cow who befriended me on the banks of the River Ganges

This is one of my all-time favorite Vedic myths, as it shows that sometimes the knowledge we seek is so simple and available that we miss it with our complex reasonings. I highly recommend listening to Dr. Svoboda's version here to hear this myth being told in story format.

There once was a great Rishi named Dattatreya, who was believed to be a divine incarnation of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva combined.

Who could be a Guru to this enlightened being? Actually, Dattatreya didn't have a Guru - he had 24!

He learned about all the laws of nature from these 24 Gurus who instructed him in life's lessons, big and small.

Who were these 24 Gurus? And what did they teach him?

1. From the Earth, he learned patience, for even though humankind is abusive, she still nourishes them with crops and bounty.

2. From Water, he learned purity, serving all who came into his reach, regardless of who they were.

3. From the Air, he learned to move through life with non-attachment to people, places, and things.

4. Fire burns everything it comes into contact with and turns it into flames. From this, he learned to take whatever life gave him and transform it into the light of consciousness.

5. The Sky contains the Sun, Moon, and Stars but is untouched by them. From this, he learned that all things have their rightful place, but none of them need to affect him.

6. The Moon is always complete but appears in varying phases. From this, he learned the Soul is always perfect and changeless, but it experiences pleasure and pain, loss and gain - yet none of that affects its true nature.

7. The Sun draws water from everything and turns it into clouds. It then rains on all with motiveless necessity. From this, he learned to draw knowledge from all sources and share it without discrimination.

8. A Pigeon got caught in a hunter's net, and as he cried out, the rest of the flock came to save him but got caught themselves. From this, he learned that even a positive reaction can trap and ensnare if executed with emotional fervor and attachment.

9. The Python eats and then doesn't hunt again for a while. From this, he learned to be content with what he has, not desiring excess.

10. The Ocean remains unmoved even though multiple rivers flow into it. From this, he learned to be steadfast no matter what storms and trouble life may bring.

11. The Moth is captivated by the flame's brilliance and plunges into it, ensuring its own death. From this, he learned that one who is obsessed with life's pleasures will surely be consumed by them.

12. The Bumble Bee takes only a drop of nectar; in return, it pollinates the plants and helps them flourish. From this, he learned to take only what he needed while always graciously returning the favor to everyone around.

13. The Honey Bee consumes nectar, transforms it into honey, and brings it to the hive. From this, he learned to gather wisdom and knowledge, transmute it into the light of consciousness, and share it with all in his path.

14. The desire for a mate consumed an Elephant, and in pursuing her, he fell into a trap covered by leaves and branches, becoming enslaved to his captors. From this, he learned that being ensnared by the senses will surely bring one to one's demise.

15. The Deer is enchanted by the hunter's flute, luring him to his death. From this, he learned not to get trapped by melodious desire.

16. A Fish is fancied by bait and ends up biting the hook. From this, he learned that gluttonous tendencies lead one to ruin.

17. One night, a Prostitute couldn't find customers and, in her boredom, developed detachment. She then went soundly to sleep. From this, he learned that nonchalance is the secret to being unaffected by unhappiness.

18. A Raven was carrying a fish in her beak and was suddenly assaulted by a flock of birds envying her catch. She let go of the fish, and the other birds left her alone, relentlessly pursuing the fallen fish. From this, he learned that there is great peace in letting go.

19. A Baby cries when hungry, eats from their mother's breast, and then stops when full. The baby doesn't worry where their next meal will come from, knowing their mother will always take care of them at the right time. From this, he learned to trust that the universe will give him exactly what he needs, always at the right time.

20. A Young Woman was wearing multiple bangles while cooking a meal, and all her bracelets were clanking into each other, making a loud noise. She took them all off except for one, and then, there was silence. From this, he learned that there will always be tensions and strife whenever many people are together, but the yogi can always find peace in solitude.

21. The Serpent makes no home for himself; he lives in various abandoned holes for a while and then moves on. From this, he learned that there are plenty of places to rest when needed, and once rested, it's time to continue on.

22. An Arrow Maker was working with such focus and concentration that he failed to notice the king and his entire army as they passed by. From this, he learned the power of intense mind concentration and how, in this one-pointed field, awareness becomes more subtle.

23. The Spider spins a web to live in from her own belly, and when she feels like it, she swallows the web and becomes free again. From this, he learned that true independence comes from not being ensnared in your own web.

24. A Catepillar was caught by a songbird but became so absorbed by the music that it forgot its impending death. From this, he learned to become fully immersed in the nada - the eternal sound field that is always within, continually contemplating life's universal wisdom.