In the traditional narratives of Shri Dattatreya, the focus often falls on His male incarnations—Shripad Shrivallabh, Narasimha Saraswati, and Swami Samarth. This triad forms the cornerstone of Datta Sampradaya devotion. Yet, woven subtly but powerfully through their lives is a presence less spoken of, less overt, but no less divine: Anagha Lakshmi Maa, the sacred feminine energy of Shri Datta. While Dattatreya is revered as the Guru of all Gurus, it is Anagha Lakshmi who balances and completes His presence. She is not just His consort—She is His Shakti, the source of His compassionate action, His protector, and His power to uplift the devotee.
The Hidden Feminine Principle
Datta, whose very name means "the Given One," is a composite being born of the Trimurti—Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesh. But even this supreme male embodiment carries within Him a hidden yet inseparable feminine counterpart. Anagha Lakshmi, described in sacred texts like the Anagha Stotra and Datta Mahatmya, is not merely a divine wife figure; She is the embodiment of Divine Grace (Anagha)—flawless, unstained by karma, and the very soul of spiritual liberation.
Anagha Lakshmi does not appear prominently in the external lives of the three well-known Datta avatars, and yet Her essence permeates them. Every act of divine intervention, every moment of softening, healing, and motherly protection that devotees receive through these Gurus can be seen as Her touch. In Datta's fierce teachings, She is the gentleness. In His silence, She is the soothing inner assurance. In His omniscience, She is the all-seeing compassion.
Scripture as the Foundation
The Anagha Lakshmi Upasana, though lesser known, is a profound scriptural practice. In the Skanda Purana, it is said that Lord Dattatreya once appeared with Anagha Lakshmi to King Yadu to teach the sacred Anagha Vrata. In this Vrata, devotees worship both the Guru and the Goddess—Datta and Anagha—as inseparable realities. Datta is the light of realization, and Anagha is the peace that dawns with it.
The Anagha Kavacha Ashtakam, a powerful hymn chanted by Datta devotees, reveals that those who take refuge in Anagha Lakshmi become free from all karmic bonds. She is the “one who burns away sins effortlessly,” reflecting Her role as not only a nurturer but also a purifier—the fire and the balm in one.
In the Tripura Rahasya, which many attribute to Dattatreya’s teachings, the Supreme Goddess Tripura is exalted as the source of all Gurus. Though the text centers around the masculine sage Parashurama and his journey under the guidance of Dattatreya, the ultimate teaching is the realization of Shakti as the substratum of all reality. The wisdom of the Guru finds completion in the womb of the Goddess.
A Feminine Thread in the Datta Avatars
Though not overtly documented in scripture, devotees often witness a mystical undercurrent of the feminine in the stories of Datta avatars:
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Shripad Shrivallabh is said to have disappeared into the Krishna River, often associated with the divine feminine. Devotees believe He returned to the womb of the Mother, choosing union with Her over worldly recognition.
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Narasimha Saraswati, whose teachings were strict and monastic, showed a special tenderness to householders who approached with humility. In those acts of kindness and shelter, we sense the presence of Anagha’s grace.
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Swami Samarth, mysterious and transcendent, frequently referred to the Mother in His cryptic utterances. Some devotees even claim He would speak to Her as if She were physically present near Him—guiding, protecting, and inspiring.
Even in modern-day Datta worship, the offering of kumkum, the chanting of Sri Anagha Datta Vrat Katha, and the lighting of lamps during the Anagha Upasana all point to a living acknowledgment of the feminine aspect of the Guru.
Why This Matters
In a world where spiritual lineages often highlight male figures, the inclusion of the feminine is not about gender—it is about wholeness. Anagha Lakshmi Maa represents the completeness of the Guru principle. Without Her, the Guru would be pure fire—illuminating, but burning. With Her, that fire becomes the hearth of transformation, warm and nourishing.
She is the Mother behind the Master. She is the silence between Datta’s words, the rest in His rhythm, the smile behind His seriousness. When one worships Shri Datta with Anagha Lakshmi, it is not just the outer Guru that is invoked, but the inner union of wisdom and compassion—Jnana and Karuna, Shiva and Shakti.
In this way, Anagha Lakshmi is not hidden. She is veiled, as all mysteries are—awaiting the eyes of love and devotion to unveil Her.
If the subtle power of Anagha Lakshmi and her presence within the Datta lineage speaks to you, I invite you to explore Invoking Shakti—a unique blog devoted entirely to the Divine Feminine. Here, every form of Shakti—from Navadurgas and Mahavidyas to Matrikas and Shakti Peethas—is invoked with depth, devotion, and mystical insight. This sacred space is one of the few places where the feminine is not just acknowledged—but celebrated in her fullest spiritual majesty.
There are moments when seeking grows tired and something quieter begins to listen. These reflections were written for that moment: