Sri Dattatreya Ashtottara Shatanamavali - English, Telugu, Kannada, Sanskrit

An Ashtottara Shatanamavali (अष्टोत्तरशतनामावली) is a garland of 108 sacred names of a deity. The Sri Dattatreya Ashtottara Shatanamavali presents the names of Lord Dattatreya — the combined form of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, and the Supreme Guru of the Avadhuta tradition. Each name, ending with "namaḥ" (salutations), is a doorway into an attribute of the Lord. Chanting these names with devotion is believed to confer peace, prosperity, wisdom and liberation.

About Lord Dattatreya

Lord Dattatreya was born to the sage Atri and Devi Anasuya and is worshipped as the preceptor of all Gurus (Gururupo). He is typically shown with three heads symbolising Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, and six arms bearing a Kamandalu, Trishula, Damaru, Shankha, Chakra and Gada. This Shatanamavali itself reveals His nature through names such as Digambara (sky-clad), Avadhuta (one beyond all bonds), Yogiraja and Purnabrahma Swarupa.

Key Attributes of Lord Dattatreya

• Deity: Lord Dattatreya (दत्तात्रेय)
• Parents: Sage Atri and Devi Anasuya (names 6–9 of this Shatanamavali)
• Form: Three-faced (Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva); one-faced or many-faced, two-armed or six-armed, as the names reveal
• Objects held: Kamandalu, Trishula (Shuli), Damaru, Shankha, Gada, Chakra and Akshamala
• Attributes: Digambara (sky-clad), Divyambara, Peetambara and Shwetambara
• Mantra: "Om Dattatreyaaya Namah" (ॐ दत्तात्रेयाय नमः)
• Symbol: Om (Brahma, Vishnu, Shankara are among the closing names)

How to Chant

• Sit facing east or north in a clean, quiet space.
• Begin with the invocation "Om Sri Ganeshaya Namah" and the guru lineage.
• Recite each of the 108 names one by one, ideally on a Rudraksha or Tulsi mala of 108 beads.
• End with a short prayer of gratitude and three deep breaths.

The 108 Names of Lord Dattatreya

Names 1–9

Names 10–18

Names 19–27

Names 28–36

Names 37–45

Names 46–54

Names 55–63

Names 64–72

Names 73–81

Names 82–90

Names 91–99

Names 100–108

Practical / Modern Context

The 108-name chant is a practical daily tool for mental hygiene. Reciting the names slowly with a mala steadies the breath, anchors attention and dissolves anxious rumination — effects now echoed by research on rhythmic recitation and mantra meditation. Devotees often chant the Shatanamavali on Guru Purnima, on Thursdays (the day associated with Dattatreya and the Guru), or during the Datta Jayanti festival. Even a few minutes each morning can cultivate the steadiness of an avadhuta in the midst of a busy modern life.

Common Misconceptions

1. "All 108 names must be chanted to gain any benefit" — Chanting even a subset of names with sincerity is considered beneficial; the full count is a goal, not a gate.
2. "Ashtottara Shatanamavali is a tantric ritual for renunciates only" — The names are a simple devotional (bhakti) practice open to every householder; no special initiation is required.
3. "The names are random or repetitive" — Each name encodes a distinct attribute — lineage, forms, weapons, colours, yogic qualities and final oneness — and together they paint a complete portrait of the Lord.
4. "Name chanting is superstition" — In Vedic thought, sound (shabda) and the divine are intimately linked; namajapa is a mindfulness practice that trains the mind even as it deepens faith.

Conclusion

The Sri Dattatreya Ashtottara Shatanamavali is a complete spiritual practice in a garland of 108 names. It honours the Lord as the Supreme Guru, the yogi, the sky-clad avadhuta and finally as the one Atman and Paramatman present in all beings. Recited daily with faith, it purifies the mind, steadies the heart and leads the seeker, name by name, towards the formless truth that Dattatreya Himself embodies.

Related Prabhukedwar Guides

• Complete Guide to Chanting Gayatri Mantra
• Kashi Vishwanath Temple & Sacred Banaras
• Meaning of Om Namah Shivaya Mantra

For more authentic Hindu temple guides, pilgrimage routes, mantras, and Vedic insights, visit Prabhukedwar.