Updated: 04-12-2025; Author: Sangati Jogwar
How to read Guru Charitra? Step-by-step guide!
Dattatreya Jayanti will be celebrated on December 4th this year. In the Datta Prabhu lineage, it is considered the most important day to revere and take blessings from Lord Dattatreya.
During the Datta Saptah, reading the Guru Charitra is a common practice among Datta devotees, which is also a very sacred way to obtain his blessings.
Step-by-step guide for reading Guru Charitra:
Know about Guru Charitra:
The Guru Charitra narrates in detail the entire life and teachings of Lord Dattatreya. It also reveals various incarnations of Lord Datta Prabhu, especially his second avatar, Sri Narasimha Saraswati.
All the devotees of Lord Dattatreya believe it to be a living text and, on reading with devotion, blesses the reader with unlimited knowledge and spiritual growth.
How to prepare for reading Guru Charitra?
Inner and outer purity is a must
Taking a bath and wearing clean clothes is a must before starting to read the Guru Charitra. More emphasis should be given to both inner and outer purity.
Choose a sacred space.
The Guru Charitra should be read in a sacred place. It must be a clean and quiet place inside your home where you can read in full concentration without any disturbance.
The place can be your Puja ghar or a special corner where an idol or picture of Lord Dattatreya is placed, a diya is lighted, and decorated with flowers.
Take a sankalpa before starting to read Guru Charitra
The Guru Charitra is known to fulfil the wishes of those who read it with great devotion. That is why, before starting Guru Charitra Saptah, you must take a Sankalpa or state your intention for reading the Guru Charitra.
You can make a Sankalpa for getting blessings, spiritual progress, or even to overcome your existing difficulties.
How should you read Guru Charitra?
It is mostly read for 7 days or 3 days. Each day, a particular section or Adhyay of the revered pothi is read to complete the parayan.
The Guru Charitra is available in many Indian languages and can be easily found at stores that sell religious books.
The Guru Charitra Saptah Adhyay breaks up
More often it is read for 7 days or a saptah, and each day some specific chapters are read. The exact division of chapters may differ sometimes, but in general, the structure is as follows:
Day 1
Mangalacharan, introduction, and Guru’s greatness (Chapters 1-9).
Day 2
All about Sri Narasimha Saraswati Swami Maharaj – from early life to miracles (Chapters 10 to 21).
Day 3
How Sri Guru travelled, met his devotees, and offered boons. (Chapters 22 to 29).
Day 4
About karma, bhakti, and Jnana teachings and more miracles (Chapters 30 to 37).
Day 5
More teachings, emphasis on the significance of the Guru and message on spirituality (Chapters 38 to 43).
Day 6
Devotional stories emphasising how the Guru’s grace can change life (Chapters 44 to 48).
Day 7
Real intention behind the mission of Sri Guru, Palkhi celebration, and the benefits of reading the Guru Charitra (Chapters 49 to 53).
Things to remember while reading
- The Guru Charitra should be read with deep devotion, concentration, and faith. Simultaneously, the reader must try to understand the hidden meanings behind the teachings.
- Care should be taken that the pronunciation is correct when reading loudly.
- Purity in both deed and thought is expected through the saptah, and non-vegetarian food and alcohol should be avoided at all costs.
- You can take breaks between the chapters if sitting at a stretch for long hours is not possible, but efforts should be made to read all the designated chapters on the same day.
- Every day after completing all the chapters, you can offer flowers and small sweets in gratitude, which can be distributed as Prasad to the family members.
Every day ritual on completion of Parayan
- Aarti should be performed every day after completing the designated chapters, followed by offering food to Lord Dattatreya and then distributing it as Prasad among everyone present.
- Brahmin-bhoj can be organised on completion of the Guru Charitra Parayan, or dakshina can be offered in the temple or to a Brahmin.
- The parayan should end by expressing deep gratitude and thankfulness towards Lord Dattatreya.
- On completion of the parayan, keep on reflecting on the teachings from the Guru Charitra and think about how those can be inculcated in your life.
Benefits of Reading Guru Charitra:
- Those who have great faith in the Guru Charitra are blessed with lots of blessings and even get divine experiences after completing the parayan.
- Many people find that their desires have been fulfilled, or any obstacle or difficulty they have been facing has been removed.
- One of the greatest benefits of reading the Guru Charitra is peace of mind and spiritual growth.
- Other benefits may include liberation from negative influences, healing of mind and body, and reaching another milestone of wisdom and knowledge.
Also Read :
16 Lord Dattatreya Avatars : Dattatreya Origin, and Symbolism
16 Interesting Facts About Bhagawan Ramana Maharshi