Lord Dattatreya with Wife Vidya Lakshmi or Anagha Devi, Tridevi with Trimurti Statue

Dattatreya is a revered deity in Hinduism, considered a combined form of the Trimurti – Brahma (creator), Vishnu (preserver), and Shiva (destroyer). He is the son of the sage Atri and his wife Anasuya, who were known for their piety and devotion. According to legend, the Trinity—Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva—were so pleased with Anasuya's devotion that they granted her a boon: they would incarnate as her child. The result was Dattatreya, the embodiment of all three deities.

• Usually depicted with three heads and six hands, representing the three gods.

• Known as the teacher of teachers (Adi Guru) insome spiritual traditions.

• Accompanied by four dogs (representing the four Vedas) and a cow (symbolizing Mother Earth).

Vidya Lakshmi is a form of the Hindu goddess Lakshmi, representing knowledge and intellectual prosperity. She guides intellectual growth and helps unlock potential, leading to success in both material and spiritual realms. Vidya Lakshmi is often depicted with four arms, holding lotus flowers and in the Varada and Abhaya mudras, symbolizing her blessings and protection.

Design: Made in heavy shining brass.

Brass is well known for its grasping capacity. It grasps the divine spirit upto 30%, when compared to other metals. The spiritual vibrations are attracted towards these shining idols easily.

Dimensions: 2.5 inches (H) x 2.5 inches (W)

Weight: 200 gms

The idol should be placed in the puja room or a clean, sacred space in the east or northeast direction.

Chanting Dattatreya Mantra: "Digambara Digambara, Sripada Vallabha Digambara"

Importance of Idol worship: Idols are not the idle fancies of sculptors, but shining channels through which the heart of the devotee is attracted to and flows towards God. Though the image is worshipped, the devotee feels the presence of the Lord in it and pours out his devotion unto it. Regular worship, Puja and other modes of demonstrating our inner feeling of recognition of Divinity in the idol unveils the Divinity latent in it. This is truly a wonder and a miracle. The picture comes to life. The idol speaks. It will answer your questions and solve your problems. The God in you has the power to awaken the latent Divinity in the idol. The lives of Mirabai, Sant Tukaram, Shri Ramakrishna Paramhansa and Shri Yogananda are a few instances to prove the point. They proved beyond doubt that idol worship has its own brighter side and through simple faith and intense devotion one can realize God through it. Idols are the "finite representation of the Infinite". As per Vishnu Samhita (ch 29, v 55-7), persuasively endorses the use of imagery (idols) and puts it: "Without a form how can God be mediated upon? If (He is) without any form, where will the mind fix itself? When there is nothing for the mind to attach itself to, it will slip away from meditation or will glide into a state of slumber. Therefore the wise will meditate on some form, remembering, however, that the form is a superimposition and not a reality."