Datta Becoming One with Chidambara

Ajja performed Aradhana Saptaha at Shimoga in 1934. As his health was indifferent his sishyas invited him to Shimoga, Bangalore, Nagara, Banavasi and other places. Ajja said, "now this body is old, I shall reside with my eldest son" and came to Nulenur (on evening of navami of Margashira Sukla Paksha of Bhava Samvatsara)

Appa received him and spent that night discoursing about Vedanta. Next day he afflicted by cold and side pain. He would sit in the bed, Ramanna would hold a pillow to his back and Janakka would give heat with a hot cloth on 19-12-34, a puppet show was held in front of Appa's home. It was attended by all the followers of Ajja.

At night Ajja asked Ramanna to bring Panchanga (Hindu calendar) and read the Dinasuddhi of next day. It was Margasira shukla pournima Thursday, Mrigasira star and Datta jayanthi.

On that day in early morning Ajja, the great compassionate Brahmajnani attained Mahasamadhi. At that time Appa was sitting under the Audumbara planted by Sri Shankarabhagavan. Hearing the news he came home pacified the crying sishyas and said. "How can he be dead .He is the life for all. Start singing Bhajans."

He made someone bring a cup of milk, held it to the lips of Ajja and said, "Appa drink this." To the surprise of everyone Ajja drank the milk.

The villagers of Nulenur refused to allow the sacred body of Ajja (there were calling him parameshwara) to any other place for the final rites. As Ajja assumed (emergency) Atura Sanyasa, it was it was buried in a Brindavan. Two lamps were lit there and from next day onwards Saptaha were celebrated continuously for about six months near the samadhi.

On chitra pournima of Yuva nama samvatsara, Appa called his son Ramaswamy to sit near him and narrated the history of his lineage and his own life. "as on today I have not borrowed a paisa from anybody, nor does anyone is due to pay me. You should follow my foot steps and live well". E drank a cup of milk and stood up . He untied his waist thread and threw it away. He took off his Yagnopaveetha, gave to his son and said "This the scared thread your grandfather made me wear, He threw away his dress and said we came this way to this world and am approaching my Guru in this state. We shall not return. If you treat me as guru, I may come".

The moonlight was very right and Appa moved towards the samadhi chanting "OM" in a loud voice. He prostrated to samadhi. His disciples followed him and made him wear the dress.

Appa said next day "This is the asrama of Guru. Many people come here. This asrama has no property. Therefore you go out begging, chanting the name of Guru. Cook what you get give the prasada to everyone."

It was a hot summer. Many sishyas had gathered at Nulenur. They were either teacher or shanubhogs and generally poor. Appa told them to go for Bhajans Bhiksha (they go singing Bhajans in the streets. They would receive only what was voluntarily given)

On one such day when all the followers had gone to Ramagiri (a neighboring Village), there was a severe storm and thundershowers fell as though they were coming from the trunk of an elephant.

By midnight Ramaswamy came with a cart and invited Appa to home. Appa refused and asked him to take him to the Eshwara temple. There was a black cobra there and it slept with Appa all the day he lived there.

Staying at Eshwara temple Appa got the Dattashrama constructed. The Brindavan was constructed and a Dattatreya statue was installed in it. Shankara Bhagavan's Samadhi Mrithika (mud) was also placed inside Brindavan.

As soon as Appa became Guru, people of Basapur, many of whom were his playmates in childhood invited him to their village. A procession was arranged and they gave seva to Appa. Many people gave seva. Milk and butter were supplied to the asrama daily.

The Dattashrama work was completed well before the first aradhana saptaha of Ajja.