Mount Abu tour I along with my mother visited Guru Shikhar (Aravalli range) – a height of 5,653 feet approx. from sea level 15 km from Mount Abu. Sixty-plus steps we reached Dattatreya Temple inside a natural cave and had talks with Suraj Prakash Giri Ji. Upon the request, he narrated The History of Dattatreya Temple as follows:

A natural cave where Dattatreya Bhagwan meditated and obtained the seat of Guru during Satya Yuga. Since then it is said guru-shishya (Guru and disciple) tradition started and thus the reason this mountain is known as Guru Shikhar. Dattatreya bhagwan is the first Guru of Sages and Devta.

Inside the natural cave is Akhand Dhuni (eternal holy flame) performed by Dattatreya himself and is burning for 24 hours. Dattatreya Bhagwan took bhasma (sacred ash) from this very eternal flame and Bhashmeshwar Mahadev was installed. Daily early morning hours at 4 am havan (matchstick is never used) is organized to offer 108 ahuti (offerings).

If you climb more steps approx. 165 you will reach another temple to have a glimpse of Dattatreya Bhagwan’s feet. Dattatreya Bhagwan was the sixth incarnation of Lord Vishnu and the son of Sage Atri and Ansuya mata.

For your information: Aravalli is the youngest son of Himalaya. It is said Aravalli arrived with Arbudanath – a snake which is why Aravalli is also known as Arbuda parvat.

Dattatreya Jayanti each year in the month of November.

There are three buses from Mount Abu Bus Depot reaching Guru Shikhar at 3:00, 4:30, and 5:00 pm

Fifty minutes approx. was our journey time as we reached Guru Shikhar via hired two-wheeler.