Bhagavan Nityananda as Guruganesh

Ganesh Chaturthi: The Appearance of Shree Shree Shreepadavallabh and the Revelation of Guruganesha

Ganesh Chaturthi, celebrated as the birth of Lord Ganesha, also marks a deeply significant spiritual event in the Dattatreya tradition. It is believed to be the appearance day of Shree Shree Shreepadavallabh, the first Purna (complete) Avatara of Lord Dattatreya, the eternal Guru of all Gurus. On this sacred day, the Supreme took human form to guide seekers toward the path of Self-realisation.

Following him, Shree Narsimha Saraswati is venerated as the second Purnavatar of Lord Dattatreya, continuing the divine lineage of Datta incarnations.

In more recent times, Bhagavan Nityananda of Ganeshpuri is revered by his devotees as a living embodiment of Lord Dattatreya, beyond classification, beyond form—yet accessible in both formless and sagun (embodied) presence. Many came to see him not just as a Guru, but as the very “Guruganesha”, the divine remover of obstacles, the bestower of wisdom, the Lord of beginnings.

The Devotee’s Tradition: Seeking Blessings Before Ganesh Chaturthi

There lived a humble and devoted householder on the outskirts of Mumbai, whose annual Ganesh Chaturthi celebration was unlike any other. For years, before bringing Lord Ganesha into his home, he would first make a pilgrimage to Ganeshpuri to seek the blessings of Bhagavan Nityananda. Only after receiving His nod, would he bring the clay idol, install it with devotion, and worship it—not merely as Ganesha, but as his own Sadguru in form.

For this family, the five-day festival was an intimate celebration of the living God in their midst. Alongside traditional rituals and Aarti, they would prepare offerings that Baba Himself had enjoyed—coffee, sambar rice, and other simple delicacies not traditionally associated with Ganesha puja. But to them, this was not mere formality—it was love in action. Ganesha was Nityananda. Nityananda was Ganesha.

1961: A Ganesh Chaturthi of Tears and Revelation

In 1961, Ganesh Chaturthi fell on Thursday, 14th September. Just 37 days prior, on 8th August, Bhagavan Nityananda had entered Mahasamadhi, leaving behind an empty chair, a silent ashram, and countless grieving hearts. The 40th day of His passing, observed as Samradhana—a sacred remembrance of a great Saint or Sannyasi—fell on 17th September, three days after Ganesh Chaturthi that year.

The grieving devotee and his wife, heartbroken but devoted, made their annual visit to Ganeshpuri even though the Master was no longer in His physical form. They stood before His empty chair, eyes brimming with tears, whispering prayers into the silence, seeking a sign… a word… a presence.

The Dream on the Eve of Ganesh Chaturthi

That night, on 13th September, something extraordinary happened. As the devotee lay in a half-sleep, he was stirred by a subtle force. Opening his eyes, he saw a radiant being standing before him—majestic, compassionate, and powerful. It was Bhagavan Nityananda, but with the elephant head of Lord Ganesha, standing as Dattatreya-Ganesha.

The divine figure spoke:

“Why are you sad? I am coming tomorrow as Guruganesha. I am always with you.”

The vision dissolved, leaving the devotee in awe and uncertainty. Was it a dream? Was it real? Trembling with emotion, he prayed:

“Baba, if this was not a dream, give me just one sign. One small confirmation, so I may know it was You.”

Ganesh Chaturthi, Thursday 14th September 1961

The Confirmation: “Today is Thursday… Sadguru Dattatreya!”

The next morning, as per tradition, the clay idol of Lord Ganesha was brought home. A priest was invited to perform the Pranapratistha, the ritual of invoking divine life into the idol. As the priest placed the idol on the Chaurang (holy seat), he casually remarked:

“Today is Thursday… a day sacred to Guru. Let us dedicate today’s worship to Sadguru Dattatreya!”

The devotee and his wife froze. Tears welled up.

“Guruganesha! Yes… Baba has come!”

The words came spontaneously, as if whispered by grace itself. The dream was real. The Lord had kept His promise.

From that moment, the festival became more than a tradition. It was a living darshan of the Guru in form. That year, and every year henceforth, they welcomed Ganesha not just as the remover of obstacles, but as their Sadguru Nityananda—the eternal Guruganesha.

Bhagavan Nityanda as Guruganesh

Guru and Ganesha: One and the Same

As Swami Muktananda once told Shree Umananda Saraswati,

“The Sadguru is none other than Guruganesha.”

The Guru is the very embodiment of wisdom, compassion, and divine power—the true remover of ignorance and illusion. For this devotee, and many others like him, Ganesh Chaturthi became a sacred reunion with the Guru, a festival of intimate remembrance, of joy beyond ritual, of love beyond form.

The identity of this blessed devotee remains unknown, but his heartfelt experience lives on as a testament to the timeless presence of the Guru. The 1961 calendar confirms that Ganesh Chaturthi fell on Thursday, 14th September, aligning perfectly with this sacred narrative.