Satsang: the twenty-four gurus of Dattatreya
The earth, a python, a bee, a young bride with her bangles: none of them human, all of them teachers. Listen to the recording, or read the notes.
Every Saturday evening after aarati, the people staying at the ashram sit together and listen to one of Mohanji’s satsangs. Last week’s was on a story that comes back again and again at Datta Tapovan: the twenty-four gurus of Lord Dattatreya.
Learning from everything
In the Bhagavata Purana, Dattatreya says he never studied under a single human master. He learned from the world itself. The earth taught him patience, because it bears everything placed on it. The python taught him contentment, because it eats only what comes to it. The bee, which takes a little from many flowers and harms none, taught him how to take in teaching.
If a bee and a python and the earth itself can be gurus, what is really stopping us from learning, all the time, from everything?
Notes from the evening
The tradition holds Dattatreya to be the combined energy of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva: creation, preservation and dissolution. He is called the Guru of Gurus, and every lineage of teachers is said to trace back to him.
The number is less important than the attitude. Dattatreya’s teachers were ordinary things, met every day. The point is that the whole world teaches, if we pay attention.
Yes. Anyone staying at the ashram is welcome. Day visitors can ask at the office whether there is room that evening.
Listen to more of Mohanji’s talks
Mohanji’s talks are also published as a podcast, Mohanji Speaks. This episode is his New Year message for 2026.
Satsang evenings are part of every weekend stay at the ashram.
A spiritual retreat and temple on the banks of the Tansa river, a short drive from Mumbai.
Mohanji Datta Tapovan, Ganeshpuri is a project of Mohanji Bharat Welfare Foundation, registered in India.
Prototype note: this story, its author and its comments are sample content, written to show the layout.
5 comments
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The story of the bangles stays with me every time. One bangle makes no noise.
Same. I think about it whenever I’m in a crowded room.
Beautifully put, Ravi. See you on Saturday.
Thank you for sharing the recording. Listening from Serbia.
Is there a list of all twenty-four somewhere? I can only remember about ten.
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