Swami Samarth is considered the third incarnation of Lord Dattatreya. He is seen here seated under a banyan tree, in front of Lord Dattatreya.
Lord Dattatreya appears is that of an ascetic with 3 heads & 6 arms (symbolizing the unification of the three Gods Brahma, Vishnu & Shiva). His whole body is covered with Vibhuti (holy ash). He has an aura of a rising Sun around him and has lustrous Jatta (long hair) tied in a knot over his head. His arms are seen to be holding various objects each of which has a spiritual connotation. Thus, he is seen with a Mala (rosary), Kamandalu (holy pot), Damaru (holy musical instrument), Trishul (trident), Shankh (conch) and Chakra (a holy weapon).
A cow with him represents the mother earth and four dogs at his feet, the four Vedas (the Holiest Hindu scriptures).
Out of the 24 incarnations of God described in Shrimad Bhagawat (a Holy Scripture), the incarnation in the form of “Dattatreya Avadhoot” (Dattatreya the Ascetic) is the sixth one.
