In Maharashtra and Karnataka and partly in Gujarat and Andhra states,
Lord Dattatreya is being worshipped very widely. The Lord has taken many incarnations as human forms in order to uplift and help people on spiritual path.
The incarnations are - Shripada SriVallabha, Shri Narasimha Saraswati, Shri Manikprabhu at Maniknagar, Shri Swami Samartha at Akkalkot, Swami Shri Krishna Saraswati at Kolhapur,
Shri Saibaba at Shirdi, Annabua at Miraj and Dhondibua Paluskar.

Shri Krishna Saraswati Swami of Kolhapur is also known widely as Dattaswami as he is incarnation of Lord Dattatreya. He stayed at Kolhapur in Kumbhar Lane (Potters Lane) and hence he was called as Kumbharswami. Swami had initiated many followers in spiritual path of which Namdev Maharaj became very much famous in Kolhapur after Swami. Namdev Maharaj left his body at the age of 130 years in 1970AD. Meanwhile our Master- Guruvarya Appa (Shrisadguru Madhavrao Tikekar, Mumbai, born 13th June 1929) got a directive from Swami in 1970AD, to give spiritual initiation to deserving persons and as such Guruvarya Appa has initiated more than 2500 people. Namdev Maharaj had initiated many, of whom Shri Nanasahem Gadre from Pune carried the path forward.