Shri Vasudevanand Saraswati (Marathi: श्री.वासुदेवानंद सरस्वती/टेंबे स्वामी)(1854–1914), also known as Tembe Swami is a saint, who is regarded as an incarnation of Lord Dattatreya. His original name is Vasudeo, father's name is Ganeshbhatt, mother's name is Ramabai and grandfather's name is Haribhatt. As per the lunar calendar he was born on Shravan Vadya 5, Shalivahan Shaka 1776, 26 ghatika after sunrise at Mangaon, near Sawantwadi, Maharashtra.
At the age of three years Vasudeo started attending the private school held in the Yakshini temple in the village. He had to learn writing with his fingers on a layer of dust, a very tiring and painful practice. Apart from the secular education in the school, Vasudeo also received traditional oral education from his grandpa Hari Bhataji. With his sharp intellect and quick memory Vasudeo soon mastered the basics of Sanskrit grammar and poetry.
In 1875 he was married to Bayo, later renamed Annapurnabai, daughter of Babajipant Gode from Ranjangad at the age of 21 years.
He established Shri Datta Mandir in Mangaon in 1883. The construction of the sanctum was carried out with his own hands. The Datta murti in the temple was given to him by a sculptor at Kagal, who said that Lord Dattatreya had appeared in his dreams and ordered him to make the idol for Maharaj as per his specifications.
He was an expert Sanskrit scholar right from his childhood. His fame increased over the years and he became Vasudevanand Saraswati after visiting Narasoba Wadi, one of the famous Dattatreya temple where Shri Narasimha Saraswati stayed for 12 years, 500 years before.
He has authored around 19 books like Dwisahastri Gurucharitra(1889), Datta Puran(1892), Datta Mahatmya(1901), Saptashati Gurucharitra Saar(1904) and many more.
The holy book Gurucharitra was not supposed to be read by women according to Maharaj. Hence, for women to gain knowledge of the book, he wrote The Saptashati Gurucharitra Saar, a short version of the Gurucharitra.
He took sanyas 13 days after his wife's death in 1891, at the banks of the River Godavari when a sanyasi appeared from across the river and administered the vows of sanyas. Later, he was given the 'dand' (monastic sceptre) by Shri Narayanand Saraswati at Ujjaini.
He took Maha Samadhi on 1914 on Tuesday, Ashadh Shuddha Pratipada. His body was put into the Narmada River. His samadhi has been built on the banks of Narmada River at Garudeshwar. There is a famous Datta Mandir in the same place at Garudeshwar.