ATRI
Maharishi
Atri is one of the Manasputra of Brahma and first of the Saptrshis
created by Bramha.
Atri was created from the eyes of Bramha. He married Anasuya,
the daughter of Kardam and Devahuti. He was father of Soma, Dattatreya
and Durvasa, who were the incarnations Lord Brahma, Vishnu and
Mahesh.
![](Rama_visits_Atri.jpg)
Ram
visiting Atri's hermitage. As Atri talks to Ram and his brother
Lakshman, Anusuya talks with his wife Sita
Affiliation : Brahmarshi
Personal information
Parents
Father : Brahma
Spouse : Anasuya
Children : Durvasa, Chandra and Dattatreya
Atri
or Attri is a Vedic sage, who is credited with composing numerous
hymns to Agni, Indra and other Vedic deities of Hinduism. Atri
is one of the Saptarishi (seven great Vedic sages) in the Hindu
tradition, and the one most mentioned in its scripture Rigved.
The
fifth Mandal (Book 5) of Rigved is called the Atri Mandal in his
honour, and the eighty seven hymns in it are attributed to him
and his descendants.
Atri
is also mentioned in the Purans and the Hindu Epics such as the
Ramayan and the Mahabharat.
Life
:
![](549px-Mahavishnu_and_the_Brahma_Rudras_appear_in_front_of_Saint_Atri.jpg)
Mahavishnu
and the Brahma Rudras appear in front of Saint Atri
Atri is one of the seven great Rishi or Saptarshi along with Marichi,
Angiras, Pulah, Kratu, Pulastya and Vashisth. According to the
legends of the Vedic era, sage Atri was married to Anasuya Devi.
They had three sons, Dattatreya, Durvasas and Chandra. As per
divine account, he is the last among the seven saptharishis and
is believed to have originated from the tongue. The wife of Atri
was Anasuya, who is considered one of the seven female pativratas.
When instructed by divine voice to do penance, Atri readily agreed
and did severe penance. Pleased by his devotion and prayers, the
Hindu trinity, namely, Brahma, Vishnu and Shiv appeared before
him and offered him boons. He sought all the three to be born
to him. Another version of the legend states that Anasuya, by
the powers of her chastity, rescued the three gods and in return,
they were born as children to her. Brahma was born to her as Chandra,
Vishnu as Dattatreya and Shiv in some part as Durvasa. The mention
about Atri is found in various scriptures, with the notable being
in Rig Ved. He is also associated with various ages, the notable
being in Treta Yug during Ramayan, when he and Anasuya advised
Ram and his wife Sita. The pair is also attributed to bringing
river Ganga down to earth, the mention of which is found in Shiv
Puran.
Seer
of Rig Ved :
He is the seer of the fifth Mandal (Book 5) of the Rigved. Atri
had many sons and disciples who have also contributed in the compilation
of the Rig Ved and other Vedic texts. Mandal 5 comprises 87 hymns,
mainly to Agni and Indra, but also to the Visvedevas ("all
the gods'), the Maruts, the twin-deity Mitra-Varun and the Ashvins.
Two hymns each are dedicated to Ushas (the dawn) and to Savitr.
Most hymns in this book are attributed to the Atri clan composers,
called the Atreyas. These hymns of Rigved was composed in the
northern region of the Indian subcontinent, most likely between
c. 3500–3000 BCE.
The
Atri hymns of the Rigved are significant for their melodic structure
as well as for featuring spiritual ideas in the form of riddles.
These hymns include lexical, syntactic, morphological and verb
play utilizing the flexibility of the Sanskrit language. The hymn
5.44 of the Rigved in Atri Mandal is considered by scholars such
as Geldner to be the most difficult riddle hymn in all of the
Rigved. The verses are also known for their elegant presentation
of natural phenomenon through metaphors, such as poetically presenting
dawn as a cheerful woman in hymn 5.80.
While
the fifth mandal is attributed to Atri and his associates, sage
Atri is mentioned or credited with numerous other verses of the
Rigved in other Mandals, such as 10.137.4.
Ramayan
:
In the Ramayan, Ram, Sita and Lakshman visit Atri and Anasuya
in their hermitage. Atri's hut is described to be in Chitrakut,
near a lake with divine music and songs, the water loaded with
flowers, green water leaves, with many "cranes, fisherbirds,
floating tortoises, swans, frogs and pink geese".
Purans
:
A number of sages named Atri are mentioned in the various medieval
era Purans. The mythical legends therein about Atri are diverse
and inconsistent. It is unclear if these refer to the same person,
or to different Rishis who had the same name.
Cultural
influence :
![](640px-Sri_Vikhanasa_Maharishi.jpg)
Left
to right : Atri, Bhrigu, Vikhanas, Marichi and Kashyap
The Vaikhanas sub-tradition within Vaishnavism found in South
India near Tirupati, credit their theology to four Rishis (sages),
namely Atri, Marici, Bhrigu and Kashyap. One of the ancient texts
of this tradition is Atri Samhita, which survives in highly inconsistent
fragments of manuscripts. The text are rules of conduct aimed
at Brahmins of the Vaikhanas tradition. The surviving parts of
the Atri Samhita suggest that the text discussed, among other
things, Yog and ethics of living, with precepts such as :
Self
restraint :
• If
material or spiritual pain is created by others, and one is not
offended and does not wreak revenge, it is called Daam.
Charity :
• Even
with limited income, something should be given away daily with
care and liberal spirit. This is called Daan.
Compassion :
• One
should behave like his own self, towards others, his own relations
and friends, him who envies him, and even his enemy. This is called
Daya.
— Atri Samhita, Translated by MN Dutt
The Vaikhanas continue to be a significant community in South
India, and they adhere to their Vedic heritage.
Source
:
https://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Atri