Anasuya – The Chaste Wife of Atri

Entities

Anasuya, revered for her unmatched chastity, is the wife of the sage Atri, one of the Saptarishis. Her virtue was so profound that, upon testing by Narada, it was said she could perform miraculous feats, such as baking iron beans without fire. Envious, the goddesses Parvati, Lakshmi, and Saraswati challenged her chastity, instructing their husbands—Shiva, Vishnu, and Brahma—to tempt her. Disguised as young sages, they requested food to be served by her while unclothed, as per their supposed vows. Recognizing them, Anasuya transformed them into infants, enabling her to feed them in a pure, motherly manner without compromising her dignity.

Upon Atri’s return, Anasuya explained the events, and, at his request, she restored the three gods to their divine forms. Impressed, they blessed the saintly couple with a boon. In response, Atri and Anasuya expressed their desire to witness the divine trinity as a single entity. Thus, the gods merged to form Dattatreya, embodying qualities of all three, blessing the couple and their hermitage. Anasuya’s extraordinary devotion to her husband and moral strength solidified her status as an exemplar of virtue in Hindu mythology, respected by all divine beings.

Leave a Comment