Atri

village of AP. Atri is one of the seven great rishis (saptarshi) of the current Vaivasvata manvantara, along with Agastya, Bhardwaja, Gautama, Jamadagni, Vashistha, and Vishvamitra. Atri is a mānasputra, one who is born from the mind of Brahma. The Brihadaranyaka Upanishad elaborates that each of the satparshis symbolize one sense or organ of Brahma. Atri symbolizes the tongue, which emphasizes his wisdom and knowledge of the Vedas. According to the Bhagavada Purana, when instructed by Brahma to contribute to the world's creation, Atri, along with Anusuya, performed severe austerities (tapas) on the Riksha mountain range. Pleased by their devotion and prayers, the Hindu trinity (Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva) appeared before the couple and offered them boons. Atri prayed to all three to be born to them. Chandra was born as an ansha (part) of Brahma, Dattatreya was born as an ansha of Vishnu, and Durvasa was born as an ansha of Shiva. Another version of the legend states that Anasuya, by the powers of her chastity, rescued the three gods, and in return, they were born to her as children. He is said to have been a resident of the south, according to the Valmiki Ramayana. Puranic tradition supports this as well. == Seer of Rig Veda ==

(PhP 4.1.21–25) (paper, late 18th century, Jaipur) He is the seer of the fifth Mandala (Book 5) of the Rigveda. Atri had many sons and disciples who have also contributed in the compilation of the Rig Veda and other Vedic texts. Mandala 5 comprises 87 shlokas, mainly to Agni and Indra, but also to the Visvedevas ("all the gods'), the Maruts, the twin-deity Mitra-Varuna and the Asvins. Two shlokas each are dedicated to Ushas (the dawn) and to Savitr. Most shlokas in this book are attributed to the Atri clan composers, called the Atreyas. The shloka 5.44 of the Rigveda in Atri Mandala is considered by scholars such as Geldner to be the most difficult riddle shloka in all of the Rigveda. The verses are also known for their elegant presentation of natural phenomenon through divinely inspired poems, such as poetically presenting dawn as a cheerful woman in shloka 5.80. == Ramayana ==

In the Ramayana, Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana visit the hermitage of Atri and Anasuya during their fourteen-year exile in the forest. Atri's hut is described to be in Chitrakuta, == Puranas ==

A number of sages named Atri are mentioned in the various medieval era Puranas. The 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 ==

The Vaikhanasas sub-tradition within Vaishnavism found in South India near Tirupati, credit their theology to four Rishis (sages), namely Atri, Marichi, Bhrigu and Kashyapa. 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 Vaikhanasas tradition. The surviving parts of the Atri Samhita suggest that the text discussed, among other things, yoga, and ethics of living, with precepts such as: {{Quote| Self restraint: • If material or spiritual pain is created by others, and one is not offended and does not wreak revenge, it is called Dama. Charity: • Even with limited income, something should be given away daily with care and liberal spirit. This is called Dana. 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. The Vaikhanasas continue to be a significant community in South India, and they adhere to their Vedic heritage. ==See also==