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{{Short description|Sage in Hinduism}}
{{About|the Vedic sage}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox deity
| affiliation = Brahmarshi
| image = Rama visits Atri.jpg
| caption = [[Rama]] visiting Atri's hermitage. As Atri talks to Rama and his brother [[Lakshmana]], [[Anusuya]] talks with his wife [[Sita]]
| father = [[Brahma]]
| spouse = [[Anasuya]]
| children = [[Durvasa]], [[Chandra]] and [[Dattatreya]]
| type = hindu
}}

'''Atri''' or '''Attri''' is a Vedic sage, who is credited with composing numerous [[shlokas]] to [[Agni]], [[Indra]], and other [[Historical Vedic religion|Vedic]] deities of [[Hinduism]]. Atri is one of the [[Saptarishi]] (seven great Vedic sages) in the Hindu tradition, and the one most mentioned in the [[Rigveda]].<ref name="Rigopoulos1998p2">{{cite book|author=Antonio Rigopoulos|title=Dattatreya: The Immortal Guru, Yogin, and Avatara |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZM-BlvaqAf0C |year=1998|publisher=State University of New York Press|isbn=978-0-7914-3696-7|pages=2–4}}</ref>

The fifth Mandala (Book 5) of the Rigveda is called the Atri Mandala in his honour, and the eighty seven shlokas in it are attributed to him and his descendants.<ref>{{cite book|author1=Stephanie W. Jamison|author-link=Stephanie W. Jamison|author2=Joel P. Brereton|title=The Rigveda|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1-PRAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA659|year=2014|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |isbn=978-0-19-937018-4|pages=659–660}}</ref>

Atri is also mentioned in the [[Purana]]s and the Hindu epics of the [[Ramayana]] and the [[Mahabharata]].<ref name="Alf Hiltebeitel 2016 55–56, 129">{{cite book|author=Alf Hiltebeitel|title=Nonviolence in the Mahabharata: Siva’s Summa on Rishidharma and the Gleaners of Kurukshetra|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7abOCwAAQBAJ|year=2016|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-317-23877-5|pages=55–56, 129}}</ref><ref name="Dalal2010p49">{{cite book|author=Roshen Dalal|title=Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DH0vmD8ghdMC|year=2010|publisher=Penguin Books|isbn=978-0-14-341421-6|page=49}}</ref>

== Legend ==
[[File:Atri Maharshi.jpg|thumb|Atri statue at [[Atreyapuram]] village of AP.]]
Atri is one of the seven great rishis ([[saptarshi]]) of the current [[Vaivasvata Manu|Vaivasvata manvantara]], along with [[Agastya]], [[Bhardwaja]], [[Gautama]], [[Jamadagni]], [[Vashistha]], and [[Vishvamitra]].<ref name="Rigopoulos1998p2"/><ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Archive |first=Internet Sacred Text |title=The Vishnu Purana: Book III: Chapter I {{!}} Sacred Texts Archive |url=https://sacred-texts.com/hin/vp/vp075.htm |access-date=2025-08-10 |website=Internet Sacred Text Archive |language=English}}</ref> Atri is a [[Mānasaputra|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. As such, Atri symbolizes the tongue, which emphasizes his wisdom and knowledge of the [[Vedas]].<ref name="sage" />

According to legends of the Vedic era, Atri was married to [[Anasuya]] Devi, who is considered to be one of the seven female [[Pativrata|pativratas]]. They had three sons: [[Dattatreya]], [[Durvasa]], and [[Chandra]].<ref name="Rigopoulos1998p1">{{cite book|author=Antonio Rigopoulos|title=Dattatreya: The Immortal Guru, Yogin, and Avatara |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZM-BlvaqAf0C |year=1998|publisher=State University of New York Press|isbn=978-0-7914-3696-7|pages=1–3}}</ref> According to the [[Bhagavata Purana|Bhagavada Purana]], when instructed by Brahma to contribute to the world's creation, Atri, along with Anusuya, performed severe austerities ([[Tapas (Indian religions)|tapas]]) on the [[Riksha Mountains|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.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Motilal Banarsidass Publishers |url=http://archive.org/details/bhagavatapuranamotilalenglishfull |title=Bhagavata Purana Motilal English Full}}</ref> 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.<ref name="sage" />

Atri is mentioned in various scriptures, the ''[[Rig Veda]]'' being the most notable. He is also associated with various ages, such as the [[Treta Yuga]] during the ''[[Ramayana]]'', when he and Anasuya advised [[Rama]] and his wife [[Sita]]. The pair is also attributed to bringing river [[Ganga]] down to earth, as mentioned in the ''[[Shiva Purana]]''.<ref name="sage">{{cite book|title=Ancient sages|pages=17–20|publisher=Sri Ramakrishna Math|location=Mylapore, Chennai|last=Sathyamayananda|first=Swami|isbn=81-7505-356-9}}</ref>

He is said to have been a resident of the south, according to the [[Valmiki Ramayana]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Ramayana|first=Valmiki|title=Ramayana of Valmiki|publisher=Hari Prasad Shastri|year=1952|isbn=9789333119597|location=India|pages=Book 7, chapter 1}}</ref> Puranic tradition supports this as well.

== Seer of Rig Veda ==
[[File:Bhagavata_Purana_manuscript,_18_century.jpg|left|thumb|250x250px|A Bhagavata Purana manuscript page depicting the story of Atri and Anasuya meeting the [[Trimurti]] (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]].<ref>{{cite book|author1=Stephanie W. Jamison|author2=Joel P. Brereton|title=The Rigveda|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1-PRAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA659|year=2014|publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-937018-4|pages=659–771}}</ref> 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''.<ref name="Dalal2010p49" />

The Atri shlokas of the Rigveda are significant for their melodic structure as well as for featuring spiritual ideas in the form of riddles. These shlokas include lexical, syntactic, morphological and verb play utilizing the flexibility of the Sanskrit language.<ref name=brereton2014p660>{{cite book|author1=Stephanie W. Jamison|author2=Joel P. Brereton|title=The Rigveda|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1-PRAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA659|year=2014|publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-937018-4|page=660}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite book|author1=Stephanie W. Jamison|author2=Joel P. Brereton|title=The Rigveda|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1-PRAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA659|year=2014|publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-937018-4|pages=660, 714–715}}</ref> 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.<ref name=brereton2014p660/>

While the fifth mandala is attributed to Atri and his associates, sage Atri is mentioned or credited with numerous other verses of the Rigveda in other Mandalas, such as 10.137.4.<ref>{{cite book|author1=Stephanie W. Jamison|author2=Joel P. Brereton|title=The Rigveda|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1-PRAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA659|year=2014|publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-937018-4|pages=1622–1623}}</ref>

== 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,<ref name="Dalal2010p49"/> near a lake with divine music and songs, the water loaded with flowers, green water leaves, and with many "cranes, fisherbirds, floating tortoises, swans, frogs and pink geese."<ref name="Alf Hiltebeitel 2016 55–56, 129"/> During the visit, Anusuya tells Sita to ask for a boon. However, Sita does not wish for anything, so Anusuya gives her a "precious robe" made of "heavenly fabric, rich and rare" as well as some pure and heavenly ornaments.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Wilkins |first=William Joseph |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Hindu_Mythology_Vedic_and_Pur%C4%81nic/_mmQ8oC7BJMC?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PA308&printsec=frontcover&dq=atri |title=Hindu Mythology, Vedic and Purānic |date=1882 |publisher=Thacker, Spink & Company |page= |pages=307-311 |language=en}}</ref>

== 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 [[Rishi]]s who had the same name.<ref name="Dalal2010p49"/>

== Cultural influence ==
[[File:Sri Vikhanasa Maharishi.jpg|thumb|Left to right: Atri, Bhrigu, Vikhanasa, Marichi and Kashyapa.]]
The [[Vaikhanasas]] sub-tradition within [[Vaishnavism]] found in South India near Tirupati, credit their theology to four [[Rishi]]s (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.<ref>{{cite book|author=Jan Gonda|title=Aspects of Early Viṣṇuism|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=b8urRsuUJ9oC |year=1969|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass|isbn=978-81-208-1087-7|pages=241–242 with footnote 30}}</ref> The text are rules of conduct aimed at Brahmins of the ''Vaikhanasas'' tradition.<ref>{{cite book|author1=Atri (Mahaṛiṣi.)|author2=V. Raghunathachakravarti Bhattacharya|author3=Mānavalli Rāmakr̥ṣṇakavi|title=Samurtarchanadhikarana (Atri-samhita)|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_lM_AAAAIAAJ|year=1943|publisher=Tirumalai-Tirupati Devasthanams Press}}</ref> 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|
<poem>
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''.
</poem>
|Atri Samhita|Translated by MN Dutt<ref>{{cite book|author=Manmatha Nath Dutt|title=Yâjnawalkya Samhitâ. Hârita Samhitâ. Us'ana Samhitâ. Angiras Samhitâ. Yama Samhitâ. Atri Samhitâ. Samvarta Samhitâ. Kâtyayana Samhitâ. Vrihaspati Samhitâ. Daksha Samhitâ. Sâtâtapa Samhitâ. Likhita Samhitâ. Vyâsa Samhitâ|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cnMrAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA291-IA3|year=1908|publisher=Elysium Press|page=291}}</ref>}}

The Vaikhanasas continue to be a significant community in South India, and they adhere to their Vedic heritage.<ref>J. Gonda (1977), [https://www.jstor.org/stable/616501 Religious Thought and Practice in Vaikhānasa Viṣṇuism], Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies, Cambridge University Press, Volume 40, Number 3, pages 550-571</ref>

==See also==
{{Commons category}}
{{Portal|Hinduism}}
*[[Abhyasa]]
*[[Atri's Eclipse]]
*[[List of Indian philosophers]]
*[[Bhartrihari]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Sources==
{{refbegin}}
* {{Citation | last =Anthony | first =David W. | year =2007 | title =The Horse The Wheel And Language. How Bronze-Age Riders From the Eurasian Steppes Shaped The Modern World | publisher =Princeton University Press}}
* {{Citation | last =Flood | first =Gavin D. | author-link = Gavin Flood | year =1996 | title =An Introduction to Hinduism | publisher =Cambridge University Press}}
* {{cite book | last = Kambhampati | first = Parvathi Kumar |year = 2000 | title = Sri Dattatreya | url = http://www.worldteachertrust.org/bk/dattatreya/index.html | publisher = Dhanishta| location = Visakhapatnam | edition=First}}
* Rigopoulos, Antonio (1998). ''Dattatreya: The Immortal Guru, Yogin, and Avatara''. New York: State University of New York Press. {{ISBN|0-7914-3696-9}}
* {{Citation|last=Witzel |first=Michael |year=1995 |title=Early Sanskritization: Origin and Development of the Kuru state |journal=EJVS |volume=1 |issue=4 |url=http://www.ejvs.laurasianacademy.com/ejvs0104/ejvs0104article.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120220153727/http://www.ejvs.laurasianacademy.com/ejvs0104/ejvs0104article.pdf |archive-date=20 February 2012 }}
{{refend}}

{{Rishis of Hindu mythology}}
{{HinduMythology}}
{{Rigveda}}
{{Hindudharma}}

[[Category:Brahmin gotras]]
[[Category:Rishis]]
[[Category:Prajapatis]]
[[Category:Gotras]]
[[Category:Rigvedic deities]]
[[Category:Saptarishi]]

Atri - Revision history

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