There is an interesting story in the Puranas that narrate
how Anasuya had the opportunity to become the mother of Trimurtis – Brahma,
Vishnu and Shiva. This is the story of the birth of Dattatreya. Anasuya was the daughter of Sage Kardama and his wife Devahuti.
She was married to the famous Sage Atri. Anasuya was extremely pious and
performed intense austerities. Anasuya means one who is free from jealousy and
envy. She was also a devoted wife who always followed Dharma.
Legend has it that Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva decided to take
a test of Anasuya. They appeared at her Ashram in the form of saints at her
ashram. As Sage Atri was not in the ashram, she attended to their needs. The
saints told her that they were performing a different kind of austerity and wanted
someone who would serve them food naked.
Anasuya could not refuse food to the saints. So she agreed
to serve food naked.
So powerful was the Tapa Shakti of Anasuya that her purity
turned the three saints into new born babies. She then fed them.
It is said that Goddess Saraswati, Goddess Lakshmi and
Goddess Parvati then appeared before Anasuya and pleaded to her to restore the
Trimurtis to their original form.
She was offered a boon by the goddesses. As a boon she asked
Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva to be born as her sons.
The three gods were born as Dattatreya to Anasuya.
Symbolically the story suggests that Gods go to
any length to reward those who follow Dharma. They will become husbands,
daughters, sons, brothers to bless those who follow Dharma.