Sage Atri is one of the Saptarishis and is believed to have
appeared from the mind of Brahma. Saptarishis are progenitors of mankind and emerged
from Brahma. Sage Atri is the father of Dattatreya.
As per Matsya Purana Chapter 118, Ashram of Sage Atri was
located in the Himalayas near the origin of the Airavati River .
The place was inaccessible to people. Sage Atri performed intense austerities
here.
As per Harivamsa Purana and Brahmanda Purana, the Rishi
attained extraordinary powers or Siddhis by performing penance at Rksha or
Rkshavana.
Two mantras in the Rig Veda (1/116/8 and 1/117/3) were
chanted by the Rishi when He and his family members and other saints were
captured by demons and put in a torture chamber heated by straw. After chanting
the mantra, Ashwini Kumars cooled the chamber by creating snow fall.
Sage Atri was married to Anasuya, daughter of Daksha
Prajapati. Atri and Anasuya had three sons – Dattatreya, Soma, Durvasa. They
also had a daughter who was known as Atreyi.
In Ramayana (2.117 – 119), Rama, Sita and Lakshman had
stayed in the Ashram of Sage Atri and Anasuya.
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