aTTACHED WORD DOC ON aTRI AS PER iNDIAN TEXTS KR IRS 26226 whether atri is sudra?
On Wed, 25 Feb 2026 at 11:36, 'gopala krishnan' via Thatha_Patty < [email protected]> wrote: > *SAGE ATRI- PART 2**Continuing from part 1* > > *Devayani incident* > > I ended the first part with kings in the lineage of sage Atri. Of them, > Yati and Yayati were the children of Nahush. *Yayati had two wives, > Devayani and Sharmistha.* > > The quarrel between *Devayani (daughter of the sage Shukracharya)* and > Sharmishtha (daughter of the Asura King Vrishaparva) originated from a > dispute over clothes after bathing in a lake, which quickly escalated into > a conflict over caste and status. > > The specific incident and its consequences are as follows: > > The Incident at the Lake: While bathing with a group of friends, a wind > scattered their garments. *Upon returning, Sharmishtha accidentally > donned Devayani’s clothing. *Because Devayani was a Brahmin (daughter of > the guru) and Sharmishtha a Kshatriya (princess), this mistake was viewed > as a deliberate insult to her station. > > The Confrontation: Devayani grew furious, accusing Sharmishtha of > dressing above her station and *likening her to a "dog eating up the > offerings meant for a yajna*". > > Sharmishtha, irritated by the insults and arguing that she, as a princess, > was superior to the daughter of a hired priest, tore off the garments. > > The Violence: Enraged, Sharmishtha pushed Devayani into a dry well and > left her there, assuming she would die. > > The Resolution: King Yayati, who was hunting, *discovered and rescued > Devayani*. > > As a result of this humiliation, Devayani demanded that her father, > Shukracharya, force Sharmishtha to become her slave. *To prevent > Shukracharya from leaving the kingdom, King Vrishaparva agreed, and > Sharmishtha became a servant to Devayani. * > > This event eventually led to the marriage of Yayati and Devayani, with > Sharmishtha accompanying them as a servant, only to later violate the > conditions set by Devayani > > *Sharmishtha becomes the second wife of Yayati, due to which she becomes > an ancestor of the Pandavas and the Kauravas.* > > She is featured as a friend of Devayani, for whom she later becomes a > servant. *Her story is told by Vaisampayana in the Adi Parva of the > Mahabharata.* > > In the event, Devayani, still angered by Sharmistha's assassination > attempt in the forest, is bent on revenge. She tells her father that she > would not go back to the capital until Sharmishtha serves as her handmaiden > for the rest of her life. Shukracharya also leaves the capital to stay with > his dearest daughter. Seeing the plight of her father, King Vrishaparvan, > Sharmishtha sacrifices her royal status, and agrees to take up the role of > a handmaiden to Devayani, to protect her kingdom's interests. Devayani > comes back to the capital along with her father, and enjoys the servitude > of Sharmishtha. > > Affair > > After a period of time, Devayani returns to the same forest, along with > Sharmishtha and her other servants. Yayati comes to the spot for hunting, > and they meet again.* The king and the Brahmana's daughter fall in love*, > and so the former asks for Devayani's hand from Shukra, as was custom. > > *Shukra offers his consent readily*, but warns Yayati that he is not to > have nuptial relations with Sharmishtha. Yayati marries Devayani, and looks > after her well in his palace. > > The king erects a mansion specifically for the erstwhile princess, near > the artificial woods called the Aśokavanikā, tending to her every need, but > remaining faithful to Devayani. > > After Devayani bears her first child, Sharmishtha comes across the king at > the Aśokavanikā, and solicits an affair with him. While Yayati admits that > he finds the princess beautiful, he refuses, stating that he had promised > not to lay with her to Shukra. *Sharmishtha attempts to persuade him to > sleep with her. She appeals to his position as a monarch, stating that it > is duty to fulfil the desires of his subjects, as well as reasoning that as > Devayani's servant, she held no identity, and since Devayani belonged to > him, she belonged to him as well:* > > 'O monarch, one may look upon her friend’s husband as her own. One’s > friend’s marriage is the same as one’s own. You have been chosen by my > friend as her husband. You are as much my husband, therefore.'— > Mahabharata, Sambhava Parva, Section LXXXII > > Convinced by the princess, Yayati sleeps with her, and in due course, she > birth to three sons: *Druhyu, Anudruhyu, and Puru.]* > > Once, Yayati and Devayani chance upon Sharmishtha's children in a garden, > and the children reveal their mother's identity. Furious, Devayani storms > off to the realm of the asuras, informing her father of Yayati's affair. > > Shukra curses Yayati to suffer the infirmities of old age in his youth. > When the king begs him to release him from the curse, Shukra relents, > stating that it could be lifted if one of his sons agreed to suffer the > curse in his place, offering the king his youthfulness. *Only Puru > accepts to bear the burden of the curse among all the king's issue, and so > he is designated as Yayati's heir.* > > After enjoying his sensuous youth for a thousand years, *Yayati accepts > the curse back from Puru, leaving the latter to reign as king.* Puru > becomes the ancestor of the eponymous cadet-branch of the Chandravamsha > called the Pauravas, whose successors would eventually give rise to the > Kuruvamsha, the dynasty of the Pandavas and the Kauravas > > My note- I have detailed the incidents for two reasons. *1. How the > Kuruvamsha, Pandavas and Kaouravas lineage related to to sage Atri. * > > *2. Sukracharya- The guru of demons. Though right or wrong he goes to any > extent for the happiness of the daughter.* > > 3. One can see a father born in lagna Idavam/ Thulam and Sukra is well > placed and powerfull, he will be to any extent for the happiness of > their daughter/daughters than to wife or other male children. > > Yayati had five children, Yadu, Turvasu, Drhyu, Anu and Puru. Yadu is > the progenitor of the Yadavas, Turvasu was of the Yavanas (Greeks), Drhyu > of Bhojas, Anu of Mlecchas and Puru of the Pauravas. They represent the > ancient warrior clans who ruled different parts of the land known as > Aryavarta, the land of the Aryas. > > Atri’s lineage also consists of the names of a few seers and sages such > as *Sāvāsva, Avistir, and Pūrvātithi, Mudgala, Uddālaki, Shākalāyani, > Chāndogya, etc.* > > *Atri and Indra* > > Atri’s name appears in a few legends associated with Indra. In one, he was > responsible for his defeat and humiliation when he tried to steal a > sacrificial horse from Prithu against the wishes of the sage. > > * In another, he revived his powers when he was engaged in a prolonged > battle with the demons and his power was diminished by Rahu and Ketu. * > > *It is also said that Atri’s action against Indra in the former instance > prompted the devas to churn the ocean and extract Amrit, the nectar of > immortality so that they would remain invincible and immortal*. > > *Sita and Aanasuya**-*Atri- Mention in Ramayana > > Atri is also mentioned in the Ramayana and Mahabharata. It is stated that > during his exile, Lord Rama met with Atri who told him about Dandakaranya, > the deep forest which existed beyond the Vindhyas, while *Sati Anasuya > revealed to Sita the duties of a chaste wife (pativrata dharma).* > > Atri- Mention in Mahabharatha > > In the Mahabharata, Atri is mentioned in the Yuddha Parva, when > Dronacharya was fighting a fierce battle and about inflict a great harm > upon the Pandavas with uncontrollable anger, thinking that his son, > Asvatthma, died. Atri appeared on the battlefield and persuaded him to > stop fighting and give up his life for the sake of Dharma. > > *Originator of Brahmin and vaisya communities* > > Sage Atri is the ancestor of some Brahmin and Vaishya communities, *who > adopt Atri as their gothra*. His name means the possessor of Sat (pure), > Raja (medium) and Tama (dark) qualities. > > Based on Hindu scriptural tradition, Brahmarshi Atri is indeed revered as > a foundational progenitor, and his lineage includes both Brahmin and > various other communities, including Kshatriyas and Vaishyas. > > *Key Aspects of Sage Atri's Lineage and Role:* > > Ancestor of Communities: Many Brahmin communities in India and Nepal > trace their heritage back to Sage Atri, using "Atreya" as their Gotra > (lineage). Furthermore, the lineage of Sage Atri is considered the source > of the Lunar Dynasty (Chandravamsha). > > The "Atreya" Lineage: The descendants of Atri are known as Atreyas. While > many are Brahmins, the lineage also extends to other groups, including some > Vaishya and warrior (Kshatriya) communities. > > *Daughters of Sage Atri (Arundhati or Others)* > > The daughter of Sage Atri is often identified as *Arundhati, who was > given in marriage to Sage Vashistha.* > > Other sources indicate Atri and Anasuya had a daughter named Brahmavadini. > > Some sources also mention *Vishvavārā Atreyi* as a female seer who was a > daughter of Rishi Atri and Anasuya. She is referred to as Shubhatreyi in > certain narratives, or sometimes associated with the name Amala (Purity). > > Status as Brahmavadini: In the context of Vedic and Puranic literature, a > Brahmavadini is a woman who dedicates her life to spiritual knowledge, > studies the Vedas, and engages in philosophical discussions. As the > daughter of a Saptarshi (Sage Atri) and a highly chaste mother (Anasuya), > she is portrayed as embodying supreme virtue and spiritual wisdom. > > Context: While most narratives focus heavily on the birth of the > Trinity-incarnate sons to reward Atri and Anasuya's intense penance, the > inclusion of a daughter signifies the completion of their family and the > continuation of their virtuous lineage. > > Associated with Purity: Some sources, in detailing the children of Atri > and Anasuya, refer to this daughter as representing purity (Amala). > > I will continue as Next posting > > *Compiled and posted by R. Gopalakrishnan, 25-02-2026* > > > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Thatha_Patty" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > To view this discussion visit > https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/1217458734.1275555.1771999587130%40mail.yahoo.com > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/1217458734.1275555.1771999587130%40mail.yahoo.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > . > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/CAL5XZooPGFpgd0X6a724Ze%3Djh%2B-5U1P2njOP5TYoqD2Y145-7g%40mail.gmail.com.
Atri.docx
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