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Mahasati Anasuya

© Harsh Nevatia

Atri was the eldest of the seven sages created by Brahma during the process of the creation of the universe. He was married to Anasuya the daughter of Sage Kardam and Devahuti. Anasuya was popularly called Mahasati Anasuya. "Maha" is a prefix that means great, and sati is a woman known for fidelity and devotion to her husband.

Now the consorts of the Triad of Gods, Laxmi, Parvati and Saraswati could not digest the fact that any woman could be so revered. They called their husbands and demanded an explanation. The Gods said that Anasuya's reputation was because of her demonstrated fidelity in thought and deed. The Goddesses countered that they were equally virtuous so why should a mere earthling's fidelity be placed on a higher pedestal. They demanded that the title of "Mahasati" be withdrawn from Anasuya. The Gods pleaded helplessness. This title was bestowed by the people at large and hence only the people could withdraw it. The Goddesses issued and ultimatum. "Go down to Earth and do something that would ruin Anasuya's reputation so that the people would be forced to withdraw the title. Else we will return to our parents' homes forever." They warned.

The Gods, Vishnu, Shiva and Brahma hatched a plan. They waited till Sage Atri went on a long journey and approached Anasuya's home disguised as mendicants. They knocked on her door and were let in by Anasuya. They said that they were brahmins from out of town in need of food and were directed to her house. She asked them to wait and went to fetch something to eat. She soon returned with fruits and uncooked rice and sweets that were the standard offerings given to brahmins. But as she was about to give these to the brahmins, the one who appeared to be their chief asked her to wait. "We are no ordinary brahmins," he said. "We cannot accept donations from anyone who is clothed. Hence you will have to disrobe before you give us the offerings. Otherwise we will leave empty-handed."

Anasuya immediately realised that she was being tested by someone powerful. No human, no demi-God could dare to place such a demeaning condition before her. But she was in a quandary. If she complied she would lose the reputation of being a Mahasati that she had painstakingly built up over the years. And if she refused she would incur the sin of sending brahmins away from her home empty-handed. She knew that out of the two she would have to choose to comply with the unusual condition. But there had to be a third way. She summoned all the merits that she had accumulated and chanted a mantra. Immediately the three Gods were turned into crawling infants. One by one she took them to her bare breasts and suckled them. She had met the condition without harming her fidelity.

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