Anusuya and the Trimurtis

Anusuya and the Trimurthis

The Rishis and Rishipathnis (their wives) are an important part of the narratives of our Puranas and folklore. There are many well known tales that we use as examples in our everyday life. For example, a short tempered person is described: “That person is like Durvasa”. In this story, we talk about the story of a Rishipathni, Anusuya.

Anusuya was born to Prajapati Kardama and Devahuti, the daughter of Svayambhu Manu. Anusuya was the sister of Sage Kapiala and also had eight sisters. Anusuya means one without any jealousy. Anusuya and all her eight sisters were married off to various sages. Anusuya was married to Sage Atri.

Anusuya was a gentle and kind person. She was extremely devoted to her husband and was considered a shining example of how a woman should run her family. Her fame spread across the three worlds and she was known as Sati Anusuya.

The Tridevis – Lakshmi, Saraswati and Parvati – were very proud of their devotion to their husbands and their place next to them. The Trimurthis (Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva) wanted to highlight Anusuya’s qualities to the world and to their wives. They decided to play a small drama. They called Devarishi Narada to help them in this. He gladly agreed.

As directed by the Trimuthis, Narada first went to Vaikunta. He saluted Lakshmi Devi and praised her beauty and aura. She asked him about his travels. Narada said “Very well. Earlier there was only Vaikunta and Kailasha were I found bliss. Now I find that in Bhuloka in Anusuya’s ashram.” Narada went on and on about Anusuya and her conduct and her devotion to her husband. After he left, Lakshmi devi was both curious and irritated. She told her husband, Lord Vishnu, “I want you to go to Bhuloka and check on this person. I want you to make her do something wrong so that next time Narada comes I can tell him that he was unnecessarily praising a human.”

Narada went straight to Kailash from there. He saw Parvati helping Shiva in his daily rituals. After that Parvati devi gave him the laddu prashad. Narada ate the prashad and said “Hmmmm...hmmm. Its as tasty as the other laddu.” Parvati got surprised “What other laddu? We make the best laddus in Kailash. Who else gave you tasty laddu.” Narada pretended to be diplomatic. He said “Leave that Deviji. Give me one more laddu.” Parvati was very curious by now. She said “You will not get any laddu till you tell me.” Narada pretended like he was unhappy about revealing the truth. He said “Ok. Since you insist so much I will tell you. I have had better laddus in Sage Atri’s hut. His wife’s devotion to the Sage gives the entire hermitage and the food and the surroundings a divine aura. Anyway, Ma. I need to take leave.”

Narada left the place innocently as if he did not realise the mischief he had played. He then went to Brahmalok and said the same to Saraswati. Only in that case he told her that he heard more divine music in Sage Atri’s hermitage, making her also jealous.

Like Ma Lakshmi, Ma Parvati and Ma Saraswati also went to their husbands and told them to go to Bhuloka and verify about Anusuya and her greatness. They also wanted them to test Anusuya and see if she makes any mistake.

While Lord Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswara were amused at this jealousy of the goddesses, they decided to be sporty about it. They also knew that this whole episode was the way of showing the greatness of Anusuya to the universe.

They disguised themselves as sages and went to Anusuya’s ashram. They made sure they went when Sage Atri and others were not in the ashram. Anusuya saw the sages in front of the ashram. As was the practice, welcomed them and gave them water and seat.

The sages then told her that they had travelled a long distance and were hungry. They requested her for some food. Anusuya was pleased that she could do Annadhanam to these saintly people. She went in and prepared the food.

Anusuya came out to serve the food to the sages after it was done and they can have their meal. The sages looked at her and then hesitantly told her that they can only take food either from children or from adults who serve them without wearing any clothes. They said that they had taken this vow as they wanted to live as close to nature as possible. They said that they can only take the food that she served, if she was prepared to serve them without wearing clothes.

Anusuya was surprised at this strange condition. She did not respond immediately. She quietly went back into her hut and prayed to her Guru and husband. Anusuya had a flash of realisation. She realised that the three sages waiting in the hut were not other than the Trimurthi - Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswara. She realised that this was a test and she had to find a way out of this without hurting them or giving up her modesty.

Anusuya prayed to the Brahmand and her Guru and came out. She sprinkled water on the sages and said “If it is true that I am totally devoted to my husband in mind and spirit, then let these sages become children who are beyond anger, shame, conceit and jealousy. Let the Brahmand that I pray to and the husband that I love and respect help me come out of the situation without hurting my guests or my dignity.”

The moment she sprinkled the water, the Trimurtis became small children and were crawling inside the hut. The Devis Lakshmi, Parvati and Saraswati who were watching the entire drama from outside were humbled. At the same time they were happy they helped in highlighting the greatness of woman to the world.

Sage Atri was back by then. He was surprised to see the three children and the Devis. Anusuya explained what transpired to her husband. The Devis blessed Anusuya and requested her to change their appearance from the children to Trimurtis again. Anusuya gladly changed the babies to their original divine forms again.

Anusuya took the blessings of all the three divine couples. They blessed her saying that Anusuya’s name will be included in the list of great and pious women till human kind existed. Sage Atri also took the blessings of the divine couples and was amused at the divine drama that was played and his wife’s smart countering of the issue.

Anusuya is till date considered an example of a devoted wife. When Sita came with Rama to the forest, she and Rama visited Anusuya’s hermitage located in the outskirts of Chitrakoot. Anusuya blessed Ma Sita and gave her many clothes that do not get dirty and many jewels. 

It is said that when there was a severe drought in Chitrakoot. Anusuya did severe penance and brought the river Mandakini to Chitrakoot.

The ashram of Sati Anusuya is still there in Chitrakoot attracting many visitors throughout the year.