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== Legend ==
[[File:Atri Maharshi.jpg|thumb|Atri statue at [[Atreyapuram]] village of AP.]]
Atri is one of the seven great rishis ([[saptarshi]]) of the current [[Vaivasvata Manu|Vaivasvata manvantara]], along with [[Agastya]], [[Bhardwaja]], [[Gautama]], [[Jamadagni]], [[Vashistha]], and [[Vishvamitra]].<ref name="Rigopoulos1998p2"/><ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Archive |first=Internet Sacred Text |title=The Vishnu Purana: Book III: Chapter I {{!}} Sacred Texts Archive |url=https://sacred-texts.com/hin/vp/vp075.htm |access-date=2025-08-10 |website=Internet Sacred Text Archive |language=English}}</ref> Atri is a [[Mānasaputra|mānasputra]], one who is born from the mind of [[Brahma]]. The [[Brihadaranyaka Upanishad]] elaborates that each of the satparshis symbolize one sense or organ of Brahma. Atri symbolizes the tongue, which emphasizes his wisdom and knowledge of the [[Vedas]].<ref name="sage" />

According to legends of the Vedic era, Atri was married to [[Anasuya]] Devi, who is considered to be one of the seven female [[Pativrata|pativratas]]. They had three sons: [[Dattatreya]], [[Durvasa]], and [[Chandra]].<ref name="Rigopoulos1998p1">{{cite book|author=Antonio Rigopoulos|title=Dattatreya: The Immortal Guru, Yogin, and Avatara |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZM-BlvaqAf0C |year=1998|publisher=State University of New York Press|isbn=978-0-7914-3696-7|pages=1–3}}</ref> According to the [[Bhagavata Purana|Bhagavada Purana]], when instructed by Brahma to contribute to the world's creation, Atri, along with Anusuya, performed severe austerities ([[Tapas (Indian religions)|tapas]]) on the [[Riksha Mountains|Riksha mountain range]]. Pleased by their devotion and prayers, the Hindu trinity (Brahma, [[Vishnu]], and [[Shiva]]) appeared before the couple and offered them boons. Atri prayed to all three to be born to them. Chandra was born as an ansha (part) of Brahma, Dattatreya was born as an ansha of Vishnu, and Durvasa was born as an ansha of Shiva.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Motilal Banarsidass Publishers |url=http://archive.org/details/bhagavatapuranamotilalenglishfull |title=Bhagavata Purana Motilal English Full}}</ref> Another version of the legend states that Anasuya, by the powers of her chastity, rescued the three gods, and in return, they were born to her as children.<ref name="sage" />  

Atri is mentioned in various scriptures, the ''[[Rig Veda]]'' being the most notable. He is also associated with various ages, such as the [[Treta Yuga]] during the ''[[Ramayana]]'', when he and Anasuya advised [[Rama]] and his wife [[Sita]]. The pair is also attributed to bringing river [[Ganga]] down to earth, as mentioned in the ''[[Shiva Purana]]''.<ref name="sage">{{cite book|title=Ancient sages|pages=17–20|publisher=Sri Ramakrishna Math|location=Mylapore, Chennai|last=Sathyamayananda|first=Swami|isbn=81-7505-356-9}}</ref>

He is said to have been a resident of the south, according to the [[Valmiki Ramayana]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Ramayana|first=Valmiki|title=Ramayana of Valmiki|publisher=Hari Prasad Shastri|year=1952|isbn=9789333119597|location=India|pages=Book 7, chapter 1}}</ref> Puranic tradition supports this as well.