GREAT WOMEN OF INDIA IN ANASUYA

                   great women of India in Anasuya

      ANASUYA in one  of the seven Great Women, Sapta   kanyas , expected to be remembered in the

early morning, though she is not one among the traditional pancha kanyas.   Anasuya was the

standing testimony to what the power of chastity combined with austerity could accomplish. She was

the wife of sage Atri and was highly devoted to him.  She had performed mighty austerities and

dedicated their fruits to the benefit of others.  Once upon a time people suffered much from the

consequences of a drought extending over a decade.  Even Ganga, the perennial  river, had dried up.

By the sheer power of her austerity,  Anasuya made trees bear fruits and Ganga to flow again


        During  the days of exile, Rama  and Sita visited the hermitage of Atri.  Anasuya taught Sita that

absolute service to husband is the greatest austerity ordained for women. Then she presented Sita

a very sacred and unfading garland, a few ornaments including  a sublime gem and some precious

sandal paste. She asked Sita, to put on the gifted dress and ornaments and go the presence of Rama.

Witnessing the honour accorded to Sita, Rama and Lakshmana were vey happy. Thereafter, Rama

and Sita left the hermitage of sage Atri.



      The sage Mandavya had cursed a noble man that he would die before sunrise. The chaste wife of t

 that noble man, declared that in that case the sun would not rise at all and thus her husband would

not  indeed die.  Now, darkness enveloped the whole world . Knowing the power of Anasuya all

requested her for help. Anasuya went to the house of that woman and told her, "Dear,  I appreciate

you loyalty to your husband. But please allow the sun to rise. Otherwise, the world and all its

creatures will have to suffer. If you withdraw you oath I shall restore your husband's  life"

 

     The women acceded to the request of Anasuya . The son rose. But the woman's husband died

because of the curse of Mandavya.  Anasuya prayed and by her power of chastity and

austerity restored that noble man to life. The whole world was pleased and the gods requested
Anasuya to take a boom. Her boon was as great as her mind.  She prayed that if they were pleased,

the gods, Brahma,  Vishnu and Siva should become her children. The boon was granted. Thus was

born dattatreya, an incarnation of the three great gods.

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