Atri maharishi's one of the seven sons (Bhrigu, Vasistha, Bharadvaja, Jamadagni, Gautama, Visvamitra, and Agastya) of creator Lord Brahma. He is the ancestor of some Brahmin and Vaishya communities, who adopt Atri as their gothra. His name Atri means the possessor of Sat (pure), Raja (medium) and Tama (dark) qualities.

Mata or mother Anusuya is a daughter of kardama prajapati. She had three sons and one daughter including Soma, Dattatreya, and Durvasa and Shubhatreyi, who are the incarnations of define trinity Brahma, Vishnu and Siva respectively. The trinity channeled through Brahmarishi Atri when they granted boons to his wife devi Anusuya for helping, the sun to raise in the east every day.

Atri maharishi did great tapas on the Para Brahma, the fire / heat of the tapas became unbearable to the whole world, and Lord Brahma had to accept it and gave it a form of a man. He also granted a boon to sage Atri. The boon was that at the right time a son would be born to him. As he continued the tapas, the Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Siva (Rudra) appeared before the sage. To his question, they replied that they were all equal with different roles and pleased with his great penance they promised to be born as his children. Soma is called Chandratreya or Chandratre, and Durvasa is Krishnatreya or Krishnatre.

Somatreya (Chandra) established the Someshwara Jyotirlinga, used to overcome all kinds of passion. Soma as the incarnation of Brahma, has the power to cause any species to continue survival. Soma (Chandra) and Durvasa gave their powers to Datta (Amsa of Vishnu) and went for Tapas etc. Datta, or Dattatreya as he prefers to be known thus carries all the powers and attributes of the Trinity and thus the Nirguna Para Brahma Tatwa and became a Guru and continues even now. Sage Atri is the first among the Sapta Rishis (seven luminous or eternal sages in the sky) symbolized by the great bear (Ursa Major) and the seven stars around it.

Once upon a time, there was a fierce war between devas and danavas (it is a never ending war in our own mind) and Surya and Chandra lost their tejas (effulgence, energy) due to Rahu and Ketu. They approached sage Atri and prayed for his help.

He restored their energies so that they can carry out their duties. He also gave them a boon that in future, they would not be adversely affected (except during the brief periods of eclipse/grahanam). It just shows the enormous powers that sage Atri had because of his tapas. Let us bow to Him and request His help in regaining our own glory and realize our true nature through his Atri Nadi Astrology ( Atri Nadi Jyotish ).

(i) Sage Narad praised Mata Anusuya very much thereby making the wives of Brahma-Vishnu-Shiva jealous of Anusuya. They requested their husbands to go and break her "pativrata" vrata (being loyal to husband all the time). They went to Mata Anusuya as guests when Atri was not there at home and asked her to serve them food (lunch) without wearing clothes.

She agreed and remembering her husband spread the holy water on them converting them to 3 infant babies. Here the 3 goddesses were waiting for their husbands to come back and eventually arrived at the scene to find out that their husbands have been converted into babies. They repented and by the request of Mata Anusuya the three Gods decided to be born as her 3 sons.

Sage Atri was overjoyed and named them Datta, which means 'given'. At this, the three Gods reverted to their real forms and disclosed the truth. They extolled the power of chastity and purity of Mata Anusuya, which vanquished the combined and colossal powers of all the three of them. Sage Atri and Anusuya prayed that they should remain as their sons. They consented and the three Gods merged into one body. This is how Lord Dattatreya incarnated.

(ii) A brahmin named Kaushik was staying in a town called Pratishthaan. He used to go to a prostitute in spite of being a Brahmin and having a devoted wife. Later, he suffered from Leprosy and was thrown out by the prostitute. Then he returned back to his wife who still accepted him. However, he still did not care for the wife, and was thinking about the prostitute all the time. One day he asked his wife to take him to that prostitute.

In that town, by mistake the sage Mandavya had been spiked instead of the real thief and he was lying on the spike in the forest. While walking through the deep forest in the night, Kaushik happened to hit his leg by mistake to Mandavya sage who cursed him to death before the sunrise. To stop the curse, Kaushik's wife with her powers stopped the Sunrise which created havoc. Then gods went to Lord Brahma who in turn went to Mata Anusuya and asked her to convince Kaushik's wife to allow the sunrise. She convinced Kaushik's wife and brought back Kaushik to life after the sunrise. Gods were very happy with Mata Anusuya and she had the trio born to her.

(iii) As per description of Valmiki at one time there was no rain in Chitrakuta for ten years. There was a severe famine and nothing was left to eat or drink for animals and birds. Sati Anusuya performed hard and intensive austerities and got the river Mandakini down on earth. This led to the greenery and forests to grow which removed the sufferings of all sages and the animals.

Sati Anusuya ashrama at present is a very peaceful place where various streams from the hills converge and form the Mandakini River. It is said that Lord Rama along with Sri Sita had visited this place to meet Maharishi Atri and Sati Anusuya. It is here Sati Anusuya explained to Sri Sita the grandeur and importance of satitva. The dense forests of Dandaka start from this place. It was ruled by Ravana. Ravana had appointed strong rakshasas like Khara and Viradha as its rulers. The place was infected by the terror of rakshasas.