Anasuya, Anasūyā, Anasūya: 16 definitions

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In Hinduism
1. Purana
2. General definition
Languages
1. Sanskrit
2. Kannada
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Introduction:

Anasuya means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.

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In Hinduism

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: Wisdom Library: Bhagavata Purana

Anasūyā (अनसूया):—She is the of wife Atri. She was impregnated by the tears of Atri, and had three sons called Soma, Durvāsā and Dattātreya. (see Bhāgavata Purāṇa 9.14.3)

Source: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopedia

Anasūyā (अनसूया).—Wife of Sage Atri, son of Brahmā. (Viṣṇu Purāṇa, Part 1, Chapter 10). Genealogy. From Mahāviṣṇu were born in order Brahmā, Svāyambhuva Manu, Devahūti, Anasūyā. To Svāyambhuva, son of Brahmā, was born by his wife Śatarūpā five children: Uttānapāda, Priyavrata, Āhuti. Devahūti and Prasūti and Devahūti was married to Kardama, son of Brahmā. They begot two daughters, Kalā and Anasūyā. Marīci married Kalā and Atri married Anasūyā. (Bhāgavata, Skandha 1, Chapter 4). The Tapaśśakti of Anasūyā. Once upon a time, rains having failed for ten years the whole world sweated in agony and river Gaṅgā got dried up. Famine stalked the world. In this dire contingency it was the tapaśśakti of Anasūyā that made trees bear fruits and Gaṅgā to flow again. Also, she converted ten days into nights on the request of the Devas.

During their forest life Rāma and Sītā reached the hermitage of sage Atri, and the sage and Anasūyā treated the guests sumptuously. The above story about the tapaśśakti of Anasūyā was told then by Atri. The story helped to increase Rāma’s respect for Anasūyā. Anasūyā gave Sītā all proper advice. She taught Sītā that absolute service to husband is the greatest tapas ordained to women. Anasūyā gave to Sītā a very sacred garland and a sublime gem. And, after that Rāma and Sītā left the hermitage. (Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Ayodhyākāṇḍa, Cantos 117 and 118.). Sons of Anasūyā. She had three sons: Dattātreya, Durvāsas and Candra. (Viṣṇu Purāṇa, Part 1, Chapter 10). (The reason for Mahāviṣṇu being born as Dattātreya, Śiva as Durvāsas and Brahmā as Candra to Anasūyā is given under Atri). (See full article at Story of Anasūyā from the Puranic encyclopaedia by Vettam Mani)

Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translation

Anasūyā (अनसूया) is the name of Atri’s wife, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.3.54 (“Description of the duties of the chaste wife”).—Accordingly, as a Brahmin lady said to Pārvatī: “[...] O gentle lady, the chaste ladies can be divided into four classes. Even when they are remembered they dispel sins. [...] O Pārvatī, these four types of chaste ladies dispel sins. They sanctify all the worlds. They are delighted here and hereafter. A brahmin who died due to the curse of Varāha (Boar), was at the request of the three deities, resuscitated by Atri’s wife (atristrī) (i.e., Anasūyā), thanks to the power of chastity. [...]”.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

1) Anasūya (अनसूय).—A Kaśyapa and a Trayārṣeya.^*

* Matsya-purāṇa 199. 12.

2) Anasūyā (अनसूया).—The wife of the sage Atri (s.v.) and a daughter of Kardama (Dakṣa, Vāyu-purāṇa and Viṣṇu-purāṇa). Mother of Datta, Durvāsas, and Soma;¹ mother of five Ātreyas and a daughter Śruti.²

1) Bhāgavata-purāṇa I. 3. 11; III. 24: 22; IV. 1. 15; Viṣṇu-purāṇa I. 7, 7, 25.
2) Vāyu-purāṇa 10. 28, 31; 28. 18-9; Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 9. 52 and 56; 11. 22.

Source: Archaeological Survey of India: Śaiva monuments at Paṭṭadakal (rāmāyaṇa)

Anasūyā (अनसूया) refers to the loyal spouse of the sage Atri. Anasūya, according to Ayodhyākāṇḍa in the Rāmāyaṇa, explains to Sītā the strīdharmarahasya, secrets of the dharma of women. It consists in the manner to serve the in-laws in the family and observe certain vows for the prosperity and longevity of the life of the husband.

Source: Shodhganga: The saurapurana - a critical study

Anasuyā (अनसुया) refers to one of the daughters of Dakṣa and Prasūti: one of the two daughters of Manu-svāyaṃbhuva and Śatarūpā, according to the Vaṃśa (‘genealogical description’) of the 10th century Saurapurāṇa: one of the various Upapurāṇas depicting Śaivism.—Accordingly, Ākūti was married to Ruci and Prasūti to Dakṣa. Dakṣa produced in Prasūti twenty-four daughters. [...] [Anasuyā was given to Atri.] Atri and Anasuyā gave birth to Durvāsas, Soma (or Candramas) and Dattātreya.

context information

The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.

General definition (in Hinduism)

Source: Apam Napat: Indian Mythology

Anasuya is the wife of the sage Atri, who is one of the SaptaRishis. She is said to be the most chaste among women. She is one of the many daughters of Daksha. She is famous for her ability to bake beans made of iron.

Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Anasūya (अनसूय).—a. [na. ba.] Free from malice, not envious, not spiteful; श्रद्दधानोऽनसूयश्च (śraddadhāno'nasūyaśca) Manusmṛti 4.158; श्रद्धावाननसूयश्च शृणुयादपि यो नरः (śraddhāvānanasūyaśca śṛṇuyādapi yo naraḥ) | Bhagavadgītā (Bombay) 18.71.

-yā [na. ta.]

1) Absence of envy, charity of disposition, freedom from spite or illwill; न गुणान् गुणिनो हन्ति स्तौति चान्यगुणानपि । न हसेच्चान्यदो- षांश्च सानसूया प्रकीर्तिता (na guṇān guṇino hanti stauti cānyaguṇānapi | na haseccānyado- ṣāṃśca sānasūyā prakīrtitā).

2) Name of a friend of Śakuntalā.

3) Name of a daughter of Dakṣa.

4) Name of Atri's wife, the highest type of chastity and wifely devotion. [She was very pious and given to austere devotion by virtue of which she had obtained miraculous powers. Several stories are told o illustrate them. When the earth was devastated by a terrible drought which lasted for 1 years, Anasūyā created water, fruits, roots &c. by means of her ascetic powers and saved many lives. On one occasion when the sage Māṇḍavya was about to be impaled, the wife of a sage happened to touch the stake as she passed by, whereupon Māṇḍavya cursed her that she would become a widow at sunrise. She, however, prevented the sun from rising, and all actions of men being consequently stopped, the gods, sages &c. went to Anasūyā, her friend, who, by the force of her penance, made the sun rise without, at the same time, bringing widowhood on her friend. Another legend is also told in which Anasūyā changed Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Maheśa into infants, when, at the instigation of their wives, they attempted to test her chastity, but restored them to their former shapes at the importunities of their humbled consorts. She is also said to have caused the three-streamed Ganges to flow down on the earth near the hermitage of her husband for the ablutions of sages; see R.13.51. In the Rāmāyaṇa she is represented as having been very kind and attentive to Sītā whom she favoured with sound motherly advice on the virtues of chastity, and at the time of her departure gave her an unguent (See R.12.27,14.14) which was to keep her beautiful for ever and to guard her person from the attempts of rapacious beasts, demons &c. She was the mother of the irascible sage Durvāsas]. सा त्वेवमुक्ता वैदेही त्वनसूयानसूयया (sā tvevamuktā vaidehī tvanasūyānasūyayā) Rām.2.18.1.

[Sanskrit to German]

Anasuya in German

context information

Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.

Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Anasūya (ಅನಸೂಯ):—[adjective] not feeling discontent and ill because of another’s advantages, possessions, etc; not envious; not jealous.

context information

Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.

Relevant text

Search found 31 books and stories containing Anasuya, An-asuya, An-asūya, An-asūyā, Anasūyā, Anasūya; (plurals include: Anasuyas, asuyas, asūyas, asūyās, Anasūyās, Anasūyas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

1. Worship and Mythology of Dattātreya (Nārāyaṇa) < [Chapter 3]

Women in the Field of Yoga < [Chapter 2]

Relation of Husband and Wife < [Chapter 2]

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Part 7 - References to Hospitality in Abhijñānaśākuntala < [Chapter 4 - Atithi-saparyā in Classical Sanskrit Literature]

Part 1 - Treatment of Atithi (guest-reception) in Rāmāyaṇa < [Chapter 3 - Atithi-saparyā in Epics and Purāṇas]

Chapter 11 - Socio-Cultural Analysis

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Chapter 4 - The greatness of Atrīśvara < [Section 4 - Koṭirudra-Saṃhitā]

Chapter 3 - The penance of Anasūyā and Atri < [Section 4 - Koṭirudra-Saṃhitā]

Chapter 17 - The Narrative of Creation < [Section 7.1 - Vāyavīya-saṃhitā (1)]

+ 7 more chapters / show preview