Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c4.532

c4.532

ANAPĀYACOLA. A King of the Cola country, 1063-1112. The Tamil poet Sekhilar who composed the twelfth song of the great Śaiva religious book called Tirumurayil was a minister of this King. ANARAKATĪRTHA. A sacred pool. Brahmā, along with Viṣṇu and others bathe daily in this sacred pool. Therefore, it is said that the sins of all those who bathe in the pool will be washed off. ANARAṆYA (ANĀRAṆYA). A King of the Ikṣvāku dynasty. (M.B., Ādi Parva, Chapter 1, Verse 236). For genealogy, see IKṢVĀKU. Anaraṇya was a vegetarian. (M.B., Anuśāsana Parva, Chapter 115, Verse 59). Rāvaṇa once attacked his country whom he challenged to a duel. In the duel Anaraṇya died. Before dying he cursed Rāvaṇa that he would be killed by Rāma, son of King Daśaratha. (Brahmāṇḍa Purāṇa, Chapter 45). ANĀRAṆYA. (See ANARAṆYA). ANARKA(M). A king born in King Kaipla’s dynasty. (Agni Purāṇa, Chapter 278). ANAŚA (ASAMGA). A brother of Akrūra. (Bhāgavata, Daśama Skandha). ANASŪYĀ. Wife of Sage Atri, son of Brahmā. (Viṣṇu Purāṇa, Part 1, Chapter 10).
1) 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).
2) 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.).
3) 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). ANAUPAMYĀ. Wife of Bāṇāsura. Once she developed an amorous interest in Nārada, which led to some domestic quarrels. (Padma Purāṇa, Ādikāṇḍa, Chapter 14). ANAVADYĀ. Wife of Kaśyapa, this Apsarā woman participated in the birthday celebrations of Arjuna. (M.B., Ādi Parva, Chapter 122, Verse 62). AṆḌA.* Sūta, the disciple of Vyāsa said to the Munis at the Naimiśāraṇya about the creation of the Universe: In the beginning in the heavy universal darkness, the first seed of life (aṇḍa) appeared. (M.B., Ādi Parva, Chapter 1, Verse 28).