Vedic Mythology c6.s6: § 56. Atri

Vedic Mythology c6.s6

Language: English

§ 56. Atri

c6.s6.1

This is one of the seers of ancient days most frequently mentioned in the RV. The name occurs there about forty times in the singular and six times in the plural as a designation of his descendants. Atri is spoken of as a seer belonging to the five tribes (1, 117³) and is mentioned along with Manu and other ancestors of the human race (1, 39⁹).

c6.s6.2

Agni is said to have helped Atri (7, 15⁵) as well as other ancient seers (1, 45³; 10, 150⁵). Indra also heard the prayer of Atri (8, 36⁷) and opened the cowstall for him and the Aṅgirases (1, 51³). Atri is, however, chiefly represented as the protégé of the Aśvins, and the characteristic myth about him is connected with them. They delivered Atri from the darkness (6, 50¹⁰; 7, 71⁵). They rescued him out of a chasm (5, 78⁴) with all his host (1, 116⁸. 117³), when they destroyed the wiles of the malignant demon (1, 117³). The chasm into which he has fallen and from which they deliver him is a burning one, but they gave him a strengthening draught (1, 116⁸. 118⁷). They made the burning chasm (*ṛbīsa*) or his abode (*gṛha*) agreeable for him (10, 39⁹; 8, 62⁷); they prevent the fire from burning him (8, 62⁸). They rescued Atri who was in the heat (10, 80³), they protected him from the heat with coolness (1, 119⁶; 8, 62³), and made the burning heat agreeable for him (1, 112⁷). Once they are said to have rejuvenated Atri, who had grown old (10, 143¹· ²).

c6.s6.3

In one hymn Atri is said to have found the sun when it was hidden by the demon Svarbhānu and to have placed it in the sky (5, 40⁶· ⁸). But in the very next verse (9) this deed is attributed to the Atris collectively. The AV. also refers to Atri finding and placing the sun in the sky (AV. 13, 2⁴· ¹²· ³⁶). In the ŚB. Atri is a priest who dispelled darkness (4, 3, 4²¹), originated from Vāc (1, 4, 5¹³), and is even identical with her (14, 5, 2⁵).

c6.s6.4

The plural form of the name in the RV. regularly occurs in the last or one of the last verses of a hymn. The Atris here designate the family of seers who are the composers of the hymns (5, 39⁵ &c.). The whole of the fifth book is attributed to the family of the Atris, and about one-fourth of the occurrences of the name in the singular or plural are found in that book.

c6.s6.5

The name is perhaps derived from the root *ad*, to eat, in the sense of 'devouring', as the cognate word *atrin*, a frequent adjective in the RV. used to describe demons, seems to have this meaning. The word *atri*¹ itself is once employed as an attribute of Agni, probably with this signification (2, 85). Bergaigne² is even of opinion that, though Atri has become a priest, he originally represented some form of Agni. The name of Atri is four times accompanied or, in the next verse, followed by that of Saptavadhri. The latter is a protégé of the Aśvins, a seer whom they are invoked to release from captivity (5, 78⁵· ⁶), and who is said to have sharpened the blade of Agni with his prayer (8, 62⁸). For Atri Saptavadhri the Aśvins made the burning chasm agreeable (10, 39⁹). The two are therefore probably identical³.

Linked texts (3)

Ṛgvedasaṃhitā — Sanskrit
Atharvavedasaṃhitā — Atharvan & Aṅgiras, Sanskrit
Śatapathabrāhmaṇa — Yājñavalkya & Śāṇḍilya (Vedic teacher), Sanskrit