Atri Maharishi is one of the seven sons of the creator Lord Brahma. He is the ancestor of some Brahmin and Vaishya communities, who adopt Atri as their gotra.
Mother Anusuya is the daughter of a Kardama Prajapati. She had three sons and one daughter, including Soma, Dattatreya, Durvasa, and Shubhatreyi, who are incarnations of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. A trinity channeled through Brahmarishi Atri when his wife Devi Anusuya was granted boons for assisting the sun to rise every day in the east. Atri Maharishi performed intense tapas on the Para Brahma, causing the entire world to feel its scorching heat. As a result, Lord Brahma was compelled to take on human form by granting sage Atri a boon. This boon ensured that a son would be born to him when the time was right. During his continued tapas, the Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu, and Siva (Rudra) appeared before him. In response to his inquiry, they stated that although they hold different duties, they are all equal in status. Filled with admiration for his tremendous penance, they pledged to be reborn as his children. Among them are Chandratreya or Chandratre, known as Soma, and Krishnatreya or Krishnatre, also known as Durvasa.
