Rishi Atri (family) » Rathatreya RV

Pt. Sanjay Rath belongs to Atri Gotra i.e. the lineage of Rishi Atri and Anusuya. Rishi Atri finds mention in almost every list of the Rishi's drawn up for various purposes. (1) The most important list for Brahmin's is the three who discovered AUM the cosmic sound symbolising creation or Brahma (a), preservation or Vishnu (U) and dissolution or Shiva (M). These three were Rishi Gautama (A), Rishi Atri (U) and Rishi Bharadwaja (M). He followed his father Brahma in giving the sacred thread which has three strands symbolizing A-U-M. Together these three strands indicate the vow that a Brahmin takes to recite and adhere to AUM (also pronounced OM). The first three threads of the Brahma vrata (promise of the Brahmin) is related to Bhu loka (earth plane). The second set of three threads is given after marriage and is related to the Bhuva loka (solar system) while the third set of three threads Deeksha (initiation)and is related to svarga loka (heavens).(2) Then there is the list(s) of Saptarishi or the seven seers associated with the pole star [Big Dipper] where Rishi Atri always features with Rishi's Kashyapa and Vasistha. These are the seven Mind born (Manasa Putra) of Brahma and the progenitors of the human race. See lists in page 1. He was a Brahmarishi as well indicating complete understanding of the Brahman or supreme truth. He was a Maharishi and the original teacher of Ayurveda, Jyotisha, Astronomy, Ganita (Mathematics), Poetry and Prose etc.

Up
About Rath
Lineage
Books
Site Map
Links

Other content here

Atri Rishi is one of the ten Mānas sons of Brahmā: Angira, Atri, Bhrigu, Daksha, Kratu, Marīchi, Nārada, Pulaha, Pulastya, Vashiśtha.
Devi Anusūya one of the nine daughters of Kardama Rishi and Devhūti was his wife.
Devahūti was one of the three daughters of Manu (Devhūti, Prasūti, and Ākūti). The marriage of Kardam Rishi with Devahūti produced nine daughters and one son – Rishi Kapil. The lineage from the nine daughters is as follows: -
1. Kalā - married Rishi Marīchi
2. Anusūyā - married to Rishi Atri and they had three sons Durvāsā (Shiva’s blessings), Dattātreya (Vishnu's blessing) and Moon or Soma (Brahmā's blessing)
3. Gati - married Rishi Pulaha
4. Kriyā - married Rishi Kratu
5. Khyāti – married Maharshi Bhrigu
6. Arundhatī - married Maharishi Vashishtha and Rishi Shakti the father of Paräsara and grandfather of Krishna Dvaipaayana (Veda Vyasa) was born.
7. Shānti - married to Atharvā Rishi whose daughter was married to Vedavyasa Krishna Dvaipaayana.
8. Havirbhū - married Rishi Pulastya and they had two sons: Rishi Agastya and Rishi Vishravā
9. Shraddhā - married Maharshi Angirā and they had sons of whom the most illustrious was Brihaspati.

Sapta-Rishis given in major Hindu texts
1. The Satapatha Brahmana of Sukla Yajurveda says they are: Gautama, Bharadwaja, Viswamitra, Jamadagni, Vasishtha, Kasyapa, and Atri.
2. Krishna Yajurveda in the Sandhya-Vandana Mantras has it as: Atri, Bhrigu, Kutsa, Vasishtha, Gautama, Kasyapa, and Angirasa.
3. Mahabharata gives the Seven Rishis’ names: Kutsa, Vasishtha, Atri, Agastya, etc.
4. V. S. Apte’s Sanskrit-English dictionary says: Marichi, Atri, Angirasa, Pulaha, Kratu, Pulastya, and Vasishtha.
5. The Brihadaranyaka Upanishad (2.2.4) enumerates them as: Gotama, Bharadwaja, Viswamitra, Jamadagni, Vasishtha, Kasyapa, and Atri.

Traditional Kerala mural painting of Rishi Atri patriarch of Ayurveda with his six disciples by K.R. Babu, +91-495-27640 krbabu2002@rediffmail.com

He is the seer of the Fifth Mandala of the Rig Veda. There are 10 mandala or books in the Rig Veda comprising 1028 hymns (or 1017 excluding the 11 valakhiya hymns 8.49 - 8.59) of which Mandala 2 to 7 belong to particular Rishi lineages and were composed by the seer assisted by his children and disciples. These are the oldest as well. Ratha, the son of Atri was one such able son and composer of Mandala Five to which lineage we, the 'Rath' Atri's belong - called Rathatreya. There are two major branches of study of the Rig Veda - Śākala (Aitareya-Brahmana) and Bāśkala (Kausitaki-Brahmana with the Khilani which is a latter day 98 hymn addition).

Rishi Atri lived with Devi Anusuya at Chitrakoot, near south Uttar Pradesh (about 25N Lat) where they met Lord Rama and Sita when the latter were banished for 14 years. We do not know when a branch of the Rathatreya's went to Dwarka in Saurashtra. About seven hundred years back the family travelled from Somanath in Dwarka to Kanyakubja (Mithila, North Bihar) and then accepting the invitation of the King of Jagannath Puri, they arrived in Orissa a few centuries back (see history of Orissa for details) and were established in Bira Balabhadra Pur Sasan.
The direct family lineage
Pt. Somanath Rath
Pt. Ramachandra Rath
Pt. Jagannath Rath
Pt. Kashinath Rath (third son of Pt.Jagannath Rath)
Pt. Sanjay Rath (nephew of Pt.Kashinath Rath & son of Umakant Rath)

Pandit Jagannath Rath is the author of a series of books in the Oriya language. The most popular was the series known as 'Jyotish made easy' having such titles as 'Divisional charts' and even simple methods to calculate the lagna accurately. Among his important non-Jyotish writings are 'Being Vegetarian' - a book that speaks of the advantages of being vegetarian and how this affects the karma. Pandit Jagannath Rath's effort to spread Jyotish knowledge and his abilities as a skilled astrologer was recognised and on 11 May 1935 he was given the title of 'Jyotishi Ratna'.

Pandit Kasinath Rath continued the tradition as a practicing astrologer in addition to taking a job with the Government of Orissa. He was the eldest surviving son of Pandit Jagannath Rath. He was a strong advocate of the Gayatri mantra and was himself very disciplined.

Pandit Sanjay Rath's childhood was spent in joy with parents and a big family, attending to various family functions and learning from the traditions. His schooling was at Stewart School, Bhubaneswar (till matriculation). Thereafter he left for Bangalore for two years (1980-82) to study at Bishop Cottons Boys School and later did his graduation in Mechanical Engineering from Anna University, Madras. He left Government service in 2000 to continue in the lineage of his forefathers.

They trace their Jyotish from Sri Achyutananda Das, one of the Panchasakha (five great disciples) of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu who was considered the reincarnation of Sri Garuda, the golden eagle of Jagannath Vishnu to save the light (agni) from extinguishing in the Kali Yuga which is really Jyotish. Some of the astounding predictions of Mahapurusha Achyutananda continue to come true to this date showing the depth of his understanding and his proof that Jyotish is really vedanga and a very spiritual subject.




Home \| Readings \| Articles \| Learn \| Spirituality \| Mantra \| World \| Celebrity \| Calendar \| Blog \| FAQ \| Guestbook \| Contact
Up \| Horoscope 4