Fruitful and happy marrid life
By the time of the Ramayana, the story of Atri and Anasauya had become very famous. We know that Sri Rama had to go to the forest along with his wife Sita anf brother Lakshamana in order to help his father, king Dasharatha to keep his word given to Kaikeyi, one of his beloved wives. By then Atri and Anasuya were very old. But they were ever active in receiving and looking after guests and teaching boys who came to them seeking knowledge. When Sri Rama left Chitrakuta and went deep into the heart of the jungle, he took shelter in the Ashram of sage Atri. Atri and Anasuya received the royal guests with great love and affection. They spoke kind words and played host to them with great friendliness and love. Atri introduced to them his wife Anasuya. He spoke highly of her. He introduced her to Rama saying "Mahabhaga tapasi dharmacarini". One could understand the deep love, affection and respect he had experienced her love, sacrifise, service and her devotion to her husband. He praised her before a young man who had just entered life.
When once there was famine continuously for ten years, Anasuya was able to make trees bloom and bear fruits and plants provide them with roots and made streams flow brimful. This was possible for her because she was a great tapasvi. She observed strict vritas and penance. She even rushed to heaven to help the devas in their dire need. Atri was proud to speak in praise of his wife. He tells Rama, "My dear Sri Rama, she is almost a mother to me. Aged Anasuya deserve the utmost respect from one and all. She has won great fame. She has conquered hatred and anger. She is not jelous of anyone. That is why she is called Anasuya. Let Vaidehi go to her." How many among husbands can we identify, who can praise their wives thus? Sri Rama and Sita who came to the forest from their palace in Ayodhya which was filled with anger, pugnacity, obstinacy, violence, jelousy between queens and very bad desires, Sri Rama felt the situation in the ashram very conductive - the pure, large hearted, friendly life led by Atri and Anasuya. We are very sure Sri Rama's heartmust have been filled with soft feelings. He told Sita,"Dear, have you heard the sage? Go in and make obeisanceto tapasvini Anasuya. You may be blessed."Sita did what she was asked to do. How did Anasuya appear to her?
"Shithilam, Valitham, Vriddham, jara pandara moordhajam
Satatam vepa manangim pravathe kadalim yatha"
meaning: She was very old, loose limbed having wrinkled body, white haired and she walks like a plantain tree caught in a strong wind. She is blessed, yes, Anasuya is a devoted wife indeed!The rest of the story of Sita's life in the ashram was full of overflowing love of Anasuya. She was not proud of fact that she had won the acclaim of gods. She in turn was nor proud of the fact that she was the eldest daughter-in-law of the king of Ayodhya. She did not treat Anasuya with even the slightest disrespect.
Sita made obeisance to the sage's wife with utmost humility. She was very happy to be there. She enquired about the welfare of the sage's wife. Anasuya was equally happy. She felt proud of Sita's great goodness and righteousway of life. She was happy to learn that the princess gave up a life of pomp in the palace and followed her husband to the hard forest life in the real Bharathiya tradition. She was eager to tell the young princess all about her experinces.