*SKANDHA IV. CHAP. 1.*
Atri = _a_ (not ) + _tri_ (three). Not three, but three in one. Anasuya
= (not)+*asuya* (envy, intolerance, jealousy).
Atri made severe Tapas for one hundred years for a son like unto the
Lord of the Universe. The ascetic fire at last broke forth from his head
and instantly Brahma, Vishnu and Siva appeared before him.
"Lords!" said Atri, "I had only one of you in my mind, but you have all
Three come to me!"
The Trinity replied: -- "We are three in one. You shall have three sons,
one after each of us."
Anasuya begot Soma or the Moon after Brahma, Datta or Dattatreya after
Vishnu and Durvasas after Siva.
[The Moon is thus a sort of Brahma or creator to the present Kalpa.]
Atri represents the Creative, the Preservative and the Destructive
Intelligence in the individual, all united to carry out the complex
process of evolution.
The Brihat Aranyaka certainly refers to one of his aspects in the
following passage: --
"Speech is Attri; for by speech food is consumed; for Attri is verily
derived from the root Attih (to eat, consume); he is the consumer of
all." II-2-4.