SATI ANASUYA
Synopsis of the story
[The river Ganga is one of the objects of worship for people all over India, and a bath in her waters is considered purificatory. The story of Sati Anasuya is woven round this ancient belief.]
Sinners bathe in the river Ganga to wash off their sins. Ganga gets polluted and suffers for their sins. Her suffering becomes acute and unbearable. A voice from heaven tells Ganga that she could get purified through the help of a devoted wife. Ganga seeks the help of Godess Lakshmi. Goddesses Lakshmi, Parvati and Saraswathi try to purify Ganga but in vain.
Narada suggests to Ganga Devi to pray to Anasuya, the most reputed in Bhuloka as a devoted wife. Goddesses Lakshmi, Parvati and Saraswathi begin to feel envious of Anasuya and decide to test her virtue.
Mallika, a woman of ill-repute, ill-treats her husband, Soma Sarma, who leaves her for good.
Scarcity of water, and, conscquently, suffering in the world. Some people go to the Asram of Athri for water. Anasuya goes out to fetch water for them.
Narmada, a devoted wife, takes her husband, Kousika, to Mallika during night time to Batisfy his sexual craving,
Ganga Devi appears before Anasuya, feels purified and relieved of her suffering and gives water to Anasuya.
Mallika, seeing Kousika in a garden near her house, feels repulsed. She renounces the world.
Anasuya gets the water to the Asram of Athri and serves it to the guests. Bhringi, a guest at the Asram, gets infuriated, creats a devil but gets humiliated.
While Narmada returns home with her husband in the night she loses way and Kousika’s head touches Mandavya whom fate has punished. Mandavya curses that the person whose head has touched him should die before sun-rise the next day. Due to the moral power of Narmada the sun does not rise.
Anasuya attends on Athri Bhringi puts a venomous snake round her neck. The snake turns into a flower garland.
Goddess Lakshmi feels insulted at Narada's suggestion that her test of Anasuya through Bhringi failed and sends Manmadha to humiliate Anasuya.
Mahavishnu appears before Athri and, in appreciation of his prayer, promises to be born as his son.
Manmadha tests the virtue of Anasuya and gets humiliated
