Atithi or Guest Reception (study)
by Sarika. P. | 2022 | 41,363 words
This page relates 鈥楢tithi-saparya in Samhitas鈥� of the study on Atithi-Saparya鈥擳he ancient Indian practice of hospitality or 鈥済uest reception鈥� which, in the Indian context, is an exalted practice tracable to the Vedic period. The spirit of Vedic guest-reception (atithi-saparya) is reflected in modern tourism in India, although it has deviated from the original concept. Technically, the Sanskrit term Atithi can be defined as one who arrives from a far place with hunger and thirst during the time of the Vaishvadeva rite鈥攁 ceremony that includes offering cooked food to all Gods.
Go directly to: Footnotes.
Part 1 - Atithi-蝉补辫补谤测腻 in 厂补峁僪颈迟补蝉
The instances of systematic practice and rich tradition of atithi-蝉补辫补谤测腻 can be seen in the 厂补峁僪颈迟补蝉. In the 厂补峁僪颈迟补蝉, atithi-蝉补辫补谤测腻 was considered as a ritualistic custom. In 峁欢惫别诲补, we get reference to tasty food,[1] darbha seat,[2] arghya and 辫腻诲测补[3] being offered to atithi. Lots of praises are seen narrated in the 痴腻箩补蝉补苍别测墨 厂补峁僪颈迟腻 on appeasing atithi. 痴腻箩补蝉补苍别测墨 厂补峁僪颈迟腻 welcomes atithis in the sacrifice offering pure ghee.[4] The admice of 厂奴谤测补 in the fifth chapter there 厂奴谤测补 as the 腻迟颈迟丑别测补 of atithis.[5] The greatness of Agni is described in the seventh chapter of 痴腻箩补蝉补苍别测墨 厂补峁僪颈迟腻. Here it is mentioned that Agni gave his blessings equally for poets, 蝉腻尘谤腻峁� and atithi.[6] Receiving atithi in houses are also described in 痴腻箩补蝉补苍别测墨 厂补峁僪颈迟腻.[7] Atithis who come every month is considered as a part of good hospitality. Giving precious nectar is considered as a symbol of respect towards atithi in 痴腻箩补蝉补苍别测墨 厂补峁僪颈迟补.[8] Agni which gives us all prosperity, is believed to be a divine atithi. Here in 厂补峁僪颈迟补蝉, it can be noticed that, besides humanbeings, Gods like Agni were also treated as atithi, which shows the ritualistic intensity of that period.
Among Vedas, Atharvaveda contains most number of references on atithi. The sixth 蝉奴办迟补 in the nineth 办丑补峁囜笉补 of Atharvaveda proclaims the importance of atithi. A host (腻迟颈迟丑别测补), sees in fact, 顿别惫补测补箩帽补 itself when he receives a guest (atithi).[9] Sacrifice given to the atithis is considered as 辫谤腻箩腻辫补迟测补测补箩帽补.[10] Inviting the atithi is 腻丑补惫补苍墨测腻驳苍颈.[11] Atharvaveda also mentions the dangers that befall the host if he does not entertain an atithi properly. A host who eats before his atithi, infact eats the fruit of all the good deeds of the house.[12] Those who eat before an atithi lose the milk and juice of the house.[13] He who eats before an atithi destroys the strength and abundance of the house.[14] He who eats before an atithi eats both men and animals of the house.[15] He who eats before the guest, eats the 测补箩帽补 of the house itself.[16] He who eats before an atithi, destroys the wealth and prosperity of the house.[17] It is also said that the real atithi is one who knows the Vedas, So one should not eat before such an atithi.[18] Thus food should be eaten after an atithi has been fed. This is the vrata of the 驳峁沨补蝉迟丑补.[19] Atharvaveda also says that by entertaining an atithi, one can get the result of performing 补驳苍颈峁ａ弓辞尘补, satrasadya测补箩帽补 and 诲惫腻诲补艣补办补谤尘补.
More than appeasing an atithi by giving him whatever pleases him, there are a set of practices like offering seat, water, food, etc. But in later stages we see hosts offering whatever the atithi demands. Hence there seems to be a significant conceptual shift in the treatment of atithi.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
tvamagne prayatadak峁峁嘺峁� 苍补谤补峁� varmeva sy奴ta峁� pari 辫腻蝉颈 vi艣vata岣� |
sv膩duk峁dm膩 yo vasatau ssyonak峁沯j墨vay膩ja峁� yajate sopam膩 诲颈惫补岣� || 峁欢惫别诲补, 1.31
(Agni, you defend the man who gives presents (to the priests) on every side, like well-stitched armour. The man who keeps choice viands in his dwelling, and with them entertains (his guests), performs the sacrifice of life, and is the likeness of heaven. 峁欢惫别诲补 厂补峁僪颈迟腻, Volume1, 1.31.15, According to the translation of H.H.Wilson and 叠丑腻峁补 of S膩ya峁嚹乧膩rya)
[2]:
sa峁� s墨dasva 尘补丑腻苍 asi 艣ocasva deva v墨tama岣� |
vi dh奴mamagne 补谤耻峁峁� miyedhya s峁沯a 辫谤补艣补蝉迟补 dar艣atam || 峁欢惫别诲补, 1.36
(Take your seat, Agni, on the sacred grass, for you are mighty; shine forth, for you are devoted to the gods; adorable and excellent Agni, emit the moving and graceful smoke. ibid., 1.36.9)
[3]:
rayirna ya岣� pit峁泇itto vayodh膩岣� supra峁嚹玹i艣cikitu峁 na 艣膩su岣� |
syona艣墨ratithirna pr墨峁嚹乶o hoteva sadma vidhato vi t膩r墨t || 峁欢惫别诲补, 1.73
(Agni, like patrimonial wealth, is the giver of food; he is a director, like the instructions of one learned in scripture; he rests in the sacrificial chamber like a welcome guest, and like an officiating priest, he brings prosperity on the house of the worshipper. ibid., 1.73.1)
[5]:
agnestan奴rasi vi峁ａ箛ave tv膩 somasya tan奴rasi vi峁ａ箛ave tv膩 tither膩tithyamasi vi峁ａ箛ave tv膩 艣yen膩ya tv膩 somabh峁泃e vi峁ａ箛ave tv膩'gnaye tv膩 r膩yaspo峁de vi峁ａ箛ave tv膩 || ibid., 5.1
[6]:
[7]:
ha峁卻a岣� 艣uci峁dvasurantarik峁dradhot膩 vedi峁datithirduro峁嘺sat |
n峁� 峁dvarasad峁泃asadvyomasadabj膩 goj膩 峁泃aj膩 adrij膩 峁泃a峁� b峁沨at || ibid., 10.24
[8]:
[9]:
yad v膩 atithipatiratith墨n pratipa艣yati deva测补箩帽补 prek峁te || Atharvaveda, 9.6.1.3
[10]:
pr膩j膩patyo v膩 etasya yaj帽o vitato ya upaharati || ibid., 9.6.2.11
[11]:
yo'tith墨n膩峁� sa 膩havan墨yo yo ve艣mani sa g膩rhapatyo yasmin pacanti sa 诲补办峁峁嚹乬苍颈岣� || ibid., 9.6.2.13
[18]:
e峁 v膩 atithiryacchrotriyastasm膩t p奴rvo n膩艣n墨y膩t | ibid., 9.6.3.7
[19]:
a艣it膩vatyatith膩va艣n墨y膩d 测补箩帽补sya s膩tmatv膩ya 测补箩帽补sy膩vicched膩ya tad vratam | ibid., 9.6.3.8