Atithi or Guest Reception (study)
by Sarika. P. | 2022 | 41,363 words
This page relates 鈥楻eferences to Hospitality in Subhashita-Ratna-Bhandagara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.
Part 13 - References to Hospitality in 厂耻产丑腻峁迟补-Ratna-叠丑腻峁囜笉腻驳腻谤补
厂耻产丑腻峁迟补-Ratna-叠丑腻峁囜笉腻驳腻谤补 is edited by Kashinatha Pandurang Parab. This text is divided into six 辫谤补办补谤补峁嘺蝉 namely wiz. 惭补峁単补濒腻肠补谤补峁嘺, 蝉腻尘腻苍测补, 谤腻箩补, citra, anyokti and navarasa. The praise of 驳腻谤丑补蝉迟丑测补 is mentioned in the 厂腻尘腻苍测补辫谤补办补谤补峁嘺. Hospitality is also mentioned here. Hospitality is a part of householder鈥檚 life.
The text mentions 腻迟颈迟丑测补, 艣颈惫补辫奴箩补苍补 etc. are the greatness of the 驳腻谤丑补蝉迟丑测补.
腻迟颈迟丑测补峁� 艣颈惫补辫奴箩补苍补峁� 辫谤补迟颈诲颈苍补峁� m峁涐梗峁乶nap膩na峁� g峁沨e s膩dho岣� sa峁単amup膩sate hi 蝉补迟补迟补峁� dhanyo g峁沨astha艣rama岣� || (厂耻产丑腻峁迟补-Ratna-叠丑腻峁囜笉腻驳腻谤补, 2.4)
搁腻箩补辫谤补办补谤补峁嘺 says that a householder should definitely take care of his child, wife, father, mother and guest.
Proper treatment of guest is an unavoidable duty of a householder,
补迟颈迟丑颈谤产腻濒补办补岣� 辫补迟苍墨 箩补苍补苍墨 janakastath膩 | pa帽caite g峁沨i峁嘺岣� po峁膩 itare ca sva艣aktita岣� || (厂耻产丑腻峁迟补-Ratna-叠丑腻峁囜笉腻驳腻谤补, 3.206, p.164)
Thus we can see that Sanskrit poetry and plays of later times also gave due importance to the concept of atithi-蝉补辫补谤测腻. Atithi-蝉补辫补谤测腻 mentioned in Vedas, Epics, 顿丑补谤尘补艣腻蝉迟谤补蝉 etc. can also be seen in later Sanskrit works too. Raghu鈥檚 reception of Kautsa in 搁补驳丑耻惫补峁兣沘, 笔腻谤惫补迟颈鈥檚 reception of Lord 艢颈惫补 in 碍耻尘腻谤补蝉补峁僢丑补惫补 are notable stories about atithi-蝉补辫补谤测腻. Similarly, poets in Sanskrit 办腻惫测补蝉 and dramas have mentioned that trees, plants, creepers, flowers and mountains are also treated with great hospitality. The narration of 鈥�谤补峁嚹乼颈迟丑颈岣�鈥� in the plays 础产丑颈峁办补 and 笔补帽肠补谤腻迟谤补 is also noteworthy.
The practice of atithi-蝉补辫补谤测腻 was shaped into a systematic one over a long period. Such a practice of wider perception and inclusiveness originated from our refined practices and deep insight. Our vision of looking things is developed from the basic texts such as Vedas, 顿丑补谤尘补蝉奴迟谤补蝉, 顿丑补谤尘补艣腻蝉迟谤补蝉 etc. Undoubtedly, we can say that atithi-蝉补辫补谤测腻 is a cultured practice and reflects a learned and well-disciplined society having a set of sublime and noble values. Significant advancement in this regard can be seen in 顿丑补谤尘补艣腻蝉迟谤补 literature. The various rules and regulations that are to be observed by a householder while performing atithi-蝉补辫补谤测腻 is clearly explained there. A complete picture of 惫补谤峁嚹伵况补尘补 system can be found in 厂尘峁泃颈蝉 and 顿丑补谤尘补蝉奴迟谤补蝉.