Atithi or Guest Reception (study)
by Sarika. P. | 2022 | 41,363 words
This page relates ‘Nibandhas (digests)� of the study on Atithi-Saparya—The ancient Indian practice of hospitality or “guest reception� 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—a ceremony that includes offering cooked food to all Gods.
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Part 8 - Nibandhas (digests)
Secondary literature derived from the ٳūٰ and ٳśٰ were categorized as nibandhas (digests). These texts are the final outcome of detailed discussions and arguments made upon a particular selected subject from ٳśٰ literature especially to the rituals, customs and practices. They contain a synthesis of all the dicta of ṛt writers on topics of Dharma. Many Nibandha texts are there. The digests were generally arranged by topic, referred to many different ٳśٰ for their contents. ṛtⲹ첹貹ٲ, ṛtcandrikā, ṛtratnākara, ṇaⲹԻ, 䲹ٳܰԳ峾ṇi, ⲹ岵, Daṇḍaviveka these are well known ṛt digests.
During 11th Cent. CE to 17th Cent. CE several Nibandha works were written. ṣmī, Devaṇṇa-ṭṭ, ʰ貹ܻ𱹲, ī첹ṇṭ, Dalapati, śٳ (dealing with all topics in general), īūٲԲ, Raghunandana (focusing on the topic of inheritance), 䲹ṇḍś, 첹-ṭṭ, ī첹ṇṭ, Ѿٰ-ś (focusing on judicial process), Ի岹-貹ṇḍٲ (adoption),䲹ṇḍś, Ṭoḍar Mal (duties of kings) etc. A Brief History of ٳśٰ lists the Nibandhas and their authors in different topics like, 峦, ś, , śܳ, vrata, Բ, ⲹśٳٲ etc.[1] Women also have written Nibandhas, which fact is very much important. Though they have wrote limited numbers of Nibandhas, they were all notable works. Lakshmidevi’s վ岹Ի and Mahadevi Dhiramati's Բ屹 are worth to mention.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
A Brief History of ٳśٰ, S.C.Banerji, p.322-327