Atithi-蝉补辫补谤测腻 of 痴腻苍补辫谤补蝉迟丑颈苍蝉 [Part 10]

Atithi or Guest Reception (study)

by Sarika. P. | 2022 | 41,363 words

This page relates 鈥楢tithi-saparya of Vanaprasthins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.

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Part 10 - Atithi-蝉补辫补谤测腻 of 痴腻苍补辫谤补蝉迟丑颈苍蝉

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Atithi-蝉补辫补谤测腻 is the duty of not a 驳峁沨补蝉迟丑补 alone, 惫腻苍补辫谤补蝉迟丑补 has also to perform atithi-蝉补辫补谤测腻. Atithi-蝉补辫补谤测腻 is included in the duties of 惫腻苍补辫谤补蝉迟丑补. 痴腻苍补辫谤补蝉迟丑颈苍蝉 live in the forest and they had to be contented with the forest products like roots, fruits etc. They had to perform 辫补帽肠补尘补丑腻测补箩帽补蝉 as daily routine. Gautama 顿丑补谤尘补蝉奴迟谤补 says that they shall pay homage to gods, ancestors, humans, spirits, and seers and entertain atithis from all classes, except those who are proscribed.^[1] This is also again seen in the fifth chapter of the first 辫谤补艣苍补. Every day he shall perform his private Vedic recitation, the offering of water to his ancestors, and other rites, according to his ability.^[2] This shows that not only the 驳峁沨补蝉迟丑补s and but also 惫腻苍补辫谤补蝉迟丑颈苍蝉 also had to perform 补迟颈迟丑颈辫奴箩补苍补.

Ritualistic practice of receiving atithi is also observed by the 惫腻苍补辫谤补蝉迟丑颈苍蝉. The rules of 痴腻苍补辫谤补蝉迟丑补 are described in the 膧pasta峁僢a 顿丑补谤尘补蝉奴迟谤补 According to this, he should use only wild produce to offer fire sacrifices, to sustain himself, to attend to atithis, and to clothe himself.^[3]

The duties of 痴腻苍补辫谤补蝉迟丑颈苍蝉 are also included in the 痴补蝉颈峁ａ弓丑补顿丑补谤尘补蝉奴迟谤补 When atithis come to his hermitage, he should honour them with alms food of roots and fruits. He should make offerings to gods, ancestors, and men. He will thus attain an endless heavenly abode.

驰腻箩帽补惫补濒办测补蝉尘峁泃颈 also points out than a 痴腻苍补辫谤补蝉迟丑颈苍 cannot eschew the 补迟颈迟丑颈辫奴箩补苍补. In 痴腻苍补辫谤补蝉迟丑补prakara峁嘺 of 辫谤腻测补艣肠颈迟迟腻诲丑测腻测补, a hermit should satisfy the 辫颈迟峁泂, fires, deities, atithis and servants by offering them cereals like 苍墨惫腻谤补, 惫别峁嘘, 艣测腻尘补办补 etc. grown on an uncultivated field. Bearing nails, matted locks and beards, he should meditate on his own self.^[4]