Atithi: 25 definitions
Introduction:
Atithi means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Buddhism, Pali, the history of ancient India, Marathi, Hindi. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: Wisdom Library: Bhagavata PuranaAtithi (अतिथि):—Son of Kuśa (son of Rāmacandra, or, Rāma). He had a son named Niṣadha. (see Bhāgavata Purāṇa 9.12.1)
Source: archive.org: Puranic EncyclopediaAtithi (अतिथि).—(guest). In ancient Bhārata Atithi-satkāra (hospitality to a guest) was considered as a yajña. In Manusmṛti, Chapter 100, Verse 3, it is said that even if one lives on the scattered grains in the fields after harvest, and even if penance is offered in the midst of Pañcāgni (five fires) unless the Brahmin who comes as a guest is fed, all virtuous deeds would be useless. Besides, Manu has made the following remarks about the Atithi (guest).
"A new visitor at night must be treated as an Atithi. An Atithi is one who comes occasionally, not daily. But one who lives in your village and goes about as a vagabond for a living, does not deserve to be treated as an Atithi. The guest who comes either before or after mealtime should not be sent away without being fed. Even a Vaiśya or Śūdra who comes as a guest to a Brahmin’s house has to be given food when the servants are given food."
Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English TranslationAtithi (अतिथि) refers to an “(extraordinary) guest”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.3.31 (“Description of Śiva’s magic”).—Accordingly, after the Gods eulogised Śiva: “Then the lord Śiva who is favourably disposed to his devotees, the lord of magic and free from aberrations went to the lord of mountains. [...] He was in the guise of a saintly Brahmin. He was repeating the name of Viṣṇu with devotion. He had the garland of crystal beads in his hand and the Śālagrama stone round his neck. On seeing that extraordinary guest (atithi—taṃ ca dṛṣṭvā ... bhaktyātithimapūrvakam), Himavat with his attendants stood up in reverence and prostrated before him with devotion. [...]”.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index1a) Atithi (अतिथि).—The son of Kuśa, Ramā's son and father of Niṣadha: a good looking monarch.*
- * Bhāgavata-purāṇa IX. 12. 1; Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 63. 201; Matsya-purāṇa 12. 52; Vāyu-purāṇa 88. 201; Viṣṇu-purāṇa IV. 4. 105.
1b) Honouring the guest is a kind of yāga.1 An imperative duty of a householder;2 to be entertained in śrāddhas.3
- 1) Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 15. 8-20; 21. 46.
- 2) Viṣṇu-purāṇa III. 9. 15; 11. 58-70; 78, 106-110; 15. 25.
- 3) Vāyu-purāṇa 79. 7-19.
Atithi (अतिथि) is the son of Kuśa and grandson of Rāma, according to the Vaṃśānucarita section of the 10th century Saurapurāṇa: one of the various Upapurāṇas depicting Śaivism.—Accordingly, Daśaratha had four sons who were religious and famous in the world. They were Rāma, Bharata, Lakṣmaṇa and Śatrughna. All of them were devoted to Lord Mahādeva. [...] Lava and Kuśa were two sons of Rāma. From Kuśa was born Atithi and from Atithi was born Niṣadha.
The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Source: Google Books: ManthanabhairavatantramAtithi (अतिथि) refers to one of the eight Bhairavas (bhairava-aṣṭaka) associated with Candrapīṭha (or Candrapīṭhapura), according to the Manthānabhairavatantra, a vast sprawling work that belongs to a corpus of Tantric texts concerned with the worship of the goddess Kubjikā.—[...] The eight Bhairavas (bhairavāṣṭaka): Ciñciṇīnātha, Someśvara, Amṛta, Śaṃkara, Trimūrti, Amareśvara, Bhārabhūti, Atithi.
Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric Traditions (shaktism)Atithi (अतिथि) refers to a “guest”, according to Sāhib Kaul’s Śārikāstrotra.—Accordingly, “[...] He who recites your next syllable, which is īśa with abja and the one above the left ear, his enemy, although invincible even for all the gods, will instantly, in the wink of an eye, become a guest in the house of Death (yāma-geha-atithi). He who remembers your next syllable, which is īśa together with vaktravṛtta and vahni, will have at his disposal ‘enjoyment’ (bhukti), liberation, the method of real vicāra, and devotion. [...]”.
Shakta (शाक्त, śākta) or Shaktism (śāktism) represents a tradition of Hinduism where the Goddess (Devi) is revered and worshipped. Shakta literature includes a range of scriptures, including various Agamas and Tantras, although its roots may be traced back to the Vedas.
Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)
Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric TraditionsAtithi (अतिथि) refers to a “guest”, according to the Guhyasūtra chapter 3.—Accordingly, “[Once the rosary has been thus prepared, he becomes] ready for siddhis and power. Dangerous creatures do not harm one who has [first] accomplished an observance [that qualifies one] for [using] Spells: he should begin an observance by means of recitation. The one engaged in observance should practise the False Observance [by wandering about proclaiming]: ‘I have committed bad deeds: I have killed a cow, mother, father, brother, a guest (atithi), friend, Brahmin! [...]’”.
Shaiva (शैव, śaiva) or Shaivism (śaivism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshiping Shiva as the supreme being. Closely related to Shaktism, Shaiva literature includes a range of scriptures, including Tantras, while the root of this tradition may be traced back to the ancient Vedas.
India history and geography
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Indian Epigraphical GlossaryAtithi.—(EI 10; CII 3, 4), reception of guests; one of the five daily rites (mahāyajñas) of a Brāhmaṇa. See sattra. Note: atithi is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.
The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as mythology, zoology, royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.
Languages of India and abroad
Pali-English dictionary
Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionaryatithi : (m.) a guest; stranger.
Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English DictionaryAtithi, (Sk. atithi of at = aṭ, see aṭata; orig. the wanderer, cp. Vedic atithin wandering) a guest, stranger, newcomer D. I, 117 (= āgantuka-navaka pāhuṇaka DA. I, 288); A. II, 68; III, 45, 260; J. IV, 31, 274; V, 388; Kh VIII, 7 (= n’atthi assa ṭhiti yamhi vā tamhi vā divase āgacchatī ti atithi KhA 222); VvA. 24 (= āgantuka). (Page 19)
Pali is the language of the Tipiṭaka, which is the sacred canon of Theravāda Buddhism and contains much of the Buddha’s speech. Closeley related to Sanskrit, both languages are used interchangeably between religions.
Marathi-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionaryatithi (अतिथि).—m (S) A person coming uninvited at the meal-hour, and entitled to the rites of hospitality.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishatithi (अतिथि).—m An uninvited guest. One coming just at the time of meals and thus entitled to hospitality.
Marathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryAtithi (अतिथि).—[atati gacchati na tiṣṭhati; at-ithin Uṇādi-sūtra 4.2; lit. a 'traveller'; according to Manu ekarātraṃ tu nivasan atithirbrāhmaṇaḥ smṛtaḥ | anityaṃ hi sthito yasmāttasmādatithirucyate || 3.12 cf. also yasya na jñāyate nāma na ca gotraṃ na ca sthitiḥ | akasmād gṛhamāyātaḥ so'tithiḥ procyate vudhaiḥ ||]
1) A guest (fig. also); अतिथिनेव निवेदितम् (atithineva niveditam) Ś.4; कुसुमलताप्रियातिथे (kusumalatāpriyātithe) Ś.6 dear or welcome guest; पुरन्दरपुरातिथिषु पितृषु (purandarapurātithiṣu pitṛṣu) Daśakumāracarita 2 the guests of Indra's capital i. e. dead; so समरे यमनगरातिथिरकारि (samare yamanagarātithirakāri) 12; धन्यानां श्रवणपथातिथित्वमेति (dhanyānāṃ śravaṇapathātithitvameti) (uktam) Ratnāvalī 2.7. becomes a guest of, i. e. goes to or falls on the ears of the fortunate only; करोति ते मुखं तन्वि चपेटापातनातिथिम् (karoti te mukhaṃ tanvi capeṭāpātanātithim) K.P.
2) Wrath.
3) Name of a son of Kuśa and Kumudvatī and grandson of Rāma.
Derivable forms: atithiḥ (अतिथिः).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryAtithi (अतिथि).—mfn.
(-thiḥ-thā) A guest, a person entitled to the rites of hospitality. m.
(-thiḥ) 1. A proper name, the son of Kusa. and grandson of Rama. 2. Wrath. E. ata to go, and ithin Unadi aff.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryAtithi (अतिथि).— (vb. at), m. 1. A guest. 2. The name of a king.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryAtithi (अतिथि).—[masculine] guest: atithitva [neuter] hospitality.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Atithi (अतिथि):—m. (√at, or said to be from a-tithi, ‘one who has no fixed day for coming’), a guest, a person entitled to hospitality
2) Name of Agni
3) of an attendant on Soma
4) Name of Suhotra (king of Ayodhyā, and grandson of Rāma).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Goldstücker Sanskrit-English DictionaryAtithi (अतिथि):—I. 1. m. f. n.
(-thiḥ-thī-thi) One who arrives and, though entirely unknown, is entitled to the rites of hospitality, a guest. See atithin. 2. m.
(-thiḥ) 1) A proper name of a king of Ayodhyā, the son of Kuśa and grandson of Rāma.
2) The vaidik name of an attendant of Soma. (This latter meaning is more likely to be taken in a figurative sense, Soma being mentioned as the name of a king and Agni, Atithi, Śyena as those of his attendants). E. at, uṇ. aff. ithin. (atithi in the meaning of ‘guest’ is also explained as a [bahuvrihi compound] ‘one who has no kind of tithi or holy day, who may arrive any day’ or ‘one who does not sojourn a whole tithi, but only one single night’, or ‘one who is not steady (when tithi is supposed to be a mutilated form of sthiti)’; all these explanations are artificial.) Ii. [bahuvrihi compound] m.
(-thiḥ) Wrath, anger. E. a priv. and tithi ‘not restricted to a tithi, what may come at any time’.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryAtithi (अतिथि):—[(thiḥ-thī)] 2. 3. m. A guest; a proper name, grandson of Rām.
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Atithi (अतिथि) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Aihi.
[Sanskrit to German]
Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.
Hindi dictionary
Source: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionaryAtithi (अतिथि):—(nm) a guest; —[kalākāra] guest artist; ~[gṛha] guesthouse;—[dharma] duty towards a guest, rights of hospitality; ~[parāyaṇa] hospitable; ~[parāyaṇatā] hospitality;—[satkāra/sevā] hospitality; honourable treatment to a guest.
...
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusAtithi (ಅತಿಥಿ):—
1) [noun] a visitor received and entertained gratuitously; a guest.
2) [noun] an unexpected guest entitled to hospitality.
3) [noun] hot displeasure involving a desire for retaliation; anger.
4) [noun] name of grand son of Rāma, in Rāmāyaṇa;5) [noun] ಬೇಡದ ಅತಿಥಿ [bedada atithi] bēḍada atithi (fig.) a person present at a place where he/she is not wanted or welcomed.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with (+14): Atithibhojana, Atithibhu, Atithideva, Atithidharma, Atithidharmin, Atithidvesha, Atithighara, Atithigrih, Atithigriha, Atithigva, Atithika, Atithikarman, Atithikri, Atithikriya, Atithimant, Atithin, Atithipati, Atithipriya, Atithipuja, Atithipujana.
Ends with (+33): Adhikatithi, Anatithi, Bhatta medhatithi, Bhimatithi, Bhramaratithi, Brahmatithi, Capetapatanatithi, Dagdhatithi, Deshatithi, Devatithi, Dhanyatithi, Divasatithi, Divatithi, Durgantaratithi, Ghatatithi, Janmatithi, Jyotirmedhatithi, Kalatithi, Karnapathatithi, Krishatithi.
Full-text (+66): Atithisatkara, Atithikriya, Atithipujana, Atithitva, Atithiseva, Atithipuja, Atithidharma, Atitheya, Atithidvesha, Gva, Atithideva, Atithipati, Atithidharmin, Suryodha, Atithya, Nabhas, Atithimant, Pathatithi, Atithigva, Atithin.
Relevant text
Search found 37 books and stories containing Atithi; (plurals include: Atithis). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Atithi or Guest Reception (study) (by Sarika. P.)
Part 8 - Gārhasthya and Atithi-saparyā in Smṛtis < [Chapter 9 - Atithi-saparyā in Dharmaśāstra Literature]
Part 3 - Treatment of Atithi (guest-reception) in Purāṇas < [Chapter 3 - Atithi-saparyā in Epics and Purāṇas]
Part 2 - Treatment of Atithi (guest-reception) in Mahābhārata < [Chapter 3 - Atithi-saparyā in Epics and Purāṇas]
Chaitanya Bhagavata (by Bhumipati Dāsa)
Verse 3.2.54 < [Chapter 2 - Description of the Lord’s Travel Through Bhuvaneśvara and Other Placesto Jagannātha Purī]
Verse 1.5.23 < [Chapter 5 - Eating the Mendicant Brāhmaṇa’s Offerings]
Verse 2.19.87 < [Chapter 19 - The Lord’s Pastimes in Advaita’s House]
Rig Veda (translation and commentary) (by H. H. Wilson)
The Brahmanda Purana (by G.V. Tagare)
Chapter 15 - The Test for a Brāhmaṇa deserving for Śrāddha invitation < [Section 3 - Upodghāta-pāda]
Chapter 63 - The Ikṣvāku dynasty (vaṃśa) < [Section 3 - Upodghāta-pāda]
Chapter 36 - The Lineage of Manu: Manvantaras < [Section 2 - Anuṣaṅga-pāda]
The Markandeya Purana (Study) (by Chandamita Bhattacharya)
The Skanda Purana (by G. V. Tagare)
Chapter 186 - Importance of an Atithi < [Section 1 - Tīrtha-māhātmya]
Chapter 185 - Creation of Holy Places < [Section 1 - Tīrtha-māhātmya]
Chapter 5 - The Daily Routine of Duties in Kārttika < [Section 4 - Kārttikamāsa-māhātmya]
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