Atithi or Guest Reception (study)
by Sarika. P. | 2022 | 41,363 words
This page relates ‘References to Hospitality in the Naishadhiyacarita’ 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.
Part 5 - References to Hospitality in the Naiṣadhīyacarita
Naiṣadhīyacarita of Śrī Harṣa is the most complex of the five mahākāvyas. However, the scholar poet too has beautiful narrative pieces depicting atithi-saparyā. There is a very beautiful narration in the Naiṣadhīyacarita where the trees are said to have learnt from the very old sages the art of atithi-saparyā.[1] Again when Nārada come to Indra’s palace to inform him about the marriage of Damayantī, Indra receives him very well. Here river Mandākinī also treates Nārada as an atithi.
Bhīma, the King of Kuṇḍinapuri receives all the Kings who were invited by him for the Svayaṃvara of his daughter Damayantī.[2] Here the atithis are known as abhyāgata, the invited ones.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
phalāni puṣpāṇi ca pallave kare vayo'tipātodgatavātavepite |
sthitaiḥ samadhāya maharṣivārddhakādvane tadātithyamaśikṣi śākhibhiḥ || Naiṣadhīyacarita,1.77
[2]:
ramyeṣu harmyeṣu niveśanena samarpayā kuṇḍinanākanāthaḥ |
priyoktidānādaranamratādyairupācaraccāru sa rājacakram || ibid., 10.27