Atithi or Guest Reception (study)
by Sarika. P. | 2022 | 41,363 words
This page relates ‘References to Hospitality in Vikramorvashiya’ 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.
Go directly to: Footnotes.
Part 8 - References to Hospitality in Vikramorvaśīya
In the second act of Vikramorvaśīya, Kālidāsa describes that when King Purūravas with Māṇavaka travel through Pramadavana the flowers welcome them.[1] Another important instance is when Citralekha, the friend of Urvaśī visits King Purūravas, he provides her a warm welcome and offers a seat for her. In the fifth act, when Nārada comes with the message of Lord Indra, Purūravas treats him very well.[2]
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
vidūṣaka: -eṣa maṇiśilāpaṭṭasanāthotimuktalatāmaṇḍapo bhramarasaṃghaṭṭapatitaiḥ kusumaiḥ svayamiva kṛtopacāro bhavantaṃ pratīcchati | tadanugṛhyatāṃ tāvadeṣaḥ | Vikramorvaśīya, act-2
[2]:
urvaśī–yathoktamādāya | iyaṃ bhagavaterhaṇā | nāradaḥ—vijayatāṃ madhyamalokapālaḥ | rājā—urvaśīhastādarghyamādāyāvarjya | bhagavannabhivādaye | urvaśī -bhagavanpraṇamāmi | ibid., act-5