Atithi or Guest Reception (study)

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

This page relates ‘References to Hospitality in Malavikagnimitra’ 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 9 - References to Hospitality in Mālavikāgnimitra

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In the first act of the drama Mālavikāgnimitra, two Nāṭyācārya’s Gaṇadāsa and Haradatta come to the palace of Agnimitra. Here Agnimitra welcomes and provides them seats.^[1] In the third act of the Mālavikāgnimitra, Madhukarikā (the keeper of the Pramadavana garden) welcomes Parivrājika’s maid servant Parabhṛtika.^[2]

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

rājā -svāgataṃ bhavadbhyām | (parijanaṃ vilokya |) āsane tāvadatra bhavatoḥ | Mālavikāgnimitra,1.p.18

[2]:

parabhṛtikā– (madhukarike! api sukhasta udyānavyāpāraḥ | madhukarikā -aho parabhṛtikā | sakhi! svāgataṃ te | parabhṛtikā—sakhi bhagavatyajñāpayati 'ariktapāṇināsmādṛśajanena tatra bhavatī devī draṣṭavyā | tadbījapūrakeṇa śuśreṣitumicchāmi' iti | ibid., 3.p.52

Last Updated: 16 August, 2023