Atithi or Guest Reception (study)
by Sarika. P. | 2022 | 41,363 words
This page relates ‘Introduction to the Dharmasutra Literature’ 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 2 - Introduction to the Dharmasūtra Literature
The word “Dharmasūtra” is a compound of the words “dharma” and “sūtra”. Dharmasūtras are included in the part of Kalpasūtras.[1] The subject of Kalpasūtras are classified in four types. They are Śrauta, Gṛhya, Dharma and Śulba. All are written in aphorisms -termed as Śrautasūtra, Gṛhyasūtra, Dharmasūtra and Śulbasūtra. Thus the Dharmasūtras along with Śrautasūtra,[2] Gṛhyasūtra[3] and Śulbasūtra[4] constitute the Kalpasūtras . They deal with social codes. Dharmasūtras are also known as Samayācārikasūtras. The designations “sāmayācārikasūtra” and “kuladharma” used to refer to this class of works. Āpastaṃba Dharmasūtra declares its content as samayācārika dharma.[5] The well known lexicon, Nāmaliṅgānuśāsana of Amara gives śapatha, ācāra, kāla, siddhānta and saṃvid as the synonyms of the word “samaya”.
The commentator Haradatta explains the word “samayācāra” as:
pauruṣeyī vyavastha samayaḥ | sa ca trividhaḥ—vidhirniyamaḥ pratiṣedhaśceti | samayamūlā ācārāssamayācārāḥ teṣu bhavāḥ samayācārikāḥ | (Commentary on Āpastaṃba Dharmasūtra, I.1.1.1)
The Dharmasūtras are directly connected with the Gṛhyasūtras. The Dharmasūtras are compiled both in aphorisms and metres. These texts have got individual connection with each Vedic recension.
Gautama Dharmasūtra is considered as the oldest Dharmasūtra. Baudhāyana Dharmasūtra, Āpastaṃba Dharmasūtra, Vasiṣṭha Dharmasūtra, Hārīta Dharmasūtra, Hiraṇyakeśi Dharmasūtra, Śaṅkhalikhita Dharmasūtra, Vaikhānasa Dharmasūtra, Viṣṇu Dharmasūtra are the other major Dharmasūtras. Other Dharmasūtra authors are, Atri, Uśanas, Kaṇva, Kaśyapa, Gārgya, Cyavana, Jātūkarṇya, Devala, Paiṭhīnasi, Bṛhaspati, Bharadvāja and Sumantu.
1. Gautama Dharmasūtra
The Gautama Dharmasūtra is believed to be the earliest among the available Dharmasūtras. In the Vedic literature, Gautama, as a personal name, is of very frequent occurrence. But, the name is also found to signify a school of the Sāmaveda.[6] It is however, certain that the work was composed by a follower or followers of the Sāmaveda. The name of Gautama, as a teacher, is mentioned in the Lāṭyāyana Śrautasūtra and Drāhyāyaṇa Śrautasūtra both belonging to the Sāmaveda. Kumārila, the commentator of the Pūrvamīmāṃsa sūtra, says that Gautama’s work used to be studied by the followers of the Sāmaveda.[7] Gautama Dharmasūtra is divided in to three praśnas and each praśnas divided in to several chapters (1-9, 2-9, 3-10). Total 28 chapters in Gautama Dharmasūtra
2. Baudhāyana Dharmasūtra
The Baudhāyana Dharmasūtra belongs to the Kṛṣṇa Yajurveda. It is divided into four praśnas. This Dharmasūtra is regarded as the part of the Baudhāyanakalpa ascribed to Baudhāyana. The style and language of the fourth praśna is differ from the preceding three praśnas. The fourth praśna mainly consists of verses. It is the supplementary portion of the Baudhāyana Śrauta and Gṛhya sūtras. The author of the Baudhāyana Gṛhya and Dharmasūtra is known as Baudhāyana and, as such, might be a descent of Kāṇva Baudhāyana. The commentator Govindasvāmin explains Baudhāyana Dharmasūtra (1-3-13) as Kāṇvāyaṇa.[8] All the sūtras appear to be very loose in structure, and several subjects are treated without any logical connection. It is full of interpolations also. The chapter dealing with Tarpaṇa is one of the significant chapters of the work.[9]
3. Āpastaṃba Dharmasūtra
The Āpastaṃba Dharmasūtra belongs to the Taittirīya recension of the Kṛṣṇa Yajurveda. It forms the supplementary section of the Āpastamba Śrautasūtra and the Āpastamba Gṛhyasūtra. This Dharmasūtra contains two Praśnas and each of the two praśnas is divided into eleven paṭalas. There being 32 and 29 kaṇḍikas in the two Praśnas respectively. Gṛhya and Dharmasūtras of Āpastamba are closely related to each other. Āpastaṃba Dharmasūtra is written in a more concise and compact style. It contains a large number of linguistic peculiarities.
Āpastamba quotes several authors and works on dharma, besides the vedic texts and the Vedāṅgas. Kaṇva, Kauśika, Kautsa, Vārṣyāyani, Śvetaketu, Hārīta etc. are mentioned. This Dharmasūtra stands in a peculiar relation to the Pūrvamīmāṃsa. It is the only extant Dharmasūtra that contains many of the technical terms and doctrines of the Mīmāṃsā.
4. Vasiṣṭha Dharmasūtra
The Vasiṣṭha Dharmasūtra belongs to the Ṛgveda. It has 32 chapters. It resembles the Gautama Dharmasūtra in style and possesses many sūtras similar to those of Gautama and Baudhāyana. The Vasiṣṭha Dharmasūtra is not a part of a Kalpasūtra. Vasiṣṭha allows niyoga (levirate) and the remarriage of child-widows. He mentions only six forms of marriage. These are brāhma, daiva, ārṣa, gāndharva, kṣātra and mānuṣa. In many places his views are different from those of Gautama, Baudhāyana etc. We do not know whether or not a Gṛhyasūtra or a Śrautasūtra of Vasiṣṭha ever existed.
5. Vaikhānasa Dharmasūtra
The Vaikhānasa Dharmasūtra is divided into three praśnas each praśna being sub divided in to khaṇḍas. The Vaikhānasa Dharmasūtra by Vaikhānasa is an authority on the duties of Vānaprasthas. Manu, Gautama, Baudhāyana and Vasiṣṭha mention Vaikhānasa. Divisions of Brahmacāriṃs, Gṛhasthas and Sannyāsiṃs are mentioned in this Dharmasūtra.
6. Viṣṇu Dharmasūtra
Viṣṇu Dharmasūtra is related to the Kaṭha recension of Yajurveda. It include 100 chapters and written in prose and verse style.Verses like Bhagavadgīta, Manusmṛti and Yājñavalkyasmṛti are quoted in this Dharmasūtra. Duties of King and punishment are comparatively explain in detail. Provides special importance to Vāsudevārādhana. Names of seven days in a week, Planet Jupiter, observance of Sati system are discussed in this Dharmasūtra.
7. Hārīta Dharmasūtra
Hārīta Dharmasūtra is related to the Maitrāyaṇi recension of Kṛṣṇa Yajurveda. It has 30 chapters, written in prose and verse style. It is related to Kāśmīri language. Eight types of marriages are narrated in it. Replaced Ārṣa and prājāpatya with kṣātra and mānuṣa respectively.
8. Hiraṇyakeśi Dharmasūtra
Hiraṇyakeśi Dharmasūtra belongs to the Taittirīya recension of Kṛṣṇa Yajurveda. It is the part of Kalpasūtras. 26 and 27th chapters of Kalpasūtra is Hiraṇyakeśi Dharmasūtra. It is divided into Praśnas. First praśna have 31 paṭalas and second praśna have 20 paṭalas respectively.
9. Auśanasa Dharmasūtra
Auśanasa Dharmasūtra is written in prose and verse style. It is divided in to seven chapters. Ācāra, vyavahāra and prāyaścitta mentioned. Kauṭilya quoted plenty of situations to his great work Arthaśāstra.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
[2]:
The Śrautasūtras deal with sacrificial rituals like Darśapūrṇamāsa, Somayāga etc. It is dealing with purely Vedic rites. Each Veda has its own Śrautasūtras.
[3]:
Gṛhyasūtras describe domestic rituals. That is, domestic rites to be performed with the domestic fire. The duties of a householder are detailed in these sūtras. Ṣodaśasaṃskāras, Pañcamahāyajñas etc. are included in the Gṛhyasūtras.
[4]:
Śulbasūtras deal with the measurement and construction of sacrificial altars.
[5]:
athātassāmayācārikān dharmān vyākhyāsyāmaḥ | Āpastaṃba Dharmasūtra, 1.1.1.1
[6]:
History of Dharmaśāstra, I, p.13
[8]:
History of Dharmaśāstra,Volume1, part.1,op.cit,p.39
[9]:
Baudhāyana Dharmasūtra,2.5.9