Atithi or Guest Reception (study)
by Sarika. P. | 2022 | 41,363 words
This page relates ‘Commentaries of Dharmashastras’ 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 7 - Commentaries of Dharmaśāstras
Commentaries on Smṛti works (Dharmaśāstras) are the secondary works related to Dharmaśāstras. The commentaries not only elaborate the principles and the theories but go to complement and supplement the Smṛti texts. Medhātithi, Bhāruci, Govindarāja, Kullūka, Nārāyaṇa, Nandana, Rāghavānanda, Rāmacandra etc. are the famous commentators on Manusmṛti. The Yājñavalkyasmṛti was more popular in respect of aspects relating to Jurisprudence. There are many well known commentaries for this Smṛti written in Sanskrit. The commentators like Viśvarūpa, Vijñāneśvara, Aparārka, Śūlapāṇi and Mitramiśra are some of them. Kalyāṇabhaṭṭa wrote com. about Nāradasmṛti and Nandapaṇḍita wrote the com. of Viṣṇusmṛti. Mādhavīya com. of Mādhavācārya is a well known com. of Parāśarasmṛti.