Harshacharita (socio-cultural Study)
by Mrs. Nandita Sarmah | 2014 | 67,792 words
This page relates ‘The importance of Hospitality’ of the English study on the Harshacharita: A Sanskrit (poetical work) which can be studied as a Historical book of Indian society during the 7th century. It was originally written by Banabhatta who based his Harsacarita on the life of the Gupta emperor Harshavardhana. This study researches the religion, philosophy, flora and fauna and society of ancient India as reflected in the Harsha-Charita.
6. The importance of Hospitality
About the importance of Hospitality A. Ch. Barthakuria rightly says—
“Hospitality is a great religion of Indian people. Every house-holder and even ascetic must love and show proper honour for incoming guests particularly in the evening at least out of humanitarian consideration. They must feel sympathy for the fatigue of their journey, their hunger, and thrust and their need of shelter for the night. One who realize these, is a good man universally recognized by all.”[1]
The people of the 7th century A.D. performed the nṛyajña (i.e., respected the guests and offered hospitality to them). The writer Bāṇa mentions the argha[2] (i.e., materials of worship, such as water, sandal, flower etc.) which were very important for worship. Therefore, without knowing about king Dadhīca, Devī Sarasvatī offered appropriate hospitality with argha, she offered hospitality as was usual in forest life, beginning with the offering of a seat of tender foliage and ending with the offering of fruit and flowers.[3] It is known that the king Puṣpabhūti was honoured with argha i.e., the best type of honour by the sage Bhairavācārya.[4] The great epic Mahābhārata inculcates that the worship of guests is a supreme duty of a house-holder.[5] If the house-holder fails to perform that duty, then he does the great sin.[6]
The writer speaks about the best type of hospitality known as svena āsanena[7] (i.e., which is the highest mark of respect that can be shown to the guest). The sannyāsī Bhairavacārya gives up his seat to the king Puṣpabhūti, through which he shows the great respect and friendship.[8]
In case of marriage, too, when the groom came to the bride’s home, the father, brother and other family members of the bride show great respect to the groom giving the different types of things.[9] Description is found that various small huts[10] were made by the kings and villagers for the strangers to take rest. The people showed adequate hospitality to their incoming guest in Bāṇa’s time.
Footnotes and references:
[2]:
Harṣacarita, I.p.5
[3]:
..sarasvatyā kiśalayāsanadānadinā sakusumaphalarghavasānena vanavāsocitenātithyena yathākramamupajagrāha, Ibid.,I.p.11
[4]:
āsīne ca …….samucitarghādikaṃ cakre, Ibid.,III.p.48
[5]:
Mahābhārata, Anuśāsanaparvan.2.70
[6]:
Ibid.,191.12
[7]:
Harṣacarita,VIII.p.128
[8]:
…atropaviśa … iti śārdūlacarmātmīyamadarśayat, Ibid.
[9]:
rājā tu tamupadvāramāgataṃ ….pratujjagām …kṛtanamaskāraṃ …..gāḍamāliliṅga……yathākramaṃ pariṣvaktarājyavadhanaharṣaṃ ca haste gṛhītvābhyantaram ninye…svanirviśeṣāsanadānādinā cainamupacārenopacacāra, Ibid.,IV.p.71
[10]:
aṭavīsulabha…navakhāṭakūpikopakaṇṭhapratiṣṭhita….kuṭīrakāṇām, Ibid.,VII.123