Atithi or Guest Reception (study)
by Sarika. P. | 2022 | 41,363 words
This page relates ‘References to Hospitality in the Shishupalavadha’ 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 4 - References to Hospitality in the Śiśupālavadha
The reception offered by Kṛṣṇa to Nārada, when the latter visits him is beautifully narrated in the beginning of Śiśupālavadha. It is beautifully described here that even the trees, plants, animals and the natural forces offered a warm reception.[1] When Kṛṣṇa entered Hastinapura with his army, the nature itself welcomed him by shedding tender leaves and flowers. In the sixth sarga of Sisupālavadha all the six seasons come together in the Raivataka mountain irrespective of their order to welcome Kṛṣṇa. There is also another instance in which the whole city is described as welcoming Kṛṣṇa who visits Indraprastha.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
patatpataṃgapratimastaponidhiḥ puro'sya yāvanna bhuvi vyalīyata |
girestaḍitvāniva tāvaduccakaiḥ javena pīṭhādudatiṣṭhadacyutaḥ || Śiśupālavadha,1.12
tamarghyamarghyādikayādipūruṣaḥ saparyayā sādhu sa paryapūpujat
gṛhānupaituṃ praṇayādabhīpsavo bhavanti nāpuṇyakṛtāṃ manīṣiṇaḥ || ibid., 1.14
na yāvadetāvudapaśyadutthitau janastuṣārāñjanaparvatāviva |
svahastadatte munimāsane muniścirantanastāvadabhinyavīviśat || ibid., 1.15
vihāya tasyāpacitiṃ praseduṣaḥ prakāmamaprīyata yajvanāṃ priyaḥ |
grahītumāryān paricaryayā muhurmahānubhāvā hi nitāntamarthinaḥ || ibid., 1.17
aśeṣatīrthopahṛtāḥ kamaṇḍalornidhāya pāṇāvṛṣiṇā'bhyudīritāḥ |
aghaughavidhvaṃsavidhau paṭīyasīḥ natena mūrdhnā hariragrahīdapaḥ || ibid., 1.18