Atithi or Guest Reception (study)
by Sarika. P. | 2022 | 41,363 words
This page relates ‘concept of Yajna (sacrifice)’ 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 1 - The concept of Yajña (sacrifice)
In the Vedas, we get several explicit references to honouring an atithi in the form of a ritualistic act. However these ritualistic practices transformed social customs during the period of Dharmasūtras and Smṛtis. One should notice that the ritualistic aspect of atithi-saparyā has never been sidelined in the later phases of Indian culture. The varṇāśrama system prevailed in this period reflects the four stages of life. They are Brahmacarya, Gārhasthya, Vānaprastha and Sannyāsa. This social order is reflected in Dharmasūtras and Smṛtis as well.
It is very often highlighted in the Dharmaśāstra literature that a gṛhastha has a prominent role in the scheme of varṇāśrama.[1] He is to, not even protect, but to help flourish all the sections of society. This responsibility is reflected in the following passage of Manusmṛti,
yasmāttrayo'pyāśramiṇo jñānenānnena cānvahan |
gṛhasthenaiva dhāryante tasmājjyeṣṭhāśramo gṛhī || Manusmṛti, 3.78
Just how every living organism depended on Vāyu (the air we breathe) all the other orders (Brahmacārī, Vānaprastha, Sannyāsin) depends on the gṛhastha.[2]
Dharmasūtras, Epics, Smṛtis, Purāṇas etc. speak of the duties of a householder. Atithi-saparyā is described as one of the main duties of a householder. Householder gives wealth and dhānya through the yajña, dāna and tapas.Yajña is the back bone of the Varṇāśrama system.
The term yajña is derived from the root “yaj” to mean sacrificing something for the sake of gods. The concept of yajña is a complicated one having different agnis, yāgas, priests and mantras. Mantras are recited differently based on the context. Often it is recited with incantation. Yāgas can be divided into two—Nityayāgas and Kāmyayāgas. The former are obligatory and the latter are optional. There are several Kāmyayāgas prescribed for different desires. The same is also performed for getting rain fall, cows, wealth, empire etc. A number of yāgas and their results are described in the Brāhmaṇa texts. These explain not only how to live happily in this world alone but also explains how one is benifitted out of it in the next world. They teach one how to attain worldly and heavenly comforts; yāgas satisfying these two are considered as great yāgas.[3]
The concept of yajña and the parts of yajñas like devatas, agni, ṛtvik’s, dakṣiṇa are mentioned in Ṛgveda. The details of Somayāga, agnyādhāna, haviryajña, cāturmāsya, avabhṛtha, dīkṣa, śastraśaṃsana, nivida, udgrābha, grāvagrābha and also the names of Ṛtvik’s like Hotṛ, Potṛ, Neṣṭṛ, Agnīndhra, Adhvaryu, Brahman, Udgātṛ are mentioned in Ṛgveda.
According to Chāndogyopaniṣad, Dharma has three skandhas; yajña, adhyayana and dāna.[4] It is said into the Kātyāyana Śrautasūtra that yajña is the dravyadāna of deities.[5] In Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa, yajña is said to be the greatest deed in this world. There are two main types of yajñas, Śrautayajñas and Smārtayajñas. Srautayajñas are mentioned in the Vedas. There are fourteen types of Śrautayajñas. Of these, seven are haviryajñas and seven are somayajñas. Smārtayajñas are the yajñas described in the Gṛhyasūtras and Smṛtis. There are seven Smārtayajñas, also known as pākayajñas. Thus, there are total of twenty-one yajñas.[6] The pākayajñas are done in the gṛhyāgni and śrautayajñas are done in the śrautāgni. Lot of yajñas like mānasayajña, japayajña, dhyānayajña etc. are practiced nowadays. Manusmṛti and other Dharmaśāstra texts points out that a householder should practice pañcamahāyajñas in order to escape from evil effects.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Gārhasthya, duties of gṛhasthas, classification of gṛhasthas are detaily discussed in the nineth chapter.
[2]:
yathā vāyuṃ samāśritya sarve jīvanti jantavaḥ |
tathā gṛhasthamāśritya vartante sarva āśramāḥ || Manusmṛti, 3.78
[3]:
Brāhmaṇaṅṅaḷ Oru Paṭhanam, N.K. Sundareswaran, p.78,79
[4]:
[5]:
[6]:
yajñā ekaviṃśatibhedāḥ | tatra ca sapta pākayajñasaṃsthaḥ, aupāsanahomo vaiśvadevaṃ pārvaṇamaṣṭakā māsiśrāddhaṃ sarpabalirīśānabaliriti | sapta ca haviryajñasaṃsthaḥ, agnihotraṃ darśapūrṇamāsāvāgrayaṇaṃ cāturmāsyāni nirūḍhapaśubandhassautrāmaṇiḥ piṇḍapitṛyajñādayo darvihomā iti | saptaiva ca somasaṃsthaḥ, agniṣṭomo'tyagniṣṭoma uktthyaṣṣoḍaśī vājapeyo'tirātrāptoryāma iti | Āpastamba Gṛhyasūtra 1.1, p.2