host gift

[Finnian Moore Gerety]

Regarding atithi in Vedic literature: I recall an interesting (and
funny!) narrative in which Indra advises Manu on how to be a proper
"host" (atithi-pati) for two visiting Asura-priests.  See Mait.S.
4.8.1 and Katha S. 30.1.

Finn

graduate student
Dept. Sanskrit & Indian Studies
Harvard University

On Sat, May 8, 2010 at 10:47 AM, Herman Tull <hwtull at msn.com> wrote:
> I would think he/she should be able to get some interesting information by
> looking at the term for "guest" (atithi)--references to the atithi are
> sprinkled throughout Vedic literature.  As Tim says, if it's the other way
> around...? (Maybe a bottle of merlot?)
>
> Herman Tull
> Princeton, NJ
>
> --------------------------------------------------
> From: "tccahill" <tccahill at LOYNO.EDU>
> Sent: Friday, May 07, 2010 11:43 AM
> To: <INDOLOGY at liverpool.ac.uk>
> Subject: Re: host gift
>
>> ... apart
>>>
>>> from dAna and pratidAna, is there any specific term for
>>> host or hostess gift in Sanskrit? And does anybody know
>>> (specific!) text references and/or secondary literature
>>> regarding this topic? I am aware of most dAna literature.
>>
>> See Ludo Rocher's edition and translation:
>> *Jiimuutavaahana's Daayabhaaga; The Hindu Law of Inheritance
>> in Bengal* Oxford, 2002.
>>
>> On p. 137, n. 9 of the translation he writes:
>> "A welcoming present" (maadhuparkika) ... is the present
>> which some guests receive along with a welcoming madhuparka,
>> "honey-based mixture."
>>
>> On p. 311 of the text, Rocher provides the verse on lines
>> five and six. The word "maadhuparkika" occurs on line two,
>> towards the end. After that he includes the reference to
>> Manu (M. 9.206). This might be useful in case your student
>> would like to read commentaries on who is deserving of the
>> madhuparka offering. I'm afraid I can't provide specific
>> reference to those.
>>
>>  If "host gift" means something to be presented *to* the
>> host, well, I don't know anything about that.
>>
>> best,
>> Tim Cahill
>>
>> Timothy C. Cahill
>> Associate Professor and Chair
>> Department of Religious Studies
>> Loyola University New Orleans
>> 6363 St. Charles Ave.
>> New Orleans, LA  70118
>>
>
>