Talk:Atithiyajna or Manuṣhyayajna

By Vishal Agarwal

This daily act of worship involves serving, honoring and giving charity to atithis or scholars, ascetics, passing strangers, sick persons and any other needy persons who arrive at our doorstep without notice. One should also go out searching for these beneficiaries even if they do not land at our doorstep. In modern times, this could take the form of making regular donations to charitable organizations such as orphanages.

One must provide nourishment to an Atithi who is hungry and thirsty, even if he comes in the evening (after the family has already eaten its own food). Do not leave the Atithi hungry or fasting. Rigveda, Aitareya Brāhmaṇa 25.5

The scriptures promise that he who shares his food, dwelling and other possessions with the Atithi with respect and love attains great rewards in this life and hereafter including heaven:

Let the householder not eat any delicious food which he does not offer to his guest; the hospitable reception of guests procures wealth, fame, long life, and heavenly bliss. Manusmriti 3.106

If an atithi arriving at the appropriate time, and a knower of the Vedas are honored in one’s house, then that householder goes to heaven, otherwise he goes to Hell. Vyāsa Smriti 3.39

By washing the feet of his atithi, giving him due honor and by smearing his body with sandal paste etc., the householder reaches Heaven even more easily than by performing yajnas. Vyāsa Smriti 3.39

Evil Karma for Non-Performance of Atithiyajna

Conversely, the householder who does not serve and honor his Atithi-s accrues demerit or bad karm:

He who prepares food for himself alone eats nothing but sin; for it is ordained that the food which remains after the performance of the sacrifices shall be the meal of virtuous men. Manusmriti 3.118

That atithi who arrives at one’s home with expectation, but is turned away disappointed, takes the religious merit of the householder to whose house he had come, and leaves behind for him his own tainting evil deeds. Vishnu Dharmasūtra 67.33

The man who lacks insight (into dharm) and therefore eats himself without first offering food to (atithis, pregnant women, unmarried women, newly married daughters-in-law, sick etc.) does not realize that one day, he might be devoured himself by dogs and vultures. Vishnu Dharmasūtra 67.40, Manusmriti 3.115

Even today, traditional people feel obligated to offer at least something (even water) to a guest who arrives at their home even for a short time. Sometimes, especially during the summer months, the poorest of hosts will lovingly add a few sugar crystals, or offer some jaggery to eat along with water, consistent with their own financial means, but will not allow the guest to leave without having drunk and eaten something.

Feeding the Atithi-s is more meritorious than performing elaborate and expensive Vedic worship alone, which is futile if one does not take care of his respected guests:

It is futile for a householder to conduct a Vedic sacrifice even with 100 vessels of Ghee, and 100 measures of sacrificial wood if Atithi-s leave their home disappointed (because the host has not served them). Parāshara Smriti 1.46

In the Hindu Dharm, it is a duty to serve one’s guest even if he were to be one’s enemy:

Whether one’s beloved or an enemy, a fool or a learned man – one goes to Heaven by serving these Atithis if they show up even at the end of the Balivaishvadeva. Parāshara Smriti 1.40