Talk:What should be offered to the Atithi-s

By Vishal Agarwal

The host should receive the Atithi with respect and greet him with pleasant words. Then, he should make him comfortable on a seat, offer him food and water. If the Atithi needs a place to stay beyond the meal, then whatever the host’s accommodation allows (like a guest room) should be prepared and offered. When the Atithi leaves, the host must greet him and walk him off for a short distance.

Grass (for making a comfortable seat on the floor), room (for resting), water, and fourthly a kind word; these things never fail in the houses of good men. Manusmriti 3.101

Let him offer to his guests seats, rooms, beds, attendance on departure and honor (while they stay), to the most distinguished in the best form, to the lower in a lower form, to equals in an equal manner. Manusmriti 3.107

Let him reverentially salute venerable men who visit him, give them his own seat, let him sit near them with joined hands and, when they leave, accompany them, walking behind them. Manusmriti 4.154

Whether an atithi arrives in the morning or in the evening, the host should offer him a seat and water, as well as food to the best of his ability after paying him customary respect. Vishnu Dharmasūtra 67.45