History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v5.c73.t1.45

v5.c73.t1.45

The following reason is advanced by the Varāhapurāṇa⁸⁸⁵ and others for honouring a guest who comes by chance at the time when a śrāddha rite is in progress: "Yogins wander over the earth assuming different forms that prevent recognition, but doing good to people; therefore a wise man should honour a guest who arrives at the time of the performance of a śrāddha". The Bhaviṣya-purāṇa⁸⁸⁶ similarly says that an *atithi* (guest) at a śrāddha is one who comes when least thought of and not one who had arrived before the śrāddha rite started. The Mārkaṇḍeya (26. 30) provides that one should not ask such an *atithi* about his *gotra* or *caraṇa* or his Vedic study nor should one consider whether he has a fine appearance. Hemādri (on śrāddha pp. 430-433) quotes verses from the Śivadharmottara, Visṇudharmottara and Vāyu (71.74-75) Purāṇas that gods, siddhas and yogins wander over the earth in the form of brāhmaṇa *atithis* in order to favour people and to see how śrāddhas are being performed. About the definition of an *atithi* and the necessity and mode of honouring a guest in general, vide H. of Dh. vol. II. pp. 749-756.