[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Reference works](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference) › [Vedic Index of Names and Subjects](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912) › v1.c3.229 # Vedic Index of Names and Subjects v1.c3.229 Vedic Index of Names and Subjects v1.c3.229 - **Language:** English ### [v1.c3.229](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v1.c3.229) Atithi (‘guest’).—A hymn of the Atharvaveda¹ celebrates in detail the merits of hospitality. The guest should be fed before the host eats, water should be offered to him, and so forth. The Taittirīya Upaniṣad² also lays stress on hospitality, using the expression ‘one whose deity is his guest’ (\*atithi-deva\*). In the Aitareya Āraṇyaka³ it is said that only the good are deemed worthy of receiving hospitality. The guest-offering forms a regular part of the ritual,⁴ and cows were regularly slain in honour of guests.⁵ - [Previous: v1.c3.228](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v1.c3.228) - [Next: v1.c3.230](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v1.c3.230) - [Up: v1.c3](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v1.c3) ## Linked texts (3) - [Aitareyāraṇyaka](https://indike.org/pramana/in.veda.aranyaka.aitareya) — Sanskrit - [Taittirīyopaniṣad](https://indike.org/pramana/in.veda.upanisad.mukhya.taittiriya) — Sanskrit - [Atharvavedasaṃhitā](https://indike.org/pramana/in.veda.samhita.atharva) — Atharvan & Aṅgiras, Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v1.c3.229](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v1.c3.229) · Pramāṇa