Ancient Indian Education (Brahmanical and Buddhist) c23.15

c23.15

**Meals at Rest-houses.** Failing kindly hosts, the monks would resort to the public rest-houses (*Āvasatha*) for meals, but they were not to take more than one meal there [*Pāt.*, op. cit.]. These rest-houses formed one of the amenities of life among the travelling public of ancient India. Some of them were even equipped with all the necessaries of life to be freely given to travellers. Asoka's concern for them shows itself in some of his Edicts. The institution was a most distinguishing feature of the later Gupta empire, too, as is shown by Fa-hien's first-hand observations in connection with the organization of public charities in Middle Kingdom and Central India. Pāṭaligāma had one such village rest-house where the Buddha with "a great company of brethren" was invited by the villagers to take his meals. "They made the rest-house fit in every way for occupation, placed seats in it, set up a water-pot and fixed an oil lamp" and announced to the Buddha that all things were ready. Then "the Blessed One robed himself, took his bowl and other things, went with the brethren to the rest-house, washed his feet, entered the hall, and took his seat against the centre pillar, with his face towards the east" surrounded by his disciples [*Mahā-parinibbāna-Sutta*, i, 20–2].