Athiti devo bhava

[Guest guest]

Here is something I recently read in the Sri Caitanya-bhagavata

(Adi-khanda, 14). I was struck by one passage which describes the

hospitality Sri Nimai Pandita displayed in His householder lila. There

were always numerous guests in the Misra home; the beautiful Lord and His

family remained busy pleasing them, just as is characteristic of pious

and exemplary grhasthas even in this world.

 

"Guests would daily visit the Lord's house, and He would always properly

satisfy every one of them. Sometimes ten or twenty sannyasis would come,

and the Lord would happily invite them for lunch. He would immediately

send someone to inform His mother to quickly arrange lunch for the twenty

sannyasis. As there was nothing at home , mother Saci thought, 'How will

I prepare meals for twenty sannyasis?' As soon as she thought like this,

someone came and delivered the necessary ingredients without her notice."

Laksmidevi cooked the offering with full satisfaction, and then the Lord

arrived home. The Lord personally watched as the sannyasis were served

their meal. After they were fully satisfied, he bid them farewell. In

this way, the merciful Lord inquired about the needs of every one of His

guests. Mahaprabhu taught the householders, 'The foremost duty of a

householder is to serve his guests.'"

 

MDd