‘Matri devo bhava, Pitro devo byhava, Athithi devo bhava’ means “Mother is Goddess, father is verily the God and a guest is God.’ The regard, respect, care and submission that must be accorded to God has to be accorded to a guest. Indeed, the Hindu belief in the presence of the Paramatma in every living thing transforms each one of us into God. When Baby Krishna, accused by Mother Yasodha of stealing butter, was asked to open his mouth, she was amazed to see the entire universe, galaxies and stars all within him. Daily, images of the family Gods are bathed, clothed and offered fruit, flowers and incense, accompanied by chanting and the tinkle of the bell.Īt Diwali, the Festival of Lights, when the Goddess Lakshmi visits the homes of devotees, there is a frenzy of cleaning, sweeping and painting as homes are beautified and decorated with hundreds of earthen lamps to greet the Goddess.Īt the very heart of Hinduism is the belief that the Almighty permeates everything.

From huge family temples of marble in the homes of the wealthy to modest shrines in closets and on walls, Hindus house their Gods. Rare is the Hindu home without a shrine for the deities. No matter what their religion, for Indians a small home shrine is a must, be it even set up on a mere shelf. And it all starts with welcoming God into their homes. Such is the true nature of Hindu hospitality.įrom the days when Gods walked the earth to present days, there is little to beat Indians when it comes to welcoming guests. With grace Sri Ram accepted her offering, seeing the love with which it was given. During his exile in the forest, he visited Subari, a lowly woman who in her devotion and anxiety to give him only the very best, tasted each berry before she fed it to him. If Lord Krishna was the perfect host, then Sri Ram embodied the perfect guest. To him, the true value of this valueless gift lay in the affection with which it had been offered. Sudama had brought him a humble gift, a handful of parched rice tied onto the corner of his shawl and was too ashamed to give it to him in front of all the fine courtiers, but Lord Krishna opened the pouch and ate the grains with pleasure and appreciation. He personally washed his feet and fed him with his own hands. But Lord Krishna, overjoyed to see his old friend, received him with open arms and joyfully led him to his throne. When his boyhood friend, Sudama – hungry, impoverished and in rags – arrived at the palace, the guards almost did not allow him in. Well, here’s a story that will make you re-evaluate your hospitality skills, for the host in this tale is none other than Lord Krishna.

Water and sugar story hinduism