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## The Nature and Method of the Atithisambhaag Vrat
**The Story of Chulani Pita**
"I have thrown your three sons into the jaws of death right before your eyes. Even then, if you do not give up your stubbornness, I will kill your mother, the Devaguru-like foundation of your lineage, and roast and cook her flesh and eat it. This is my final warning." But even after seeing Chulani Pita terrified, the Devata dragged Bhadra by her hair and showed her a scene like a goat trembling and screaming loudly when it sees a butcher with a knife in his hand in the slaughterhouse. The Devata was standing with a sword in his hand, ready to kill Bhadra, and she was crying and screaming in heart-wrenching agony. With this pitiful scene, the Devata again said to Chulani Pita, "Oh, selfish glutton! Look at the state of your mother! The one who gave birth to you, carried you in her womb, and bore your weight. That mother is being killed today, and you are sitting here being selfish!" Chulani Pita thought to himself, "This is some evil spirit like an Asura who is religiously devoted to evil. He has already killed and eaten my three sons, and now he is ready to kill my mother like a butcher. So, it is better to save my mother before he kills her." With this thought, driven by his vow, Chulani Pita got up to catch the Devata and roared loudly. Seeing this, the Devata became invisible and flew into the sky, making a great sound. After the Devata left, there was silence. But hearing the commotion, Bhadra Mata immediately ran there and asked, "Son! What was that? Why were you shouting so loudly?" Chulani Pita narrated the whole incident. Hearing this, Bhadra Mata said, "Son! This was Devmaya! Some Mithyadrishtidev came to break your vow by showing you false fear. He has succeeded in his mission. Therefore, you should criticize the breaking of your vow and purify yourself by performing penance. If the breaking of the vow is not criticized, the vow becomes impure due to transgression." Then, the pure-minded and non-greedy Chulani Pita accepted his mother's words and purified himself by criticizing the fault of breaking the vow. Then, like climbing the steps of the palace of heaven, he gradually accepted eleven Shravak pratima (images). And according to the words of the Bhagwan, he worshipped those eleven pratima with unwavering intensity and strictness for a long time. Afterwards, the wise Shravak took a lifelong fast with Sanlekhana, which he followed according to the method of worship and left his body with Samadhi-maran. From there, after death, Chulani Pita became a Devata named Arunaprab in the first Devalok. Just as Chulani Pita worshipped the difficult-to-achieve vow of Paushdha, so too, anyone who performs any other worship or practice will surely become a steadfast Shravak and be eligible for liberation. This is the example of Chulani Pita's vow-steadfastness!
**Atithisambhaag Vrat**
Now, regarding the fourth Shiksha Vrat called Atithisambhaag, it is said:
**Verse 87:**
"Giving four types of food, clothing, vessels, and houses to the Sadhus and Sadhvis is called the fourth Shiksha Vrat, Atithisambhaag."
**Explanation:**
Atithi means one whose arrival has no fixed date, whose festivals or celebrations are not fixed. Such excellent Atithi are the Sadhus and Sadhvis. To share with them, that is, when they come for alms during mealtime, to give them from the four types of food that you have prepared for yourself, such as food, drink, edibles, and delicacies, to give them vessels made of clay or wood, clothing or blankets to wear, and a house to live in, and by implication, a mat, a rug, a stool, a bed, etc., is the Atithisambhaag Vrat. This prohibits giving gold, etc., because Sadhus are not allowed to keep it. In fact, giving such excellent and deserving people what they need is called the Atithisambhaag Vrat. According to the etymology of Atithisambhaag Vrat, it means this: Atithi means one who has no fixed date, day, festival, or celebration. Such fortunate recipients of charity are called Atithi - Sadhus and Sadhvis. Sambhaag means Samyak prakar = free from the 42 faults like Aadhkarma, etc., and Vi means special type.