Gahapati [gaha + pati. Vedic gr̥hapati, where pati is still felt in its original meaning of "lord," "master" implying dignity, power and auspiciousness. Cf. Sanskrit dampati = dominus = δεσπότης and pati in Pāli senāpati commander-in-chief, Sanskrit jāspati householder, Latin hospes, Old-bulgarian gospoda = potestas , Gothic brūp-faps, bride-groom, hunda-faps = senāpati. See details under pati.] the possessor of a house, the head of the household, pater familias (frequently + seṭṭhi). 1. In formulas: (a) as regards social standing, wealth and clanship: a man of private (i.e. not official) life, classed with khattiyā and brāhmaṇā in kh°-mahāsālā, wealthy nobles, brahm°mahāsālā, the same brahmins, gah°-m° well-to-do gentry S I 71; Nidd II §135; Dhp-a I 388. — kh°-kula, br°-kula, g°-kula the kh°, etc. clans: Vin II 161; Ja I 218. kh°, amaccā, br°, g° D I 136. (b) as regards education and mode of life ranking with kh°, br°, g° and samaṇā Vin I 227; A I 66; Nidd II §235, see also compound °paṇḍita. 2. Other applications: frequent in combination brāhmaṇa-gahapatikā priests and yeomen: see gahapatika. In combination with gahapati-putta (cf. kula-putta) it comprises the members of the g. rank, clansmen of the (middle) class, and implies a tinge of "respectable people" especially in addresses. So used by the Buddha in enumerating the people as gahapati vā gah°-putto vā aññatarasmiṃ vā kule paccājāto D I 62; M I 344. gahapatī ca gahapatāniyo householders and their wives A II 57. In singular the vocative gahapati may be rendered by "sir" (e.g. Miln 17 and frequent), and in plural gahapatayo by "sirs" (e.g. Vin I 227; M I 401; A II 57). — As regards occupation all respectable businesses are within the sphere of the g., most frequently mentioned as such are seṭṭhino (see below) and cf. seṭṭhi° Vin I 16, but also kassaka, farmer A I 229, 239 f.; and dārukammika, carpenter A III 391. Various duties of a g. enumerated at A I 229, 239. — The wealth and comfortably-living position of a g. is evident from an expression like kalyāṇa-bhattiko g. a man accustomed to good food Vin II 77 = III 160. — feminine gahapatānī Vin III 211, 213 f., 259 (always with gahapati); Dhp-a I 376; plural gahapatāniyo see above. — Note: The genitive singular of gahapati is °ino (Ja I 92) as well as °issa (Vin I 16; D III 36). 3. single cases of gahapatis, where g. almost assumes the function of a title, are Anāthapiṇḍika g. Vin II 158 f.; S I 56; II 68; A II 65; Ja I 92; Pv-a 16; Meṇḍaka g. Vin I 240 f.; Citta S IV 281 f.; Nakulapitā S II 1 f.; Potaliya M I 359; Sandhāna D III 36 f.; Hāliddikāni S II 9. — See next. -aggi the sacred fire to be maintained by a householder, interpreted by the Buddha as the care to be bestowed on one's children and servants A IV 45; see enumeration under aggī at A IV 41; D III 217; -cīvara the robe of a householder (i.e. a layman's robe) Vin I 280 f. ; °dhara wearing the householder's (private man's) robe (of a bhikkhu) M I 31; A III 391 f. ; -necayika (always with brāhmaṇa-mahāsālā) a business man of substance D I 136; III 16 f. ; -paṇḍita a learned householder. Cf. above 1 (b), together with khattiya°, etc. M I 176, 396; with samaṇa-brāhmaṇa- Miln 5; -parisā a company of gahapatis (together with khattiya°, etc., see above) Vin I 227; M I 72; D III 260; -putta a member of a g. clan D I 62, 211; M I 344; S III 48, 112; Pv-a 22; -mahāsāla a householder of private means (cf. above 1 a) usually in combination with khattiya°, etc. D III 258; S I 71; IV 292; A II 86; IV 239; -ratana the "householder-gem" one of the seven fairy jewels of the {222} mythical overlord. He is a wizard treasure-finder (see ratana) D II 16, 176; Snp page 106. Cf. Rh.D. D.B. etc. II 206.
(masc, masc, comp) householder; landowner master of a house [lit.] house master Construction: gaha + pati