A quote from Upanishads “Annam para Brahma swarupam” which means food is the essence of life and it is considered as the Lord of Creation. This quote has a very deep meaning within it. The essence of the line is “Food gives life”. In our day-to-day life we can see thousands of people starve, even a small child would starve without food. For them even a single meal they get is a boon to them.
Annadhanam is considered as pranadhanam which means donation of life. Annadhanam is also considered as Mahadhanam which means the greatest donation. In Hinduism Annadhanam is a tradition which was followed religiously. It is believed that donors of annadhanam will attain moksha because food given to the needy is considered as food given to almighty.
Gaja turaga Sahasram
Kanaka Rajatha patram
Upaya kula vishuttam
Nahi nahi bahu danam
A Short story about Goddess Annapoorani
It is said that Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi was playing dice in Kailash. In the game Lord Shiva lost all His possessions to Goddess Parvathi including his Trishul, serpent Vasuki and Rudraksha. Mortified by the defeat Lord Shiva went into the Himalayan Forest. Bhagwan Vishnu came to about Lord Shiva’s defeat and wanted to help him.
Again, Lord Shiva went back to Goddess Parvathi and persuaded her to play one more time. And now Lord Shiva won and got all his Possessions back. Goddess Parvathi got wary and accused Lord Shiva for cheating. This raised an argument between them. At this point Bhagwan Vishnu appeared to calm down the couple. He told them the dice was moving as per His (Bhagwan Vishnu’s) wish and everything was an illusion (Maya). Lord Shiva told Goddess Parvathi that the entire nature and even food is a illusion (Maya). Hearing this Goddess Parvathi got angered because, she is the mother of all the material things in this universe including food. So angrily she said “If I am just an illusion, let see how you and the rest of the world get along without me” and disappeared.
Her disappearance created hunger in the universe. All the living beings suffered from terrible and unbearable pain of hunger.
Unable to see the sufferings of all the living beings,god of mercy Goddess Parvathi appeared as Annapoorani in Kasi. She cooked food and fed everyone including Mahadev.
Adi Shankara praises Annapoorani in the Annapurna stotra. Adi Shankara says “Annapurne sadapurne sankara-pranavallabhe gyanavairagya siddhyartham bhiksham dehi cha Parvati” This means Annapoorani Devi, Devi of plentiful Food, you are Bhagwan Shiva’s eternal Consort, give us alms along with wisdom. In a broader view Annadhanam (food donation) is just not limited to feeding a human. It includes all the living beings of this world. There is a belief in Hinduism that, Annadhanam will put an end to all the sins which would follow you from your previous birth. People do Annadhanam for his family glory and well-being. In Tamil there is a saying “The person who gives will never get spoiled” (கொடுப்பார் என்றும் கெடுவதில்லை)
On top of all these we become human when we are happy to share our food with the needy. Annadhanam is the only one where the soul of the person will bless the donor even without his consciousness
Few Clicks of Annadhanam Event
Location - Sri Sai Sannithanam Adayathmika Kendra - Kandamangalam. Thanjavur District
You can also be a part of Annadhanam project. To contribute using any UPI apps, please use the QR Code or UPI ID listed below.
Merchant name: Sayi Lok Kalyan Annadhanam Trust
Phone No: 7305978493
Bank Details
Account Number : 612505003865
IFSC code: ICIC0006125
Bank Name: ICICI
Address: 100, South Chitra Street, Srirangam, Trichy. 620006
If you need the receipt for the donation given to us, please send us the screenshot of the transaction to our WhatsApp number 784-573-8493 or to our email id : sayilokkalyanannadhanam@gmail.com
Donations given to us are exempted from Indian Income Tax as the norms under section 80G of Income Tax Act.
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