Annadaan is considered to be the Sarva Shrestha of all Daanas in Hindu Dharma and is known as Mahadaan. Shastras say Annadaan earns merit and destroys sins of several births. Annadaan is a combination of the words Anna meaning food and Daan meaning to give or donate.

Importance of Annadaan

Our ancestors believed that hunger was the biggest evil and misfortune that could strike any person. The enjoyment derived from materialistic Daanas is short-lived and one may not be satisfied, food is the only item that completely satisfies the receiver.   

All Hindu Granthas including the Vedas, Upanishads, Puranas, and Dharma Sastras, among others emphasize the need for doing Annadaan. Puranas liken our stomach to the Agni Kund where Agni, which is one of the five elements that make up our body, resides. This belly fire regularly requires food.

The Vedas say Annadanam Samam Danam Trilokeshu Na Vidhathe meaning no Daan or charity is comparable to Annadaan making it the supremest of all forms of charity. Taittriya Upanishad says Annam Vai Pranah meaning all life force emerges from food.

We have often seen people and even animals irritated and frustrated due to hunger. When food is offered to any hungry being it not only fills the stomach but also satisfies the soul. “Annad Bhavanti Bhutani”, Bhagwan Krishna says in His Gitopadesh meaning all creation is nourished by food or has evolved from food. Therefore, Hindu Dharma regards satisfying any being’s hunger as the greatest form of Daan and Punya.

The importance Hindu Dharma gives to Annadaan is evident from the following shloka:

Gaja turaga Sahasram | Gokulam koti danam |

Kanaka Rajatha patram | Methini sagarantham |

Upaya kula vishuttam | Koti kanya pradanam |

Nahi nahi bahu danam| Annadanam samanam ||

Meaning: Even if one gifted 1000 elephants, horses or gifts 10 million cows or any number of vessels of silver and gold, gifts the entire land till the sea, offering the entire services of the clan, helps in the marriage of 10 million women, all this is never equal to Annadaan (feeding the needy).

“One who gives food gives all that is worth giving in this world”, Sri Varaha says in the Varaha Purana. “Do not send away anyone who comes to your door, without offering him food and hospitality”, advises Taittiriya Upanishad.

Story of Mata Annapurna

Bhagwan Shiva and Devi Parvati were once playing dice in Mount Kailash. In the course of the game, Bhagwan wagered and lost all His possessions one by one to Devi including His Trishul, serpent Vasuki, and Rudraksha among others. Humiliated by the defeat, Bhagwan wandered off to the Deodar Forest. Bhagwan Vishnu learned of Mahadev’s defeat and assured to help Him.

Mahadev went back and enticed Devi for another round of dice. This time He succeeded in winning back all that He had lost. Devi got suspicious and accused Mahadev of cheating. An argument ensued between them, and Sri Hari Vishnu arrived to pacify the couple. He said that the dice had been moving as per His (Vishnu’s) wishes and that everything was an illusion (Maya).

Mahadev told Mata that the entire nature and even food was a Maya. Since Mata was the mother of all material things including food, She was angered by this statement. “If I am just an illusion, let’s see how you and the rest of the world get along without me”, Devi angrily remarked and disappeared. Her disappearance created havoc in the universe and in the absence of food, all living beings, even Devas, suffered from terrible pangs of hunger.

Unable to see the sufferings of all beings, Devi appeared as Annapurna in Kashi and cooked and fed everyone including Mahadev. Bhagwan Adi Shankara extols Her in the Annapurna stotra. Adi Shankara says – Annapurne sadapurne sankara-pranavallabhe gyanavairagya siddhyartham bhiksham dehi cha Parvati meaning Annapurna Devi, Devi of Plentiful Food, you are Bhagwan Shiva’s eternal Consort, give us alms along with wisdom.    

Annadaan in Temples

In keeping with the age-old Hindu tradition every Hindu temple and Matha across the country has Annadaan seva. Most big temples have Nitya Annadaan (daily) while smaller ones might do it on certain special occasions. While most of us are aware of the langar seva in Gurudwaras, the Hindu temples silently feed the hungry.

Here are some temples, Mathas, and Sansthans where Annadaan is done every day:

1. Shegaon Shri Sant Gajanan Maharaj Temple Trust, Maharashtra: around 25,000 to 30,000 devotees are fed Mahaprasad at Shegaon alone.
2. Puri Jagannath Mandir, Odisha: The kitchen feeds 25,000 devotees on a normal day and up to a lakh on festive days. Devi Mahalaxmi Herself is believed to cook in the kitchen.    
3. Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, Jammu: The board serves meals to lakhs of pilgrims who trek to the Shrine. Bhandaras are held at checkpoints set up on the way to the Mandir.
4. Udupi Dharmasthala Manjunath Mandir, Karnataka: At a time, 2500 devotees are served food in the dining hall. More than 10,000 devotees are fed daily.
5.  Tirumala Tirupati Mandir, Andhra Pradesh: the famous Bhagwan Balaji Mandir feeds thousands if not lakhs of devotees every day through its free Annadaan seva.
6. Vaikom Mahadeva Kshetram, Kerala: The Mandir not only does Annadaan seva daily but also calls out thrice at night before closing the temple to see if any person is hungry and needs to be fed.
7. Kukke Subramanya Mandir, Karnataka: The Subramanya Mandir in Karnataka feeds thousands of devotees daily.
8. Kashi Annapurna Mandir, Uttar Pradesh: The Kashi Annapurna Annakshetra Trust runs free Annadaan for devotees.
9. Shirdi Sai Sansthan, Maharashtra: The Sansthan provides meals to more than 40,000 devotees every day.
10. Panchkula Mata Mansa Devi Mandir, Haryana: The mandir has a dedicated hall to serve meals to the devotees every day.

We have not even touched the tip of the iceberg, this is merely an indicative/representative list and by no means an exhaustive one. Hindu Mandirs and Mathas have been feeding the needy for millennia in keeping with the teachings of Hindu Dharma.

(Featured Image Source: Atma Nirvana)