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== अन्नमहात्म्यम् '''||''' Greatness of Anna ==

== अन्नमहात्म्यम् '''||''' Greatness of Anna ==

The greatness of anna is proclaimed in several ways, like<ref name=":0" />

The greatness of anna is proclaimed in several ways, since the Rig vedic times<ref name=":0" />

<blockquote>स इद्भोजो यो गृहवे ददात्यन्नकामाय चरते कृशाय । अरमस्मै भवति यामहूता उतापरीषु कृणुते सखायम् ॥३॥ (Rig. Veda. 10.117.3)<ref>Rig Veda ([http://vedicheritage.gov.in/samhitas/rigveda/shakala-samhita/rigveda-shakala-samhita-mandal-10-sukta-117/ Mandala 10 Sukta 117])</ref></blockquote>Meaning : one who gives charity of food to the weak and emaciated, he is the Daata and he not only attains the complete benefits of conducting yajna, but with such persons enemies also befriend him for one who gives charity every one is friend.<ref>Trivedi, Rama Govind. (1954) [https://archive.org/stream/RigVedaRamaGovindTrivediHindiRigVeda/Rig%20Veda%20Rama%20Govind%20Trivedi%20%28Hindi%20Rig%20Veda%29#page/n1557/mode/2up ''Hindi Rigveda.''] Prayag :  The Indian Press Ltd.</ref>

* अन्नं न निन्द्यात् । do not look down upon anna : Taittriya Upanishad (Anuvaka 7) <ref>Taittriya Upanishad ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%88%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B7%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%AD%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%80 Bhruguvalli])</ref>

* अन्नं न निन्द्यात् । do not look down upon anna : Taittriya Upanishad (Anuvaka 7) <ref>Taittriya Upanishad ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%88%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B7%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%AD%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%80 Bhruguvalli])</ref>

* अन्नं न परिचक्षीत । do not neglect anna : Tattriya Upanishad (Anuvaka 8)

* अन्नं न परिचक्षीत । do not neglect anna : Tattriya Upanishad (Anuvaka 8)

* अन्नं ब्रह्म यतः प्रोक्तमन्ने प्राणाः प्रतिष्ठिताः। Annam brahma, because upon the said anna rests the prana or life : Matsya Purana (83.42) <ref>Matsya Purana ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%AE%E0%A5%A9 Adhyaya 83])</ref>

* अन्नं ब्रह्म यतः प्रोक्तमन्ने प्राणाः प्रतिष्ठिताः। Annam brahma, because upon the said anna rests the prana or life : Matsya Purana (83.42) <ref>Matsya Purana ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%AE%E0%A5%A9 Adhyaya 83])</ref>

* Rig Veda extols the greatness of "Anna (food) as brahma (supreme) as follows

* आहारशुद्धौ सतवशुद्धिः सत्त्वशुद्धौ ध्रुवा स्मृतिः। purity of food leads to purity of internal organs. From purification of internal organs comes unfailing memory : Chandogya Upanishad (7.26.2)<ref>Swami Gambhirananda (1983) ''[https://archive.org/stream/ChandogyaUpanishadSwamiGambhiranandaR.K.Mutt/Chandogya%20Upanishad%20%20Swami%20Gambhirananda%20R.K.%20Mutt#page/n603/mode/2up Chandogya Upanisad With The Commentary of Sri. Sankaracarya (English Translation).]'' Calcutta : Advaita Ashrama</ref>

<blockquote>य आध्राय चकमानाय पित्वोऽन्नवान्त्सन्रफितायोपजग्मुषे । स्थिरं मन: कृणुते सेवते पुरोतो चित्स मर्डितारं न विन्दते ॥२॥ (Rig. Veda. 10.117.2)<ref>Rig Veda ([http://vedicheritage.gov.in/samhitas/rigveda/shakala-samhita/rigveda-shakala-samhita-mandal-10-sukta-117/ Mandala 10 Sukta 117])</ref></blockquote>Sukta Summary: It is not the desire of the devas that human being should die because of hunger.  even those who eat nicely also die. Therefore those who perform charity of grains will never find any scarcity in their life.  one who is very stingy does not get any happiness or help at the end of his life. Therefore there is no connection between hunger and death(devas wants us to perform charity while enjoying one's own personal life too). Death does not make discrimination between those are hungry and those who are not, both do die eventually. Therefore, for the sake of being charitable human beings should give charity. One who does not give charity even after having so much of wealth, no one sympathize with such wealthy people in their unhappiness and neither any one prays for their happiness.   but one who gives charity of food, he not only attains the benefits of conducting yagna, but also influences the enemy to befriend him.  for one who gives charity every one is friend.  some people do not do good to the very people who follow them.  This is not real friendship.  Those who desire food, should not associate with such people without sharing of food, friendship cannot survive.  The greedy cannot be real friend, even if he acts as if is one such friend.

<blockquote></blockquote>Therefore, it is wise to give charity when one has the capacity to do so.  The rishi of the this sukta,  boldly declares "I am proclaiming the truth, those who do not have the habit of giving charity of food, then it is useless to have storage of large of quantity of grains, that very food might cost his life.   One who does not offer the devas in yagna, charity of food to a friend, and meal to a visiting  guest, and enjoys his meal alone he is verily sinful person."  ( in the gita it is said bhujante te agham papam, ye pachanti atmakaranat,")Here in Bhagavad gita, Sri Krishna is indirectly criticizing those who are not giving charity of food and back ground is the value of charity of food.  Vedas say, "kevalagh0 bhavati kevaladi," This verse is similar to the verse of Bhagavad gita.  The main duty of Grihastas is to give charity of food to guests.  There is no distinction of gender or caste in giving charity of food.  whoever is hungry, has to receive the food.  This is the call of the puranas.  just like the plow of farmer provides grains.  The servant by serving his master helps him to have food. ( in one sense the person who does not give charity is less than the plow and the servant who helps the master is  better.)  

 

The wealthy person, if does not give charity to those who are seeking charity, his wealth does not stay, just like how the chariot wheel does not stay in one place, it moves on to somebody else.  Therefore, it is wise to give charity when one has the capacity to do so.  The rishi of the this sukta,  boldly declares "I am proclaiming the truth, those who do not have the habit of giving charity of food, then it is useless to have storage of large of quantity of grains, that very food might cost his life.   One who does not offer the devas in yagna, charity of food to a friend, and meal to a visiting  guest, and enjoys his meal alone he is verily sinful person."  ( in the gita it is said bhujante te agham papam, ye pachanti atmakaranat,")Here in Bhagavad gita, Sri Krishna is indirectly criticizing those who are not giving charity of food and back ground is the value of charity of food.  Vedas say, "kevalagh0 bhavati kevaladi," This verse is similar to the verse of Bhagavad gita.  The main duty of Grihastas is to give charity of food to guests.  There is no distinction of gender or caste in giving charity of food.  whoever is hungry, has to receive the food.  This is the call of the puranas.  just like the plow of farmer provides grains.  The servant by serving his master helps him to have food. ( in one sense the person who does not give charity is less than the plow and the servant who helps the master is  better.)

It is said knowledge is also food.  The brahaman who understand the essence of the vedas and teaches others is better than those who are simply born in brahamana family.   if by some chance the charitable person is the relative of miser, by the association of charitable person the miser might become charitable.  The difference between magnanimous and miser can be explained by this example: one who walks with one leg cannot walk like the person who has both the legs, he will take longer time to reach the destination.   but those who are having three legs can walk or reach the destination faster.  but the person who has four legs he is the best person.  here leg represents the power of wealth.  

It is said knowledge is also food.  The brahaman who understand the essence of the vedas and teaches others is better than those who are simply born in brahamana family.   if by some chance the charitable person is the relative of miser, by the association of charitable person the miser might become charitable.  The difference between magnanimous and miser can be explained by this example: one who walks with one leg cannot walk like the person who has both the legs, he will take longer time to reach the destination.   but those who are having three legs can walk or reach the destination faster.  but the person who has four legs he is the best person.  here leg represents the power of wealth.