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Annadanam or Dana of food (Samskrit : अन्नदानम्) is one of the greatest danas practiced since ancient days. The practice of offering or serving food to any soul, be it an uninvited person or animals or birds is referred to with great reverence. The term "anna" or "annam" chiefly implies "ahara" or food referring to "what is eaten is anna". "Atithidevo bhava" The term atithi applies to anyone who appears at the door unexpected and uninvited and he is treated as a devata; this teaching of the Taittriya Upanishad has been a sanatana siddhanta, accepted and adhered to at all times in this holy land of Bharatavarsha.<ref name=":0">Bajaj, Jitendra and Mandayam, Srinivas. (1996) ''Annam Bahu Kurvita.'' Madras: Centre for Policy Studies Madras</ref>

Annadanam or Dana of food (Samskrit : अन्नदानम्) is one of the greatest danas practiced since ancient days. The practice of offering or serving food to any soul, be it an uninvited person or animals or birds is referred to with great reverence. The term "anna" or "annam" chiefly implies "ahara" or food referring to "what is eaten is anna" as per Chandogya Upanishad. "Atithidevo bhava" The term atithi applies to anyone who appears at the door unexpected and uninvited and he is treated as a devata; this teaching of the Taittriya Upanishad has been a sanatana siddhanta, accepted and adhered to at all times in this holy land of Bharatavarsha.<ref name=":0">Bajaj, Jitendra and Mandayam, Srinivas. (1996) ''Annam Bahu Kurvita.'' Madras: Centre for Policy Studies Madras</ref>

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

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

* 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>

The Rik sukta extols the greatness of "Anna (food) as brahma(supreme).  one such angirasa sukta( rik veda, 10th mandal 117 sukta is summarized as follows;

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

 

<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.  

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.  

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.)

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.)