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Annadana (अन्नदानम्) (view source)

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== अन्नमहात्म्यम् '''||''' Anna Mahatmya ==

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

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* Rig Veda describes the greatness of Anna (food) as supreme and extols Annadata in Sukta 117 of Mandala 10, a few mantras as follows<blockquote>स इद्भोजो यो गृहवे ददात्यन्नकामाय चरते कृशाय । अरमस्मै भवति यामहूता उतापरीषु कृणुते सखायम् ॥३॥ (Rig. Veda. 10.117.3)<ref name=":3">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 enemies also befriend him for one who gives charity is a friend of every one.<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 Bharat's Press Ltd.</ref>

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* Rig Veda describes the greatness of Anna (food) as supreme and extols Annadata in Sukta 117 of Mandala 10, a few mantras as follows<blockquote>स इद्भोजो यो गृहवे ददात्यन्नकामाय चरते कृशाय । अरमस्मै भवति यामहूता उतापरीषु कृणुते सखायम् ॥३॥ (Rig. Veda. 10.117.3)<ref name=":3">Rig Veda ([http://vedicheritage.gov.in/samhitas/rigveda/shakala-samhita/rigveda-shakala-samhita-mandal-10-sukta-117/ Mandala 10 Sukta 117])</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''sa idbhojo yo gr̥have dadātyannakāmāya carate kr̥śāya । aramasmai bhavati yāmahūtā utāparīṣu kr̥ṇute sakhāyam ॥3॥''</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 enemies also befriend him for one who gives charity is a friend of every one.<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 Bharat's Press Ltd.</ref>

* अन्नं न निन्द्यात् । do not look down upon anna : Taittriya Upanishad (Bhruguvalli Anuvaka 7) <ref name=":1">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)

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* 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 ह्यमृतमित्याहुरन्नं प्रजननं स्मृतम्। अन्नप्रणाशे सीदन्ति शरीरे पञ्च धातवः॥ Food is indeed the preserver of life and food is the source of procreation. When there is no food, the five elements constituting the body cease to be. Mahabharata (14.108.38)<ref name=":0" />

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The following four verses in continuation with the above sloka from Mahabharata, Asvamedhika parva, define the pre-eminence of food in the creation and sustenance of all life. <blockquote>बलं बलवतो नश्येदन्नहीनस्य देहिनः। तस्मादन्नं विशेषेण श्रद्धयाश्रद्धयापि वा॥ (Maha. Asva. Parv. 14.108.39)</blockquote><blockquote>आदत्ते हि रसं सर्वमादित्यः स्वगभस्तिभिः। वायुस्तस्मात्समादाय रसं मेघेषु धारयेत्॥ (Maha. Asva. Parv. 14.108.40)</blockquote><blockquote>तत्तु मेघगतं भूमौ शक्रो वर्षति तादृशम्। तेन दिग्धा भवेद्देवी मही प्रीता च भारत॥ (Maha. Asva. Parv. 14.108.41)</blockquote><blockquote>तस्यां सस्यानि रोहन्ति यैर्जीवन्त्यखिलाः प्रजाः। मांसमेदोऽस्थिमज्जानां सम्भवस्तेभ्य एव हि॥ (Maha. Asva. Parv. 14.108.42)</blockquote>Summary : Without food even a strong man loses all his strength. Therefore, food, whether taken in reverence or otherwise, has a special place in life. Aditya or Surya, through his rays, draws out the vital essences, and Vayu gathers these and places them in the clouds. The vital essences thus collected in the clouds are showered back on the earth by Indra. Suffused with the showers, the Bhudevi, O Bharata! is verily in contentment. Out of the contented earth grow the food-crops, which sustain all life. Flesh, fat, bone, and marrow are formed of these alone.

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The following four verses in continuation with the above sloka from Mahabharata, Asvamedhika parva, define the pre-eminence of food in the creation and sustenance of all life. <blockquote>बलं बलवतो नश्येदन्नहीनस्य देहिनः। तस्मादन्नं विशेषेण श्रद्धयाश्रद्धयापि वा॥ (Maha. Asva. Parv. 14.108.39)</blockquote><blockquote>आदत्ते हि रसं सर्वमादित्यः स्वगभस्तिभिः। वायुस्तस्मात्समादाय रसं मेघेषु धारयेत्॥ (Maha. Asva. Parv. 14.108.40)</blockquote><blockquote>तत्तु मेघगतं भूमौ शक्रो वर्षति तादृशम्। तेन दिग्धा भवेद्देवी मही प्रीता च भारत॥ (Maha. Asva. Parv. 14.108.41)</blockquote><blockquote>तस्यां सस्यानि रोहन्ति यैर्जीवन्त्यखिलाः प्रजाः। मांसमेदोऽस्थिमज्जानां सम्भवस्तेभ्य एव हि॥ (Maha. Asva. Parv. 14.108.42)</blockquote><blockquote>''balaṁ balavato naśyedannahīnasya dehinaḥ। tasmādannaṁ viśeṣeṇa śraddhayāśraddhayāpi vā॥ (Maha. Asva. Parv. 14.108.39)''</blockquote><blockquote>''ādatte hi rasaṁ sarvamādityaḥ svagabhastibhiḥ। vāyustasmātsamādāya rasaṁ megheṣu dhārayet॥ (Maha. Asva. Parv. 14.108.40)''</blockquote><blockquote>''tattu meghagataṁ bhūmau śakro varṣati tādr̥śam। tena digdhā bhaveddevī mahī prītā ca bhārata॥ (Maha. Asva. Parv. 14.108.41)''</blockquote><blockquote>''tasyāṁ sasyāni rohanti yairjīvantyakhilāḥ prajāḥ। māṁsamedo'sthimajjānāṁ sambhavastebhya eva hi॥ (Maha. Asva. Parv. 14.108.42)''</blockquote>Summary : Without food even a strong man loses all his strength. Therefore, food, whether taken in reverence or otherwise, has a special place in life. Aditya or Surya, through his rays, draws out the vital essences, and Vayu gathers these and places them in the clouds. The vital essences thus collected in the clouds are showered back on the earth by Indra. Suffused with the showers, the Bhudevi, O Bharata! is verily in contentment. Out of the contented earth grow the food-crops, which sustain all life. Flesh, fat, bone, and marrow are formed of these alone.

Thus in these five verses Srikrishna summarizes all that needs to be said about the importance of food. These precepts appear again and again in the Bharat's literature in different forms and different contexts.<ref name=":0" />

== अन्नस्य जलोद्भवम्॥ Anna Originates from Jala ==

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Mahabharata, in Anushasana Parva lays down the importance of Jala or water giving rise to anna and the different forms that constitute anna for different beings.<blockquote>नीरजातश्च भगवान्सोमो ग्रहगणेश्वरः। अमृतं च सुधा चैव स्वाहा चैव स्वधा तथा॥ (Maha. Anush. Parv. 13.67.12) </blockquote><blockquote>अन्नौषध्यो महाराज वीरुधश्च जलोद्भवाः। यतः प्राणभृतां प्राणाः सम्भवन्ति विशाम्पते॥ (Maha. Anush. Parv. 13.67.13)</blockquote><blockquote>देवानाममृतं ह्यन्नं नागानां च सुधा तथा। पितॄणां च स्वधा प्रोक्ता पशूनां चापि वीरुधः॥ (Maha. Anush. Parv. 13.67.14)</blockquote>Soma, the devata for grahas, celestial bodies, is born of water and so are Amrta, Sudha, Svaha, Svadha. Oh Maharaja ! so are anna (food grains), oshadhis (medicinal plants), and virudhas (grasses). All living beings are born of and live on these various annas that are born of water. Of these, amrta is said to be the anna of devatas, sudha of the nagas, svadha of the pitrus, and virudhas of the animals.<ref name=":0" />

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Mahabharata, in Anushasana Parva lays down the importance of Jala or water giving rise to anna and the different forms that constitute anna for different beings.<blockquote>नीरजातश्च भगवान्सोमो ग्रहगणेश्वरः। अमृतं च सुधा चैव स्वाहा चैव स्वधा तथा॥ (Maha. Anush. Parv. 13.67.12) </blockquote><blockquote>अन्नौषध्यो महाराज वीरुधश्च जलोद्भवाः। यतः प्राणभृतां प्राणाः सम्भवन्ति विशाम्पते॥ (Maha. Anush. Parv. 13.67.13)</blockquote><blockquote>देवानाममृतं ह्यन्नं नागानां च सुधा तथा। पितॄणां च स्वधा प्रोक्ता पशूनां चापि वीरुधः॥ (Maha. Anush. Parv. 13.67.14)</blockquote><blockquote>''nīrajātaśca bhagavānsomo grahagaṇeśvaraḥ। amr̥taṁ ca sudhā caiva svāhā caiva svadhā tathā॥ (Maha. Anush. Parv. 13.67.12)''</blockquote><blockquote>''annauṣadhyo mahārāja vīrudhaśca jalodbhavāḥ। yataḥ prāṇabhr̥tāṁ prāṇāḥ sambhavanti viśāmpate॥ (Maha. Anush. Parv. 13.67.13)''</blockquote><blockquote>''devānāmamr̥taṁ hyannaṁ nāgānāṁ ca sudhā tathā। pitr̥̄ṇāṁ ca svadhā proktā paśūnāṁ cāpi vīrudhaḥ॥ (Maha. Anush. Parv. 13.67.14)''</blockquote>Soma, the devata for grahas, celestial bodies, is born of water and so are Amrta, Sudha, Svaha, Svadha. Oh Maharaja ! so are anna (food grains), oshadhis (medicinal plants), and virudhas (grasses). All living beings are born of and live on these various annas that are born of water. Of these, amrta is said to be the anna of devatas, sudha of the nagas, svadha of the pitrus, and virudhas of the animals.<ref name=":0" />

That anna arises from rains and water is also given in Shrimad Bhagavadgita (3.14)

== अन्नात्पुरुषः॥ Purusha Originates from Anna ==

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In Taittriya Upanishad, the teaching of brahmavidya, starts with an exposition of how Brahman creates and manifests himself in the Universe.<blockquote>तस्माद्वा एतस्मादात्मन आकाशः संभूतः । आकाशाद्वायुः । वायोरग्निः । अग्नेरापः । अद्भ्यः पृथिवी । पृथिव्या ओषधयः । ओषधीभ्योऽन्नम् । अन्नात्पुरुषः । (Tait. Upan. Brah. 2.1)<ref name=":2">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%AC%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%80 Brahmanandavalli Anuvaka 1])</ref></blockquote>From that Brahman, who is also this atma, the individual self of the seeker, was born akasa, the elementary space. From akasa was born vayu, the elementary winds. From vayu was born agni, the elementary fire. From agni were born apah, the elementary waters. From apah were born osadhls, the elementary vegetation. From osadhis was born anna, the elementary food. And from anna was born purusa, the man.<ref name=":0" />

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In Taittriya Upanishad, the teaching of brahmavidya, starts with an exposition of how Brahman creates and manifests himself in the Universe.<blockquote>तस्माद्वा एतस्मादात्मन आकाशः संभूतः । आकाशाद्वायुः । वायोरग्निः । अग्नेरापः । अद्भ्यः पृथिवी । पृथिव्या ओषधयः । ओषधीभ्योऽन्नम् । अन्नात्पुरुषः । (Tait. Upan. Brah. 2.1)<ref name=":2">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%AC%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%80 Brahmanandavalli Anuvaka 1])</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''tasmādvā etasmādātmana ākāśaḥ saṁbhūtaḥ । ākāśādvāyuḥ । vāyoragniḥ । agnerāpaḥ । adbhyaḥ pr̥thivī । pr̥thivyā oṣadhayaḥ । oṣadhībhyo'nnam । annātpuruṣaḥ । (Tait. Upan. Brah. 2.1)''</blockquote>From that Brahman, who is also this atma, the individual self of the seeker, was born akasa, the elementary space. From akasa was born vayu, the elementary winds. From vayu was born agni, the elementary fire. From agni were born apah, the elementary waters. From apah were born osadhls, the elementary vegetation. From osadhis was born anna, the elementary food. And from anna was born purusa, the man.<ref name=":0" />

=== Annamaya Purusha ===

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The purusa here stands for the man — for the individuated self — according to Sri Sankara. To emphasize the annamayatva, the attribute of being born from anna, of the purusa the seer says:<blockquote>स वा एष पुरुषोऽन्नरसमयः । तस्येदमेव शिरः । अयं दक्षिणः पक्षः । अयमुत्तरः पक्षः । अयमात्मा । इदं पुच्छं प्रतिष्ठा । तदप्येष श्लोको भवति ॥ (Tait. Upan. Brah. 2.1)<ref name=":2" /></blockquote>That, this purusa, is indeed formed of anna and rasa, food and the vital essences derived from food. Of him, the purusa, indeed is this head; of him is this right side; this left side; of him is this middle torso; and of him is this lower torso. It is about him that the following sloka is said.

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The purusa here stands for the man — for the individuated self — according to Sri Sankara. To emphasize the annamayatva, the attribute of being born from anna, of the purusa the seer says:<blockquote>स वा एष पुरुषोऽन्नरसमयः । तस्येदमेव शिरः । अयं दक्षिणः पक्षः । अयमुत्तरः पक्षः । अयमात्मा । इदं पुच्छं प्रतिष्ठा । तदप्येष श्लोको भवति ॥ (Tait. Upan. Brah. 2.1)<ref name=":2" /></blockquote><blockquote>''sa vā eṣa puruṣo'nnarasamayaḥ । tasyedameva śiraḥ । ayaṁ dakṣiṇaḥ pakṣaḥ । ayamuttaraḥ pakṣaḥ । ayamātmā । idaṁ pucchaṁ pratiṣṭhā । tadapyeṣa śloko bhavati ॥ (Tait. Upan. Brah. 2.1)''</blockquote>That, this purusa, is indeed formed of anna and rasa, food and the vital essences derived from food. Of him, the purusa, indeed is this head; of him is this right side; this left side; of him is this middle torso; and of him is this lower torso. It is about him that the following sloka is said.

Taittriya Upanishad reveals the annamaya-, pranamaya-, manomaya-, vijnanamaya- and anandamayapurusa, sequentially, in the manner of removing layers of husk to reveal the grain of rice, as Sri Sankara puts it. But in the beginning, and providing form to all those others, is the annamayapurusa.<ref name=":0" />

== अन्नदेवता ॥ Annadevata ==

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In the Taittriya Brahmana of the Krishna yajurveda we hear annadevata, the devata residing in food, himself speaking about the importance of food and of the inviolability of the discipline of giving before eating, in words that are often reminiscent of the teachings of Bhiksu Angirasa. The eighth anuvaka of the eighth prapathaka of the second astaka of the brahmana quotes the annadevata proclaiming thus:<blockquote>अहमस्मि प्रथमजा ऋतस्य । पूर्वं देवेभ्यो अमृतस्य नाभिः । यो मा ददाति स इदेव माऽऽवाः । अहमन्नमन्नमदन्तमद्मि । (Tait. Brah. 2.8.8) <ref>Taittriya Brahmana ([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%A4%AC%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D_(%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A0%E0%A4%83)/%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A8/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A0%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A6%E0%A5%AE Kanda 2 Prapathaka 8])</ref></blockquote>I, the annadevata, am the first progenitor of yajna: the first yajna born of me. It is I who, at the earliest times, become the nucleus of amrta for the devas. The one who gives me is in fact the one who obtains me. On the other hand, the one who does not give is consumed by me. I am the annadevata, I eat the one who does not give anna.<blockquote>अन्नं प्राणमन्नमपानमाहुः । अन्नं मृत्युं तमु जीवातुमाहुः । अन्नं ब्रह्माणो जरसं वदन्ति । अन्नमाहुः प्रजननं प्रजानाम् । (Tait. Brah. 2.8.8)</blockquote>Anna is said to be both prana and apana, the two forms of the breath of life that permeate the body. Anna is the giver of life, and also the extinguisher of it. It is said that anna is the cause of aging. Anna is said to be the progenitor of all progeny.<ref name=":0" />

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In the Taittriya Brahmana of the Krishna yajurveda we hear annadevata, the devata residing in food, himself speaking about the importance of food and of the inviolability of the discipline of giving before eating, in words that are often reminiscent of the teachings of Bhiksu Angirasa. The eighth anuvaka of the eighth prapathaka of the second astaka of the brahmana quotes the annadevata proclaiming thus:<blockquote>अहमस्मि प्रथमजा ऋतस्य । पूर्वं देवेभ्यो अमृतस्य नाभिः । यो मा ददाति स इदेव माऽऽवाः । अहमन्नमन्नमदन्तमद्मि । (Tait. Brah. 2.8.8)<ref>Taittriya Brahmana ([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%A4%AC%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D_(%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A0%E0%A4%83)/%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A8/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A0%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A6%E0%A5%AE Kanda 2 Prapathaka 8])</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''ahamasmi prathamajā r̥tasya । pūrvaṁ devebhyo amr̥tasya nābhiḥ । yo mā dadāti sa ideva mā<nowiki>''</nowiki>vāḥ । ahamannamannamadantamadmi । (Tait. Brah. 2.8.8)''</blockquote>I, the annadevata, am the first progenitor of yajna: the first yajna born of me. It is I who, at the earliest times, become the nucleus of amrta for the devas. The one who gives me is in fact the one who obtains me. On the other hand, the one who does not give is consumed by me. I am the annadevata, I eat the one who does not give anna.<blockquote>अन्नं प्राणमन्नमपानमाहुः । अन्नं मृत्युं तमु जीवातुमाहुः । अन्नं ब्रह्माणो जरसं वदन्ति । अन्नमाहुः प्रजननं प्रजानाम् । (Tait. Brah. 2.8.8)</blockquote><blockquote>''annaṁ prāṇamannamapānamāhuḥ । annaṁ mr̥tyuṁ tamu jīvātumāhuḥ । annaṁ brahmāṇo jarasaṁ vadanti । annamāhuḥ prajananaṁ prajānām । (Tait. Brah. 2.8.8)''</blockquote>Anna is said to be both prana and apana, the two forms of the breath of life that permeate the body. Anna is the giver of life, and also the extinguisher of it. It is said that anna is the cause of aging. Anna is said to be the progenitor of all progeny.<ref name=":0" />

== अनन्नदानं गृहस्थधर्मः ॥ Annadana is Grhasthadharma ==

There arises many an occasion in Bharat's traditional literature to celebrate the centrality of the [[Grhasthashrama (गृहस्थाश्रमः)|grhastha ashrama]] amongst the four ashramas, the four stages of life that a person is expected to follow sequentially in a lifetime.

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Grhyasutras lay down the principles that householders should offer cooked food to deities (Vaisvedeva) in grhya fires or ordinary fire. For example, Agni, Dhanvantri, Visvedevas, Prajapati and Svistakrt (Agni) are the deities according to Gautama sutras. According to Manu (3.84 to 86) the deities are Agni, Soma, Agnisoma, the Visvedevas, Dhanvantri, Kuhu, Anumati, Prajapati, Dyavaprthvi and Svistakrt (Agni). There are various versions of the rituals to be followed as given in different sutras.<ref name=":12">Kane, Pandurang. Vaman. (1941) ''History of Dharmasastra, Volume Two, Part 2.'' Poona: Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute</ref>

==== बलिहरणम् ॥ Baliharana or Bhutayajna ====

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In [[Bhuta Yajna (भूतयज्ञः)|Bhutayajna]], bali is to be offered not into fire but on the ground, which is wiped and cooked food is placed on it. These directions to give food even to outcasts, dogs and birds were the outcome of the noble sentiment of universal kindliness and charity, the idea that One Spirit pervades and illumines the even the meanest of creatures and binds all together. Shankhayana Grhyasutras (2.14) winds up its vaisvadeva section with this fine exhortation :<ref name=":12" /><blockquote>भोजयेच्छ्वभ्यः श्वपचेभ्यश्च वयोभ्यश्चावपेद्भूमाविति नानवत्तमश्नीयान्नैको न पूर्वं । तदप्येतदृचोक्तं मोघमन्नं विन्दते अप्रचेता इति २६ (2.14.25 -26)<ref>Shankhayana [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%99%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%96%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D Grhyasutras]</ref></blockquote>Let him throw food to dogs, to svapachas (eaters of dog-flesh), to birds on the ground; let him eat nothing without having cut off a portion (to be offered as a bali); let him not eat alone, nor before others (relatives and guests) since the Rig Veda mantra says "the fool gets food in vain" <blockquote>मोघमन्नं विन्दते अप्रचेताः सत्यं ब्रवीमि वध इत्स तस्य ।~~<br>~~नार्यमणं पुष्यति नो सखायं केवलाघो भवति केवलादी ॥६॥ (Rig Veda. 10.117.6)<ref name=":3" /></blockquote>The same idea is reverberated in Shrimad Bhagavadgita (3.13), Manusmriti (3.118) and Vishnu Dharmasutras (67.43).<ref name=":12" />

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In [[Bhuta Yajna (भूतयज्ञः)|Bhutayajna]], bali is to be offered not into fire but on the ground, which is wiped and cooked food is placed on it. These directions to give food even to outcasts, dogs and birds were the outcome of the noble sentiment of universal kindliness and charity, the idea that One Spirit pervades and illumines the even the meanest of creatures and binds all together. Shankhayana Grhyasutras (2.14) winds up its vaisvadeva section with this fine exhortation :<ref name=":12" /><blockquote>भोजयेच्छ्वभ्यः श्वपचेभ्यश्च वयोभ्यश्चावपेद्भूमाविति नानवत्तमश्नीयान्नैको न पूर्वं । तदप्येतदृचोक्तं मोघमन्नं विन्दते अप्रचेता इति २६ (2.14.25 -26)<ref>Shankhayana [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%99%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%96%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D Grhyasutras]</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''bhojayecchvabhyaḥ śvapacebhyaśca vayobhyaścāvapedbhūmāviti nānavattamaśnīyānnaiko na pūrvaṁ । tadapyetadr̥coktaṁ moghamannaṁ vindate apracetā iti 26 (2.14.25 -26)''</blockquote>Let him throw food to dogs, to svapachas (eaters of dog-flesh), to birds on the ground; let him eat nothing without having cut off a portion (to be offered as a bali); let him not eat alone, nor before others (relatives and guests) since the Rig Veda mantra says "the fool gets food in vain" <blockquote>मोघमन्नं विन्दते अप्रचेताः सत्यं ब्रवीमि वध इत्स तस्य । नार्यमणं पुष्यति नो सखायं केवलाघो भवति केवलादी ॥६॥ (Rig Veda. 10.117.6)<ref name=":3" /></blockquote><blockquote>''moghamannaṁ vindate apracetāḥ satyaṁ bravīmi vadha itsa tasya । nāryamaṇaṁ puṣyati no sakhāyaṁ kevalāgho bhavati kevalādī ॥6॥''</blockquote>The same idea is reverberated in Shrimad Bhagavadgita (3.13), Manusmriti (3.118) and Vishnu Dharmasutras (67.43).<ref name=":12" />

==== मनुष्ययज्ञः ॥ Manushyayajna (Atithi and Abhyagata) ====

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In the Mahabharata, Srikrishna, while advising Yudhisthira on the discipline of annadana, emphasizes this fundamental distinction between a guest who is already acquainted and the one who comes unknown and uninvited. The former, Srikrishna says, is called abhyagata (अभ्यागतः), the latter alone is an atithi (अतिथिः) <blockquote>अभ्यागतो ज्ञातपूर्वो ह्यज्ञातोऽतिथिरुच्यते। (Maha. Asva. Parv. 14.101.57)</blockquote>A grhastha, of course, must offer reverential hospitality to both the abhyagata and the atithi. But it is the feeding of the atithi that forms an essential component of manusyayajna or [[Nru Yajna (नृयज्ञः)|Nru Yajna]]. The abhyagata is like a member of the household and, as Manu would explain later, he eats after the atithis, along with the family of the host.

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In the Mahabharata, Srikrishna, while advising Yudhisthira on the discipline of annadana, emphasizes this fundamental distinction between a guest who is already acquainted and the one who comes unknown and uninvited. The former, Srikrishna says, is called abhyagata (अभ्यागतः), the latter alone is an atithi (अतिथिः) <blockquote>अभ्यागतो ज्ञातपूर्वो ह्यज्ञातोऽतिथिरुच्यते। (Maha. Asva. Parv. 14.101.57)</blockquote><blockquote>''abhyāgato jñātapūrvo hyajñāto'tithirucyate।''</blockquote>A grhastha, of course, must offer reverential hospitality to both the abhyagata and the atithi. But it is the feeding of the atithi that forms an essential component of manusyayajna or [[Nru Yajna (नृयज्ञः)|Nru Yajna]]. The abhyagata is like a member of the household and, as Manu would explain later, he eats after the atithis, along with the family of the host.

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The coming of an unknown, uninvited and unexpected atithi in the evening, Manu says, is like a fortune fetched to the householder's door by the setting sun himself. Such an atithi should be cared for with the greatest reverence. As Manusmrti puts it:<blockquote>अप्रणोद्योऽतिथिः सायं सूर्योढो गृहमेधिना । काले प्राप्तस्त्वकाले वा नास्यानश्नन्गृहे वसेत् । । ३.१०५ (Manu. Smri. 3.105)</blockquote>A guest who comes in the evening is brought to the householder's house by the sun himself. He should never be turned away. And, he should never be made to stay hungry in the house, whether he comes at the proper or the improper time.

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The coming of an unknown, uninvited and unexpected atithi in the evening, Manu says, is like a fortune fetched to the householder's door by the setting sun himself. Such an atithi should be cared for with the greatest reverence. As Manusmrti puts it:<blockquote>अप्रणोद्योऽतिथिः सायं सूर्योढो गृहमेधिना । काले प्राप्तस्त्वकाले वा नास्यानश्नन्गृहे वसेत् । । ३.१०५ (Manu. Smri. 3.105)</blockquote><blockquote>''apraṇodyo'tithiḥ sāyaṁ sūryoḍho gr̥hamedhinā । kāle prāptastvakāle vā nāsyānaśnangr̥he vaset । । 3.105''</blockquote>A guest who comes in the evening is brought to the householder's house by the sun himself. He should never be turned away. And, he should never be made to stay hungry in the house, whether he comes at the proper or the improper time.

Visnupurana says that the sin of turning away a guest arriving after sunset is eight times worse than that earned by turning away a guest during the day.<ref name=":0" />

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The king is a great grhastha, who is charged with extraordinary grhastha responsibilities. Like a grhastha he has the responsibility to provide for the sustenance of all beings, especially the humans, who happen to be in his care. But, unlike an ordinary grhastha, he also has the responsibility to provide sustenance to those who, though not his direct dependents, happen to lack sustenance in society. The whole of the land is, in a way, part of his grhastha responsibility.

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Apastamba dharmasutra (Patala 9), in fact, begins its discussion on rajadharma with what reads like a prescription for the installation of the king as a great grhastha.<blockquote>सर्वेष्वेवाजस्रा अग्नयः स्युः ६ अग्निपूजा च नित्या यथा गृहमेधे ७ आवसथे श्रोत्रियावरार्ध्यानतिथीन्वासयेत् ८ तेषां यथागुणमावसथाः शय्यान्नपानं च विदेयम् ९ (Apas. Dhar. 9.25.6 - 9)<ref>Apastamba [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%86%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AC-%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D Dharmasutras]</ref></blockquote>Let the agni, the household-fire, burn unceasingly at all places: the vesma, the avasatha and the sabha. To all the three agnis, offer reverential worship everyday, in the manner prescribed for a grhastha. In the avasatha offer hospitality to all atithis, all those who come, beginning with the srotriyas, the ones who are well read in the vedas. To them, the atithis in the avasatha, offer proper room, bed and food, and let the offerings be appropriate to the accomplishments of each.<ref name=":0" />

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Apastamba dharmasutra (Patala 9), in fact, begins its discussion on rajadharma with what reads like a prescription for the installation of the king as a great grhastha.<blockquote>सर्वेष्वेवाजस्रा अग्नयः स्युः ६ अग्निपूजा च नित्या यथा गृहमेधे ७ आवसथे श्रोत्रियावरार्ध्यानतिथीन्वासयेत् ८ तेषां यथागुणमावसथाः शय्यान्नपानं च विदेयम् ९ (Apas. Dhar. 9.25.6 - 9)<ref>Apastamba [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%86%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AC-%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D Dharmasutras]</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''sarveṣvevājasrā agnayaḥ syuḥ 6 agnipūjā ca nityā yathā gr̥hamedhe 7 āvasathe śrotriyāvarārdhyānatithīnvāsayet 8 teṣāṁ yathāguṇamāvasathāḥ śayyānnapānaṁ ca videyam 9''</blockquote>Let the agni, the household-fire, burn unceasingly at all places: the vesma, the avasatha and the sabha. To all the three agnis, offer reverential worship everyday, in the manner prescribed for a grhastha. In the avasatha offer hospitality to all atithis, all those who come, beginning with the srotriyas, the ones who are well read in the vedas. To them, the atithis in the avasatha, offer proper room, bed and food, and let the offerings be appropriate to the accomplishments of each.<ref name=":0" />

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The king being essentially a great grhastha, he shares as it were in the sin of all grhasthas who eat without having first fed the hungry. Thus says Bhishma, to Yudhisthira in the Shantiparva or राजधर्मानुशासनपर्व<blockquote>अभृतानां भवेद्भर्ता भृतानामन्ववेक्षकः। (Maha. Shan. 12.57.19)</blockquote>Be the provider of the unprovided. And carefully look after those who happen to be in your care.<ref name=":0" />

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The king being essentially a great grhastha, he shares as it were in the sin of all grhasthas who eat without having first fed the hungry. Thus says Bhishma, to Yudhisthira in the Shantiparva or राजधर्मानुशासनपर्व<blockquote>अभृतानां भवेद्भर्ता भृतानामन्ववेक्षकः। (Maha. Shan. 12.57.19)</blockquote><blockquote>''abhr̥tānāṁ bhavedbhartā bhr̥tānāmanvavekṣakaḥ।''</blockquote>Be the provider of the unprovided. And carefully look after those who happen to be in your care.<ref name=":0" />

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The Mahabharata, Vanaparva documents when Yudhisthira is seen feeling sorry about the loss of his kingdom. And the loss he laments is not of the power and prestige of kingship, but of the resources necessary for looking after others. He shares his grief with Rishi Saunaka that bound by the discipline of grhastha ashrama, he should fail to provide for even his followers. Then he goes on to define the duties of the king as a grhastha:<blockquote>संविभागो हि भूतानां सर्वेषामेव दृश्यते। तथैवापचमानेभ्यः प्रदेयं गृहमेधिना॥ (Maha. Vana. 3.2.52)</blockquote>There is a share of all bhutas, all beings, in everything. It is seen everywhere. Therefore, a grhastha must give a proper share of food to all those who do not cook for themselves. To the sick a bed to lie down, to the tired a place to sit, to the thirsty water to drink, and to the hungry a proper meal, must always be given. Yudhisthira's insistence on acquiring the means to provide proper share of food and sustenance to his followers is so intense that there seems no way he would leave it unfulfilled. He keeps worrying about the problem, and finally his kulapurohita, the family priest, Dhaumya, advises him to seek the blessings of the sun who, by virtue of his action of gathering and then raining water over the earth, happens to be the creator of all anna, all food:

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The Mahabharata, Vanaparva documents when Yudhisthira is seen feeling sorry about the loss of his kingdom. And the loss he laments is not of the power and prestige of kingship, but of the resources necessary for looking after others. He shares his grief with Rishi Saunaka that bound by the discipline of grhastha ashrama, he should fail to provide for even his followers. Then he goes on to define the duties of the king as a grhastha:<blockquote>संविभागो हि भूतानां सर्वेषामेव दृश्यते। तथैवापचमानेभ्यः प्रदेयं गृहमेधिना॥ (Maha. Vana. 3.2.52)</blockquote><blockquote>''saṁvibhāgo hi bhūtānāṁ sarveṣāmeva dr̥śyate। tathaivāpacamānebhyaḥ pradeyaṁ gr̥hamedhinā॥''</blockquote>There is a share of all bhutas, all beings, in everything. It is seen everywhere. Therefore, a grhastha must give a proper share of food to all those who do not cook for themselves. To the sick a bed to lie down, to the tired a place to sit, to the thirsty water to drink, and to the hungry a proper meal, must always be given. Yudhisthira's insistence on acquiring the means to provide proper share of food and sustenance to his followers is so intense that there seems no way he would leave it unfulfilled. He keeps worrying about the problem, and finally his kulapurohita, the family priest, Dhaumya, advises him to seek the blessings of the sun who, by virtue of his action of gathering and then raining water over the earth, happens to be the creator of all anna, all food:

Yudhisthira accepts Dhaumya's advice and propitiates the sun, who then offers him an aksayapatra, a pot that will provide him unending quantities of food for twelve years. The pot, blessed by the sun, would fill everyday and would exhaust for the day only after DraupadI and Yudhisthira, having fed all their guests and dependents, partake of the food themselves.

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The danaviras, the ones who give food and water to others, attain the best of lokas after their death and achieve great glory. They also live a long life and obtain great wealth in this world. While many texts extol the greatness of annadana, the consequences of consciously not doing so (anannadana) is explicitly described in many texts such as Bhavishyapurana, Varaha Purana, and in later day texts such as Chaturvarga Chintamani of Hemadri.

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The Bhavishyapurana recounts the conversation between Srikrishna and Yudhisthira at the culmination of Asvamedha yajna after the war, in Mahabharata.<blockquote>ददस्वान्नं ददस्वान्नं ददस्वान्नं युधिष्ठिर ।। (Bhav. Pura. 4.169.2)</blockquote>"Give food! Give food! Give food! oh Yudhisthira". Thus spake Srikrishna to Yudhisthira, while advising him on annadana, the discipline of giving, in the Bhavishyapurana. Parva 4 (Uttaraparva) adhyaya 169 is dedicated to अन्नदानमाहात्म्यवर्णनम् ।

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The Bhavishyapurana recounts the conversation between Srikrishna and Yudhisthira at the culmination of Asvamedha yajna after the war, in Mahabharata.<blockquote>ददस्वान्नं ददस्वान्नं ददस्वान्नं युधिष्ठिर ।। (Bhav. Pura. 4.169.2)</blockquote><blockquote>''dadasvānnaṁ dadasvānnaṁ dadasvānnaṁ yudhiṣṭhira ।।''</blockquote>"Give food! Give food! Give food! oh Yudhisthira". Thus spake Srikrishna to Yudhisthira, while advising him on annadana, the discipline of giving, in the Bhavishyapurana. Parva 4 (Uttaraparva) adhyaya 169 is dedicated to अन्नदानमाहात्म्यवर्णनम् ।

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Srikrishna here recalls that even Srirama, during his days in the forest, had to run around in search of food. While thus searching for food, he along with his brother, Lakshmana, had to live in want. And he concludes that it must be because of their not having sufficiently given of food earlier (anannadana). Srirama says <blockquote>यन्न प्राप्यं तदप्राप्यं विद्यया पौरुषेण वा । सत्यो लोकप्रवादोऽयं नादत्तमुपतिष्ठति ॥ (Bhav. Pura. 4.169.6)</blockquote>Meaning : What we have not earned, we shall not get, neither by knowledge, nor by education. It is truly said that what is not given, cannot be enjoyed.

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Srikrishna here recalls that even Srirama, during his days in the forest, had to run around in search of food. While thus searching for food, he along with his brother, Lakshmana, had to live in want. And he concludes that it must be because of their not having sufficiently given of food earlier (anannadana). Srirama says <blockquote>यन्न प्राप्यं तदप्राप्यं विद्यया पौरुषेण वा । सत्यो लोकप्रवादोऽयं नादत्तमुपतिष्ठति ॥ (Bhav. Pura. 4.169.6)</blockquote><blockquote>''yanna prāpyaṁ tadaprāpyaṁ vidyayā pauruṣeṇa vā । satyo lokapravādo'yaṁ nādattamupatiṣṭhati ॥''</blockquote>Meaning : What we have not earned, we shall not get, neither by knowledge, nor by education. It is truly said that what is not given, cannot be enjoyed.

Recalling the Anannadana experience of Srirama, Srikrishna begins to tell the consequences of [[Raja Shveta and Anannadana (अनन्नदानम्)|Anannadana by Raja Shveta]], the raja who lived a life of dharma and who was generous with his giving at the proper occasion, but who gave no food to any seeker and therefore had to suffer the pangs of hunger even in the heavens that he had earned by his otherwise righteous conduct. Raja Shveta was finally relieved of his terrible fate by sage Agastya, who accepted food from his hands and thus freed him of the taint of anannadana.<ref name=":0" />

== अन्नदानं सदाव्रतम् ॥ Annadana is Sadavrata ==

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The story of Raja Shveta also appears in the Varahapurana, where it is told by Sri Varaha to Dharani or Bhudevi, when she asks to be instructed about the vrata or sacred observance for earthly men. Sri Varaha says that long ago a similar request was made by Raja Shveta to Vashistha maharshi, to which the reply was<blockquote>अन्नं देहि सदा राजन् सर्वकालसुखावहम् ।। अन्नेन चैव दत्तेन किं न दत्तं महीतले ।।६०।। (Vara. Pura. 99.60) </blockquote><blockquote>सर्वेषामेव दानानामन्नदानं विशिष्यते ।। अन्नाद्भवन्ति भूतानि अन्नेनैव च वर्द्धते ।।६१।। (Vara. Pura. 99.61)<ref>Varaha Purana ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B9%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%A6%E0%A5%AF%E0%A5%AF Adhyaya 99])</ref></blockquote>O King ! give food. Giving good ensures well-being at all times. One who gives food gives all that is worth giving on the surface of the earth. Having given food, nothing remains un-given.<ref name=":0" />

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The story of Raja Shveta also appears in the Varahapurana, where it is told by Sri Varaha to Dharani or Bhudevi, when she asks to be instructed about the vrata or sacred observance for earthly men. Sri Varaha says that long ago a similar request was made by Raja Shveta to Vashistha maharshi, to which the reply was<blockquote>अन्नं देहि सदा राजन् सर्वकालसुखावहम् ।। अन्नेन चैव दत्तेन किं न दत्तं महीतले ।।६०।। (Vara. Pura. 99.60) </blockquote><blockquote>सर्वेषामेव दानानामन्नदानं विशिष्यते ।। अन्नाद्भवन्ति भूतानि अन्नेनैव च वर्द्धते ।।६१।। (Vara. Pura. 99.61)<ref>Varaha Purana ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B9%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%A6%E0%A5%AF%E0%A5%AF Adhyaya 99])</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''annaṁ dehi sadā rājan sarvakālasukhāvaham ।। annena caiva dattena kiṁ na dattaṁ mahītale ।।60।। (Vara. Pura. 99.60)''</blockquote><blockquote>''sarveṣāmeva dānānāmannadānaṁ viśiṣyate ।। annādbhavanti bhūtāni annenaiva ca varddhate ।।61।। (Vara. Pura. 99.61)''</blockquote>O King ! give food. Giving good ensures well-being at all times. One who gives food gives all that is worth giving on the surface of the earth. Having given food, nothing remains un-given.<ref name=":0" />

However, Raja Shveta , unimpressed by Vashistha maharshi's advice, thought that food was too insignificant an object to be worthy of giving from the hands of a great king like him. The rest of the story follows as given in [[Raja Shveta and Anannadana (अनन्नदानम्)|Raja Shveta and Anannnadana]].

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The story of Raja Shveta , depicts the the terrible sin of eating with one's doors shut upon others; of having one's fill, while men, animals and birds around remain un-fed; and of enjoying a meal while young children watch with hungry eyes. The great and righteous Raja Shveta sitting all alone on the banks of a beauteous lake in the midst of a rich forest full of delicious roots and fruit, and eating the flesh of his own corporeal body, represents the culmination of such eating without sharing.

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The fate that befalls Sveta is thus the fruit of his conduct. This attitude is enshrined in the most basic of Bharat's texts. Thus, the Taittriyopanishad advises in its resounding verses:<blockquote>न कञ्चन वसतौ प्रत्याचक्षीत । तद्व्रतम् । तस्माद्यया कया च विधया बह्वन्नं प्राप्नुयात् । अराध्यस्मा अन्नमित्याचक्षते । ... । एदद्वा अन्ततोऽन्नँराद्धम् । अन्ततोऽस्मा अन्नँराध्यते ॥ १ ॥(Tait. Upan. Bhru. 10.1) <ref name=":1" /></blockquote>Do not send away anyone who comes to your door, without offering him food and hospitality. That is the inviolable discipline of mankind; and the one, who prepares and gives food in a small measure with low care and veneration, obtains food in the same small measure and with similar abjectness.

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The fate that befalls Sveta is thus the fruit of his conduct. This attitude is enshrined in the most basic of Bharat's texts. Thus, the Taittriyopanishad advises in its resounding verses:<blockquote>न कञ्चन वसतौ प्रत्याचक्षीत । तद्व्रतम् । तस्माद्यया कया च विधया बह्वन्नं प्राप्नुयात् । अराध्यस्मा अन्नमित्याचक्षते । ... । एदद्वा अन्ततोऽन्नँराद्धम् । अन्ततोऽस्मा अन्नँराध्यते ॥ १ ॥(Tait. Upan. Bhru. 10.1) <ref name=":1" /></blockquote><blockquote>''na kañcana vasatau pratyācakṣīta । tadvratam । tasmādyayā kayā ca vidhayā bahvannaṁ prāpnuyāt । arādhyasmā annamityācakṣate । ... । edadvā antato'nnam̐rāddham । antato'smā annam̐rādhyate ॥ 1 ॥''</blockquote>Do not send away anyone who comes to your door, without offering him food and hospitality. That is the inviolable discipline of mankind; and the one, who prepares and gives food in a small measure with low care and veneration, obtains food in the same small measure and with similar abjectness.

Therefore, have a great abundance of food, and exert all your efforts towards ensuring such abundance; and announce to the world that this abundance of food is ready, to be partaken of by all.<ref name=":0" />

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The role of anna and annadana is greatly acclaimed in achieving the Purushardharas (Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha) and this aspect is highlighted in various texts. The greatness of Anna and Annadana are stressed upon in Vanaparva, Anushasana parva and Asvamedhika parva of Mahabharata.

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In the Mahabharata, Bhishma describing the greatness of annadana and jaladana to Yudhisthira, says<blockquote>न तस्मात्परमं दानं किञ्चिदस्तीति मे मनः। अन्नात्प्राणभृतस्तात प्रवर्धन्ते हि सर्वशः॥ (Maha. Anush. 13.67.5)</blockquote><blockquote>तस्मादन्नं परं लोके सर्वलोकेषु कथ्यते। अन्नाद्बलं च तेजश्च प्राणिनां वर्धते सदा॥ (Maha. Anush. 13.67.6)</blockquote>Meaning : I believe there is no dana greater than the dana of food and water, because all beings are indeed born of anna, and from anna alone they obtain sustenance for living. That is why anna is said to be highest in this world. The bala (strength) and tejas (vitality) of all living beings always depends upon anna.

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In the Mahabharata, Bhishma describing the greatness of annadana and jaladana to Yudhisthira, says<blockquote>न तस्मात्परमं दानं किञ्चिदस्तीति मे मनः। अन्नात्प्राणभृतस्तात प्रवर्धन्ते हि सर्वशः॥ (Maha. Anush. 13.67.5)</blockquote><blockquote>तस्मादन्नं परं लोके सर्वलोकेषु कथ्यते। अन्नाद्बलं च तेजश्च प्राणिनां वर्धते सदा॥ (Maha. Anush. 13.67.6)</blockquote><blockquote>''na tasmātparamaṁ dānaṁ kiñcidastīti me manaḥ। annātprāṇabhr̥tastāta pravardhante hi sarvaśaḥ॥ (Maha. Anush. 13.67.5)''</blockquote><blockquote>''tasmādannaṁ paraṁ loke sarvalokeṣu kathyate। annādbalaṁ ca tejaśca prāṇināṁ vardhate sadā॥ (Maha. Anush. 13.67.6)''</blockquote>Meaning : I believe there is no dana greater than the dana of food and water, because all beings are indeed born of anna, and from anna alone they obtain sustenance for living. That is why anna is said to be highest in this world. The bala (strength) and tejas (vitality) of all living beings always depends upon anna.

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Teaching the greatness of annadana to Yudhisthira, SriKrishna says:<blockquote>अन्नेन धार्यते सर्वं जगदेतच्चराचरम्। अन्नात्प्रभवति प्राणः प्रत्यक्षं नास्ति संशयः॥ (Maha. Asva. Parv. 14.108.28)</blockquote>The world, both animate and inanimate, is sustained by food. Life arises from food: this is observed all around, and there can be no doubt about it. Therefore, one who wishes to attain well-being in this world and beyond should offer food to all who seek. One should give food in accordance with time and place, and should keep giving to the limits of one's capacity, even if it were to cause inconvenience to one's own family. Finding an old person, a child, a tired traveler or a venerable one at the door, a householder should offer him worshipful hospitality, with gladness in his heart, as he would to his own teacher. Desirous of well-being beyond this world, the householder should purge himself of all anger, all jealousy, and offer worshipful hospitality, with grace and courtesy, to the one who appears at the door. Never offer slight to a person appearing at your door, never let a falsehood escape from your lips in his presence, and never ever ask him about his lineage or learning. The one who appears at the door at the proper time, even if he were an outcaste or such a one as partakes of the flesh of dog, deserves to be worshipped with the offering of food by him who seeks well-being beyond this world.

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Teaching the greatness of annadana to Yudhisthira, SriKrishna says:<blockquote>अन्नेन धार्यते सर्वं जगदेतच्चराचरम्। अन्नात्प्रभवति प्राणः प्रत्यक्षं नास्ति संशयः॥ (Maha. Asva. Parv. 14.108.28)</blockquote><blockquote>''annena dhāryate sarvaṁ jagadetaccarācaram। annātprabhavati prāṇaḥ pratyakṣaṁ nāsti saṁśayaḥ॥''</blockquote>The world, both animate and inanimate, is sustained by food. Life arises from food: this is observed all around, and there can be no doubt about it. Therefore, one who wishes to attain well-being in this world and beyond should offer food to all who seek. One should give food in accordance with time and place, and should keep giving to the limits of one's capacity, even if it were to cause inconvenience to one's own family. Finding an old person, a child, a tired traveler or a venerable one at the door, a householder should offer him worshipful hospitality, with gladness in his heart, as he would to his own teacher. Desirous of well-being beyond this world, the householder should purge himself of all anger, all jealousy, and offer worshipful hospitality, with grace and courtesy, to the one who appears at the door. Never offer slight to a person appearing at your door, never let a falsehood escape from your lips in his presence, and never ever ask him about his lineage or learning. The one who appears at the door at the proper time, even if he were an outcaste or such a one as partakes of the flesh of dog, deserves to be worshipped with the offering of food by him who seeks well-being beyond this world.

O Yudhisthira! the one who shuts his door on all comers and indulges in the enjoyment of food for himself alone is certainly ensuring that the doors of heaven shall be shut upon him. And his virtue is indeed great who propitiates with food the ancestors, the gods, the sages, the venerable ones, the destitute and all those who appear at his door. The one who gives food to those who seek, and especially to the brahmana seekers, is rid of all sins, even if his sins were immense. The giver of food is the giver of life, and indeed of everything else. Therefore, one who is desirous of well-being in this world and beyond should specially endeavour to give food.<ref name=":0" />

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Mahabharata extols, in Asvamedhika Parva<blockquote>यस्मादन्नात्प्रवर्तन्ते धर्मार्थौ काम एव च। तस्मादन्नात्परं दानं नामुत्रेह च पाण्डव॥ (Maha. Asva. 14.101.28)</blockquote>O Pandunandana ! The conduct of Dharma, Ardha and Kama are by Anna, hence there is nothing greater than anna neither on earth nor in the other worlds.<ref>Shastri, Ramnarayanadatta Pandey. ''[https://archive.org/stream/Mahabharata04SanskritHindiPanditRamnarayanGitaPress/Mahabharata06_Sanskrit-hindi_panditRamnarayan_gitaPress#page/n1001/mode/2up Mahabharata Volume 6 (With Hindi Translation)]'' Gorakhpur : Gita Press</ref>

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Mahabharata extols, in Asvamedhika Parva<blockquote>यस्मादन्नात्प्रवर्तन्ते धर्मार्थौ काम एव च। तस्मादन्नात्परं दानं नामुत्रेह च पाण्डव॥ (Maha. Asva. 14.101.28)</blockquote><blockquote>''yasmādannātpravartante dharmārthau kāma eva ca। tasmādannātparaṁ dānaṁ nāmutreha ca pāṇḍava॥''</blockquote>O Pandunandana ! The conduct of Dharma, Ardha and Kama are by Anna, hence there is nothing greater than anna neither on earth nor in the other worlds.<ref>Shastri, Ramnarayanadatta Pandey. ''[https://archive.org/stream/Mahabharata04SanskritHindiPanditRamnarayanGitaPress/Mahabharata06_Sanskrit-hindi_panditRamnarayan_gitaPress#page/n1001/mode/2up Mahabharata Volume 6 (With Hindi Translation)]'' Gorakhpur : Gita Press</ref>

== Legends about Annadana ==

While texts abound with sacrifice and dana of great kings such as [[Shibi Chakravarti (शिबिचक्रवर्तिः)|Shibi Chakravarti]] (who gave away his own flesh to save a dove) and [[Rantideva (रन्तिदेवः)|Rantideva]] (who showed exceptional hospitality), there are legends about the greatness of Annadana given in Mahabharata.

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