Next Anna Dana is on August 17th 2014 Sunday,the First day of Chingam (1190).
The Poomala Paradevatha Temple Committee has started a divine program of Anna Danam to all devotees on the first of every Malayalam Month
which is planned to be made available to more days step by step.The response from sponsors are very encouraging and any devotee who wish to donate for this "Anna Dana"offering
should book well in advance with payment to the secretary or treasurer or in person at the Temple committee office.
You can donate an amount as low as Rs.1000 (One Thousand Only) and perform this offering in 2014
The day allotted for the offering will be informed as early as possible from the office administration.
Anna Danam Maha Danam
The Importance of This offering
Anna Dāna is considered extremely pious and fulfilling because it is the only Dāna in which the recipient says "enough" or "not any more." The person receiving this Dāna also blesses the donor, saying "Anna Dāta Sukeebhava," or, "May the person who donated food remain happy forever."
"The verse Annadānam Samam Dānam Trilokeshu Na Vidhathe"
From the Vedas means that Anna Dāna is supreme and incomparable to any other charity. Food is the basic requirement for all living beings, including humans. In this universe, creation and its survival depend on food. Hence, according to Hindu doctrine, giving food to the devotees is more than attaining heaven.
Gaja turaga Sahasram Gokulam koti danam
Kanaka Rajatha patram Methini sagarantham
Upaya kula vishuttam Koti kanya pradanam
Nahi nahi bahu danam Annadanam samanam
The text above translates to: "Annadānam, the feeding of hungry, is far superior to donating 1000 elephants and horses, donating 10 million cows, donating any number of vessels of silver and gold, donating the entire land till sea, offering the entire services of the clan or even helping in the marriage of 10 million women."
Adi Sankaracharya in his stotram praising Annapurna, (the personification of plentiful food), says:
Annapurne sadapurne SankaraPranavallabhe gyanavairagya siddhyartham bhiksham dehi ca Parvati
Annapurna Devi, Goddess of Plenty, you are Lord Shiva’s eternal Consort, give us alms together with wisdom.
Anna Dāna is done on occasions such as Birth Days, Marriage Anniversaries,Griha Pravesam,Karya sadhyam,Offerings for Good Health and Sradha Divasam Etc
As times have changed, there have been many forms of doing Anna Dāna. Examples include donating land, donating for building construction, as well as donating for other infrastructures such as kitchen equipment, utensils, and serving material such as Banana Leafs, Plates, Tumblers,Tables, and Chairs. The traditional form is also practiced, and many donate bags of Rice,Groceries,Coconut oil, lentils,and other material for food preparation.
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