controlled by Sanatan dharmis or to native beggars outside temples or in streets. Also there is nothing wrong that we donate the anna to orphanages, old age homes etc. But we know, some millionaires have eaten like beggars in temples as a “Prarthana” to revoke Ahankar in them. Similarly, the rich people does not need our annadaan. If our neighbour or brother came to our house and eats one day, Will it be considered as annadhana? (Certainly not because, they do not come under the “daana” category, some day we might also go and eat in their home). When decided to donate why to think about the classifications and gradations? 1.2 Significance of Donating in a Particular Day.It doesn’t mean that other daanas are of lower karmic value. We should not get confused because of these slokas and carry on with our Daanams (donations) that are helpful to the society. The same composer in a song will say no god is there above Parvati, in the very next song he will say the same for Vishnu. The above particular sloka looks exaggerated, why? to evoke response and prominently highlight the importance of the annadaan, it has been said like this.

Meaning: Even if one gifts 1000 elephants, horses or gifts 10 million cows or any number of silver and gold, gifts the entire land till sea, offering the entire services of the clan, helps in the marriage of 10 million women, all this never equal to Annadaanam (Poor Feeding). Nahi nahi bahu danam| Annadanam samanam || Upaya kula vishuttam | Koti kanya pradanam |

Kanaka Rajatha patram | Methini sagarantham | Gaja turaga Sahasram | Gokulam koti danam |

Also, this daan (danam) specifies the significance of hunger and poverty. The Annadaanam gained importance due to mental, physical and spiritual satisfaction of humans. Meaning: Annapurna Devi, Goddess of Plenty, you are Lord Shiva’s eternal Consort, give us alms together with wisdom.’ Adi Sankaracharya in his stothram praising Annapurna, the personification of plentiful food, says:Īnnapurne sadapurne SankaraPranavallabhe gyanavairagya siddhyartham bhiksham dehi ca Parvati

Sri krishna bhajan in bengali