Annadhaan & Vidya dhaan – Two best charities One can do in life!
There are many types of charities:
(1) Donating the clothes to the needy.
(2) Donating money to the needy.
(3) Donating old or new materials to others.
(4) Annadhaan – Donating food to others, like that.
(5) Giving shelter to someone in need.
(6) Vidya dhaan – Educating others in the Spiritual & Material education.
(How to offer food to Krishna Properly? READ HERE!)
Among all other charities (dhaan), Vidya dhaan & Annadhaan, ie, Educating others and the free distribution of Food or Prasadam (Annadhaan) are considered as the best.
There are reasons for that.
DHAAN (or) CHARITY means, NOT DONATING FOR OUR SATISFACTION.
IT IS DONTING TO THE SATISFACTION OF THE RECEIVER.
If the receiver does not get satisfied, no dhaan will be effective.
That is why, the scriptures recommend that we should give DHAAN LIBERALLY AND HENCE OUR KARMA WILL REDUCE THAT WILL AGAIN MULTIPLY OUR FINANCIAL STATUS!
The Scriptures also recommend us to liberally donate to the brahmanas who perform rituals in our home or who enlighten us preaching the Vedic scriptures, so that that the brahmana gets satisfied and thanks us.
(Offering food to Poor and Krishna – Which is recommended? READ HERE!)
On the same basis, we have to see why Prasadam Distribution (Annadhaan) is one of the best charities among all other charities!
If you offer money, clothes, material things, etc, no one will feel “I am satisfied” because they can accommodate more resources with them.
But, they can’t eat beyond a limit.
Though you offer delicious food to them, after eating a certain quantity, they themselves will say “ENOUGH, I AM SATISFIED, THANK YOU”
They will FEEL REALLY SATISFIED.
Such an ANNADHAAN IN WHICH THE RECEIVER IS REALLY SATISFIED IS THE GREATEST ONE!
So, hereafter, if you get an opportunity to offer prasadam to anyone, thank Krishna for giving that opportunity. Feed that person till he says ENOUGH.
(How Krishna reacts to one’s preaching of false concepts and manthras? READ HERE!)
Should we stop with Annadhaan itself? No other charities?
Not so. Giving Spiritual and material education to the needy is also the best dhaan called Vidya dhaan.
The significance of the Vidya dhaan is that we change the lives of the persons.
By giving Spiritual education, we bring them out of their ignorance and the clutch of material bondage. We give them higher taste.
By giving material education, we help them live in this world by earning and maintaining themselves.
Therefore, both the Annadhaan & Vidya dhaan are the two best charities One can do in life!
The same scriptures also say that we should gift to the brahmanas or other needy persons WHAT THEY NEED, NOT JUST FOOD.
(To help me and my services, read the ways mentioned IN THIS PAGE!)
If a person is in need of certain amount of money, you can donate that amount. He can’t live with food alone. He may have other needs like shelter, clothes, money for other needs, etc.
For example, for me, I need money to keep myself and this service alive in spite of the growing costs of promotion and leading life. That is why, I accept support from others as their voluntary contribution to use this free service.
So, while helping others in need with money and materials, also add offering Annadhaan & Vidya dhaan till they get satisfied.
This will definitely bring the mercy of Krishna still faster, because by donating Annadhaan & Vidya dhaan, Cash and kind to others, your karma gets reduced that fastens your advancement in devotion also.
(Which is the best offering to Krishna that one can give? Why? READ HERE!)