Annadatri-carita (study)
by Sarannya V. | 2020 | 34,082 words
This study analyzes the Annadatri-Carita: an epic poem connected with a regional history written by Prof. K Balarama Panicker. The plot of the drama is based on a Sangam period myth connected with the epic Mahabharata. The author introduces Utiyan Ceralatan as Vancishvara, an ancestor of the last Travancore ruler named Chithira Thirunal Balarama Va...
2. Importance of Annadana in Sanskrit literature
Even though there is many other danas (donation),the Annadana is always considered as the greatest donation. Because any other article does not make satisfaction for human being like the food. The best devotion in this world is none other than the donation of food to the deserved ones. It equally gives happiness to both the donor and receiver. There are many references about the greatness of Annadana in Sanskrit literature and some of them are mentioned here.
1. Annadana in the Vedas
The Vedas are the available oldest scriptures and the earliest layer of Sanskrit literature. It consists of a collection of four works the Rigveda, the Samaveda, the Yajurveda and the Atharvaveda. It discusses a variety of subjects relating the cultural and religious aspects of the ancient society. Naturally, the first references about the concept of Annadana can also identify from these Vedas, particularly from the Rigveda and Atharvaveda.
[...][1]
He is the real donor who donates food to his guests)
[...][2]
(Oh God Indra, kindly grants food and water to the hungry ones).
[...][3]
(I cook and donate to others)
[...][4]
(The person who organizes food for donation gets wealth and become prosperous).
[...][5]
(I cook, donate and also perform sacrifices)
2. Annadana in Smriti Literature
The word Smriti literally indicates remembrance stands for the literature which was continued for traditionally. Manu Smriti, Yajnavalkya Smriti, Narada Smriti and ParasharaSmriti are the major texts included in the category of Smriti literature. However, it is synonymous with the Dharmashastras as illustrated by Manu (dharmaśāstraṃ tu vai smṛtiḥ). Dharmashastras mainly focused on the Acaradhyaya (caste system, samskaras, donation etc.) Vyavaharadhyaya (duties and diplomatic activities of a king, different types of Vyavaharas and the inheritance) and Prayashcittadhyaya (atonement rites).
2.1. Annadana in the Manusmriti
The Manusmriti is the most prominent text in the genre of Smriti literature. Its authorship is attributed to sage Manu. According to P.V Kane, the period of Manusmriti was in between the first and second centuries Before the Common Era. It contains approximately 2694 verses in 12 chapters.
In Manusmriti the Anna is described as follows:
[...][6]
When Yajamana dedicate the “havya” into the fire, it arrives to the Sun. From the sun, it reaches to the Earth in the form of rain and again it reaches to the living beings in the form of their food.
2.2. Annadana in Yajnavalkyasmriti
The Yajnavalkya Smriti is one among the prominent smriti texts. It is dated between the third to fifth centuries of Common Era. The text is composed in verse style with three parts, namely Acara Kanda (customs), Vyavahara kanda (judicial process) and Prayashcitta kanda (crime and punishment, penance). This text also referred about the importance of Annadana.
[...][7]
One should daily offer food to ancestors and human beings and if it is not possible, to be offered water daily. He should daily study Vedas and should not cook only for himself.
[...][8]
One should give food donation to the beggars and Brahmacaris with honour. If the friends, siblings or relatives arrive at home, should be give food with possible resources and esteem. [...]
3. Annadana in The Mahabharata
The Mahabharata, is one of epic work in Sanskrit and its authorship is attributed to Vyasa. Even though, the text mainly deals with the disorders between the Kauravas and Pandavas, it also includes many other narratives based on various myths through eighteen parvas (chapters). The Mahabharata also gives some aspects about the donation of food as mentioned below.
[...][9]
The one who gives food to the deserved peoples actually gives life and shine to them.
[...][10]
Food is the life of all living organisms. Hence, there is nothing greater than the donation of food and drinks. The one who gives food and drinks to others will achieve his desires.
In the Anushasana parva, Bhishma explains the greatness of Annadana and jaladana to Yudhishthira as follows-
[...][11]
I believe that there are no other donations greater than Annadana because all living beings are born from the Anna and they sustains because of Anna. So, Annadana is considering as the biggest dana in this world. The “bala” (strength) and “tejas” (the vitality) of living beings always depends upon Anna.
4. Annadana in Puranas
The Puranas are a vast genre of literature which deals with a different range of topics, especially many legends and symbolised narrations. There are prominently eighteen Mahapuranas and Upapuranas in this branch. Each Purana is composed with five major characteristics–Sarga (Creation), Pratisarga (destruction), Vamsha (different clans of saints and gods), Manvantara (time) and Vamshanucarita (genealogy of different sages and kings).[12]
Also, the Puranas deals with many other subjects like myths, biographies, art, architecture, medicines, geography, pilgrimage, charities, rituals and many more. Amongst these subjects the dana (donation) is a prominent subject of almost all Puranas. They discussed about different danas as a part of any rituals, duty of a householder or expiation. Here, some references about Annadana in different Puranas are discussed below.
4.1.Annadana in Agnipurana
The Agnipurana is one among the major eighteen puranas. It contains about 381 chapters and 16000 verses. It can be consider as an encyclopaedic Purana work discussing different topics such as narration about rivers, forests, towns, Ayurveda, herbs, education, duties of a king and ministers, law, taxation and stories from the Ramayana and Mahabharata. When the discussion about various donations, the text referrers about the importance of Annadana. [...][13]
None of the other donations can go above food donation. The donations like elephant, horse, chariot, male and female servants and houses are not equal to food donation. If a sinful man performs Annadana he will free from his guiltiness and attains immortal worlds after his death. The donation of drinking water and water containers to travelers helps to get all type of enjoyment in his life and after death it assists to attain salvation in the eternal world.
[...][14]
Oh king! So always give food carefully. One who gives food will free from his all sins, even his “brahmahatya” (the murder of a brahmin) sin also. There is no donation greater than Annadana in the past and future. There is no doubt that a person can enhance his virtue, fame, strength by performing Annadana.
5. Annadana in Brahmandapurana
The Brahmandapurana contains 156 chapters and 12000 verses. It provides a detailed description about the entire universe (Brahmanda) and thus the text became famous in the name Brahmandapurana. The text is also notable for its variety of subjects like philosophy, Shaivism, Shaktism, Vaishnavism, geography and description of dynasties. This work also gives references about the annadana.
[...][15]
The organisms were originated from the food and their existence also depends on food. For this reason, none of the donations can go beyond the donation of life (food). The base of this world is Anna itself. The Prajapati is none other than Anna and this world’s existence is caused by Anna. That’s why there is no other donation equal to food donation in the past and never will be in the future also.
6. Annadana in Matsyapurana
The Matsyapurana is one among the oldest puranas with 291 chapters and 14000 verses. It is notable for the subjects like Shaiva and Vaishnava related narrations, religious festivals and customs, duties of a king and government, different architectural references related to rituals. It refers about the donation of food while discussing about various donations.
[...][16]
If somebody wants luxury he should perform food donation according to his capability. The sacrifices becomeworthless without food donation.
[...][17]
The nation will perish without food donation. Without Mantras the Ritviks will be destroyed. Similarly, if a sacrifice performs without donation, there is no other enemy like it.
[...][18]
Anna is the Brahma itself. The life paved in the Anna. The organisms are originates from the Anna and the world sustains because of the Anna. Therefore, Anna is the goddess Lakshmi and the lord Vishnu is none other than Anna.
[...][19]
One who donates a mountain of food, i.e. huge amount of food; he will stay at the heaven for a hundred of Manvantaras. He can travel anywhere in the celestial world in a divine aeroplane surrounded by the Apsaras, Ganas and Gandharvas. When his sanctity becomes weak, he will take rebirth in a noblest royal clan.
7. Annadana in Padmapurana
The Padmapurana is the second largest Purana after the Skandapurana. It contains approximately 55000 verses and notable for its composition and subjects like cosmology, mythology, genealogy, rivers and seasons, pilgrimage, festivals, discussion on ethics and guest hospitality. It discusses about the Annadana as given below.
[...]
None of the following donations like thousands of elephants and horses, one Crores of cows, golden vessels, land up to the sea and Crores of aristocratic maidens are equal to the donation of food (Annadana).
[...][20]
He, who gives food to the hungry one with all care and respect will reach the Brahmaloka and enjoys with Brahma.
8. Annadana in Vayu Purana
The Vayu purana approximately contains 24000 verses in 112 chapters. It contains four divisions Prakriya pada, Anushanga pada, Upodghata pada and Upasmhara pada. It is noteworthy for the discussions about the mahatyamas like Gayamahatyma, caste systems, penance, dharma and customs.
[...][21]
Hot and well-cooked food may rapidly offer to the starving one. After honouring them properly, the vegetables or condiments should be offered with devotion and with efforts. [...]
[...][22]
A donation beyond food donation does not exist in this world. There is no doubt that, living beings take birth from food and sustain by it.
9. Annadana in Varahapurana
The Varahapurana contains 24000 verses and 218 chapters. It includes mythology, particularly the Varaha incarnation of Vishnu to save the earth (Prithvi) at the time of flood. It also referred Annadana when Varaha described the story of king Shveta to Dharani (Earth) as an answer to her question about vritas.
[...][23]
Oh king! Always giving food makes sure all comforts. Annadana is excellent amongst all donations. Living beings are originated from Anna and they increases due to Anna. So donate food always.
[...]
The donation of jewels and gold to someone makes hima materialist. But the food donation gives complete satisfaction to the receiver.
10. Annadana in Vishnudharmottarapurana[...]
The Vishnudharmottarapurana is a prominent purana works deals with different subjects.In additionto the usual myths and stories, it mentioned the subjects like architecture, sculpture, painting, anatomy, medicines, music, grammar, lexicography and so on. The period of Vishnudharmottarapurana can be place between CE 400 and CE 500[24]. The work also proclaims the greatness of Annaana and it asked to perform Annadana for any deserved one without any special criterion.
[...][25]
The donation of food is excellent among the entire donations. There is no other donation greater than the Annadana does not exist before and will not happen in future. Always give food without considering the eligibility, time, rules and country of the receiver.
The Anna is the life of the world and the soul also connected with it. The donor of food is the donor of life and thus he becomes the donor of everything.
[...]
These verses are about the donation of different types of food. One who gives cooked food will reach heaven and one who gives edible provision will reach the Indra loka (heaven). The giver of lehya (the food for lick up) will reach the world of Apsaras (celestial ladies) and the donor of cushya (juice like drinks) will reach the world of Vasus.[26] The donor of panaka (sweaty drinks) will attain the world of Varuna. They should give the cool drinks with good flavours.
[...]
The donation of food will give everlasting satisfaction to the donor. The one who gives food and drinks for the thirsty people will reach the “goloka” (golokaḥ)[27] after death. The donor of food for a tired one becomes free from his thousands of sins and will not fall in hell. He will reach the heaven in sunshine like celestial aircraft.
[...][28]
Moreover-
[...][29]
If anybody donates toys and favourite food and fruits to children he will attain the benefits of an “Agnishtoma” sacrifice. If a man donates favourite food items for one who wants it, the donor will attain everlasting virtues and can reach the heaven after his demise.
12. Annadana in Subhashitas
Apart from the religious works there are some verses referring Annadana are also famous as subhashitas. Some of them are given below.
[...]
There is nothing greater than the donation of food in the past and will not be in the future. The whole movable and unmovable creatures of this world is sustains because of the Anna.
[...]
The following are considered to be the five fathers of a person: the donor of food, the protector from fear, the donor of young girl in marriage, the biological father and the preceptor.
[...]
The giving of food is great, but the donation of education is greater than Annadana. Because the Annadana gives a short time satisfaction but the education gives a lifelong satisfaction.
[...]
The food is proclaimed by the creator to sustain all the living beings. A man should not disrespectful to the food and seek for anything else.
[...]
I salute the six persons in this living world -the person who gives delicious food, the one who perform Agnihotra, the one who is Vedanta scholar, the one who sees a thousand of full moons, the one who fasts every month and the woman with chastity.
[...]
The donation of dress will give the kingdom, as a result of donating foot wares one can attain the vehicle, the donation of tambula gives the luxury. But as result of food donation one can attain all these three things.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Dr. Balakrishnan Venganoor, The Rigveda (Malayalam translation), (Neyyattinkara, Thiruvananthapuram: Arshasri Publishing Co., December 2014), 992.
[2]:
Ibid., 987
[3]:
Dr. Balakrishnan Venganoor, Atharvaveda, (Neyyattinkara, Thiruvananthapuram: Arshasri Publishing Co., December 2014), 393.
[4]:
Ibid, 394.
[5]:
Ibid, 204.
[6]:
[7]:
The Yajnavalkyasmriti with the commentary Balakrida of Vishvarupacharya, Edited by Mahamahopadhyaya T. Ganapati Sastri, New Delhi: Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers, Pvt. Ltd, 1982 (2nd Edition), 47.
[8]:
0 Ibid., 45.
[9]:
The Mahabharata, Anushasana parva, Translated into English from Original Sanskrit text MN Dutt, Ishvar Chandra, (Delhi: Parimal Publications, 2006), 68. .
[10]:
Idem.
[11]:
Idem.
[12]:
[...]
[13]:
Agni Purana, with Hindi translation by Acharya Sivaprasad Dwivedi, (Delhi: Chaukhamba Samskritha Pratishthan, April 2009), 428.
[14]:
Ibid, p
[15]:
[16]:
[17]:
idem
[18]:
Ibid, 837.
[19]:
idem
[20]:
Ibid.,
[21]:
[22]:
Idem.
[23]:
Varahapurana with Hindi Translation, tr. Chaudhari Sreenarayan singh, (Varanasi: Sarvabharatiya Kashirajanyas, 1904), 346.
[24]:
Dr. Shah Priyabala, The Vishnudharmottara Purana, (Ahemadabad: The New Order Book Co., 1990), 440.
[25]:
idem.
[26]:
9[...]
[28]:
idem
[29]:
Ibid, III Khand, 396