Written by London swaminathan

Article no. 1720; dated 15  March 2015

Up loaded at 14-05 London time

Freedom fighter Subrahmanya Siva gives excellent stories in his Tamil book ‘Moksha Sadhana Rahasya’ (location : British Library, London) to illustrate the great merits of Anna Dhana (Giving food to the needy people).

The advantages of Anna Dhana over other Dhanas are:

a)Helping the poor

b)No harm to others; “no bad side effects”!!

c)Even if there is one good saintly person among the takers that will bring good luck to the whole town. Tamil poem says “even if there is one good person in a town, the town will get copious rains” (nallaar oruvar ularel avar poruttu ellaarkkum peyyum mazai).

d)This is the only gift that everyone will say, “I have had enough; no more please”. For all other gifts they expect more from you.

Even if you serve ambrosia (Amrta), they will beg you to stop it, when their stomach is full. They will thank you whole heartedly, no, ‘whole stomachly’!! There is a saying in Tamil, Even if the mouth does not say Thanks, the stomach will thank him” (Vaay vaazththaavitaalum Vayiru vaazththum)

Now I give a rough translation of Arjuna story from Tamil:

Krishna and Arjuna were discussing future plans for the development of the country.  Suddenly a fisherman came there and submitted a big gold bar at the feet of Arjuna! Arjuna was surprised. Krishna looked suspiciously at Arjuna thinking that he had other “business ventures” without his knowledge. But Arjuna thought that as usual Krishna is playing a game or doing some mischiefs.

Arjuna asked Krishna,

What is this Krishna? Is it your game?

Krishna: I am also puzzled. Let us ask the fisherman.

Fisherman: Arjunji, you gave me one paisa (penny) long time ago. I bought a fishing net with that money. Your hand is a lucky one! From that time onwards I caught more and more fish and I bought more and more nets. Now I am a millionaire. I want to express my gratitude to you. Here is my offering, a few gold bars.

Krishna was furious on hearing this. As soon as the fisherman left, Krishna scolded Arjuna, “Dear friend, you have done a blunder. This fisherman had killed millions of fishes during his long career. Part of that sin would come to you”. Then Krishna gave him some ideas to off load the sins!

Giving this story Subrahmanya Siva, says that Anna Dhana would not have any “bad side effects”. It is always vegetarian food served at Annadhanas. Even at Sikh Gurdwaras in London and other places serve 24 hour Langar food that is vegetarian. But certain Dhanas osuch as giving money may have something bad attached to it. ( In western countries if we give money to beggars, most of them buy cigarettes, alcohol or narcotic drugs)

Anna Dhana (Food Charity) is the best Dhana!

Let us also follow it!!