The anna dāna is one of the Hindu or Buddhist or Christian dāna

Dana

-Singers:Some singers are popularly known only by the name, Dana:* Dana Rosemary Scallon , Irish-American singer and politician* Dana , Korean pop singer* Dana International , Israeli pop singer-In fiction:...

, and refers to the practice of giving away food.

Anna Dāna is considered more pious and fulfilling because this is the only Dāna in which the person receiving Dāna says 'enough' or 'not any more'. The person receiving this Dāna also normally blesses the donor saying 'Anna Dāta Sukeebhava' meaning 'May the person donated food remain happy for ever'.

According to the Hindu Dharmaśāstras, Annam Para Brahma Swarupam. Hence Food needs to be revered and not wasted.

Importance

The verse Annadānam Samam Dānam Trilokeshu Na Vidhathe from Vedas means Annadānam is supreme and incomparable to any charity. Food is the basic requirement for all living beings including humans. In this whole universe, the creation and its progression depends on food. Hence 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

Meaning of the above is 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.

Ancient times, Kings used to make the food available to their subjects, particularly skilled people and their families, who work on their projects. This way the skilled can concentrate on the assigned task and their skill improvement without bogging down on the mundane things like food and its preparation.

Adi Sankaracharya in his stotram praising Annapurna

Annapurna

Annapurna is a section of the Himalayas in north-central Nepal that includes Annapurna I, thirteen additional peaks over and 16 more over ....

, 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.

What comes under Anna Dāna

Over a period of time, this has taken many forms such as providing resources to do Anna Dāna such as donating land, donating for building construction, donating for other infrastructure such as kitchen equipment, utensils, serving material such as plates, tumblers, tables, chairs, donating material for doing Anna Dāna such as bags of rice, wheat, lentils, pickles, other material for food preparation.

When to do Anna Dāna

Anna Dāna is done on occasions like Birth Anniversaries, Marriage Anniversaries and Death Anniversaries. In case of Christianity, Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve occasions are more prominent for Anna Dāna. Apart from these, many community feedings happen for needy in Orphanages, Hospitals, Emergency Shelters cutting across typical caste, religion, nationality barriers.

Where is Anna Dāna done

Food donation is done at places of worship such as temples, hospitals, orphanages, old age homes. Food is made available in Satrams to pilgrims near prominent places of worship as prasād like Golden Temple of Amritsar, Sikh Gurdwara, Hindu temples.

Satram is a place where is besides Anna Dāna there exists facility for lodging for pilgrims. These satrams exist as per community the pilgrim belongs such as Arya Vysya for business community, Brahmana Satrams for Brahmin community etc., One example of Brahmana Satram in India is Akhila Bharateeya Brahmana Karivena Nityannadana Satram

Akhila Bharateeya Brahmana Karivena Nityannadana Satram

Annadanam Akhila Bharateeya Brahmana Karivena Nityannadana Satram is a charitable organisation serving the cause of devotees visiting prominent Hindu places of worship....

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Akhila Bharateeya Brahmana Karivena Nityannadana Satram

Karivena is a sleepy village of Kurnool District

Kurnool district

Kurnool District is a district in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, located in the west-central part of the state on the southern banks of the Tungabhadra and Handri rivers. The town of Kurnool is currently the headquarters of the district...

 of Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...

,India. Famous for its generosity in the district. In the ancient days pilgrims of Srisailam temple have no other mode of transport than walking.

A group of Brahmins came forward to serve the pilgrims who walk to the holy temple town Sri Sailam by offering water, food, medication as needed.

Now this tradition of hospitality to pilgrims continues in more than one place of worship. The satram operating at Alampur

Alampur

Alampur is a temple-town situated in Mahbubnagar district, in the Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh, India.It is located at about 90 KM from Mahabubnagar, 27 km From Kurnool and 200 km from Hyderabad...

, Bhadrachalam

Bhadrachalam

Bhadrachalam , a town known for the Sri Rama Temple constructed in the year 1674 A.D., is a Municipality in Khammam district, in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India. It is located east of state capital, Hyderabad. The Bhadrachalam Temple, where the presiding deity is Lord Rama, is an important site...

, Mahanandi

Mahanandi

Mahanandi is a village located east of the Nallamala Hills in Kurnool District, Andhra Pradesh, India. It is a picturesque village surrounded by thick forests. Within 15 km of Mahanandi, there are nine Nandi shrines known as Nava Nandis. Mahanandi is one of the Nava Nandis. The Mahanandiswara...

, Rameswaram, Shirdi, Sri Sailam, Tirupati

Tirupati

Tirupati may refer to:* Tirupati Temple - Temple of Lord Venkateshwara* Tirupati - a pilgrimage city located in the vicinity of the Tirupati Temple* Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams - Trust of Tirupati Temple* Thirupathi - a 2006 Tamil film...

, Varanasi

Varanasi

-Etymology:The name Varanasi has its origin possibly from the names of the two rivers Varuna and Assi, for the old city lies in the north shores of the Ganga bounded by its two tributaries, the Varuna and the Asi, with the Ganges being to its south...

, Vijayawada

Vijayawada

Vijayawada is the third largest city in Andhra Pradesh, India, located on the banks of the Krishna River and bounded by the Indrakiladri Hills on the West and the Budameru River on the North. The city is located in the Krishna District, about from the state capital Hyderabad.Vijayawada literally...

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