Speech of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji – Sookti – April 9, 2020 – Mysore
Compiled by Parimala Eshwarla
Annadānaṃ mahādānaṃ, vidyādānaṃ mahattaraṃ
Annēna kṣanikā tŗptiḥ, yāvajjeevaṃ tu vidyayā
Offering food to others (annadānam) is truly supreme. Greater than that is providing education to others (vidyādāna). This is because annadāna offers only temporary satisfaction while vidyādāna gives lifelong satisfaction.
The Scriptures exhort us to perform 16 types of charities. It means, we must give in charities 16 types of objects. There are instances when people conduct all 16 charities simultaneously.
Among the different types of charities, annadana and vidyadana take supreme positions. The merit (result) obtained from these charities lasts across many births. The results of all other charities stretches only for the present birth and perhaps the next birth.
While extolling the greatness of annadana, our learned elders have stated-
The above shloka says- Donating 1000 elephants, 1000 horses, a cowshed consisting of 1000 cows, golden plate, silver plate, this entire earth itself, giving away the daughter in marriage (kanya dana), – none of them is equal to offering food (annadana) in charity.
What is charity? Forsaking his rights and giving away complete ownership over an object, over which a person has complete control until that minute, is charity. Giving away to another the object deeply cherished by the person is called ‘charity’.
The Vedas further define how the donor must behave. Self-pride, arrogance and feelings of supremacy must not exist when giving charities. Instead, one must feel ashamed about their inability to give more in charity. They must have the fear that they have not been able to do enough. While offering the object, the donor must, with a heart overflowing with humility, bow down to the person receiving the charity and be totally grateful to him for accepting the same.
However, the satisfaction experienced by the person who has received the food offering made by us is only momentary! Normally a person does not experience total contentment after receiving any gift. But when he is fed sumptuously he experiences contentment. He whole-heartedly showers blessings upon the person who has fed him that good meal. However, after a few hours, the person again experiences hunger and begins to worry about his next meal.
In this aspect, gifting education (vidyadana) becomes more important than offering food (annadana). Education can only have a starting point. But not an ending point. The student who learns from the master remains eternally grateful to him for the knowledge showered. There is no rule that the person who receives charity should eternally be grateful to the donor. However, this happens with vidyadana.
Normally, when giving away any object in charity, the person keeps a major share of that object for his family and gives away only a paltry share in charity. But he expects great results to be showered upon him for this deed. However this rule does not apply to gifting knowledge! The teacher imparts his entire knowledge to his student. Not just that. He will not stop until his student surpasses him in knowledge; until the student totally shines in that field. As such, we can say that gifting knowledge is far more supreme than gifting food.
One important point- this sookti highlights the importance of annadana and vidyadana.