यममार्गे सुखदायकधर्माः
Dharmas that Grant Ease on the Path to Yama
त्रैलोक्ये यानि रत्नानि भोगस्त्रीवाहनानि च । अन्नदानप्रदस्सर्वमिहामुत्र च तल्लभेत्
trailokye yāni ratnāni bhogastrīvāhanāni ca | annadānapradassarvamihāmutra ca tallabhet
மூவுலகிலும் உள்ள ரத்தினங்கள், போகங்கள், நற்குலப் பெண்கள், வாகனங்கள்—இவை அனைத்தையும் அன்னதானம் செய்பவன் இவ்வுலகிலும் மறுவுலகிலும் பெறுவான்.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Sthala Purana: General purāṇic framing: annadāna supports pilgrims, ascetics, and temple-servants; thus it indirectly sustains jyotirliṅga-yātrā and śiva-sevā, yielding ‘ihāmutra’ fruits.
Significance: Promises worldly and otherworldly prosperity to the annadātā; in pilgrimage culture, feeding at kṣetra is treated as a high-yield dharma supporting sādhus and yatris.
Offering: naivedya
The verse elevates annadāna (feeding others) as a supreme dharmic act that generates punya, supporting both material well-being and posthumous auspicious attainments; in Shaiva understanding, such charity purifies the pashu (bound soul) and prepares it for Shiva’s grace.
In Linga/Saguna Shiva worship, offerings and service to living beings are treated as service to Shiva present in all; annadāna becomes an extension of pūjā—moving from altar-offering to compassionate action, aligning devotion with dharma.
Practice annadāna as a vow—especially on Shiva days (Pradosha, Mondays, Mahashivratri)—after Shiva pūjā; feed devotees, the poor, or pilgrims while mentally offering the act to Shiva with the Panchakshara spirit of surrender (Om Namaḥ Śivāya).