Shloka 46
यममार्गे सुखदायकधर्माः
Dharmas that Grant Ease on the Path to Yama
तानन्नदाश्च गच्छंति तस्मादन्नप्रदो भवेत् । यदीच्छेदात्मनो भव्यमिह लोके परत्र च
tānannadāśca gacchaṃti tasmādannaprado bhavet | yadīcchedātmano bhavyamiha loke paratra ca
جو لوگ اناج/کھانا دیتے ہیں وہ اُن مبارک حالتوں کو پاتے ہیں؛ اس لیے انسان کو اَنّ داتا بننا چاہیے۔ اگر کوئی اس دنیا اور آخرت میں اپنی بھلائی چاہے تو اسے یقیناً اَنّ دان کرنا چاہیے۔
Lord Shiva (as spiritual instructor within Umāsaṃhitā discourse)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Sthala Purana: Annadāna is taught as a universal dharma leading to auspicious lokas; while not tied to a single jyotirliṅga here, it aligns with kṣetra-dharma at major Śiva temples where feeding pilgrims is a principal service.
Significance: Merit through feeding devotees/guests (atithi-sevā) is framed as a direct means to welfare here and hereafter.
Shakti Form: Annapūrṇā
Role: nurturing
Offering: naivedya
FAQs
It elevates annadāna (gift of food) as a direct, compassionate dharma that yields auspicious merit and inner well-being, supporting the soul’s progress under Shiva’s grace in both worldly life and the afterlife.
In Saguna Shiva worship, service to living beings is treated as service to Shiva’s manifested order; annadāna complements Linga-pūjā by turning devotion into tangible compassion and dharmic merit.
Perform annadāna as a vow (vrata)—offer sanctified food after Shiva-pūjā, ideally with remembrance of the Panchāksharī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), dedicating the merit to Shiva.