“OFFERS OF BREAD AND FOOD SHOULD BE REGARDED AS AUSPICIOUS SIGNS OF SUCCESS”
Different sadhanas are prescribed in our scriptures for different ages
1.KRITA YUG - Tapa (Penance) is recommended for Krita yuga
2.TRETA YUG - Jnana (Knowledge) for Treta yug
3.DWAPARA YUG - Yajna (Sacrifice) for Dwapara yug
4.KALI YUG - Dana (Charity) for Kali yug (present age)
Of all the charities, donating food is the best one.“All life force comes from food.’ (annam vai pranah) and ‘Let food be produced in plenty’ (annam bahu kurveet.) – Taittiriya Upanishad says that is Brahma; from food all the creatures are born and having been born, by food they live, and having departed, into food again they enter. In Bhagavad Gita - Sri Krishna declares, ‘From food all beings are evolved’ (annam bhavanti bhutani) We are much perturbed when we get no food at noon. Other beings feel similarly under similar circumstances. Knowing this, he who gives food to the poor and hungry, is the best donor or charitable person.
Sai Baba has practically demonstrated to us how to put the Upanishadic teachings into practice. In this way Sai Baba stands as the best Exponent or Teacher of the Upanishadic doctrines
Baba Fed Sumptuously, -- How? - Once, Mrs. Tarkhad was staying in a certain house in Shirdi. At noon, meals were ready and dishes were being served, when a hungry dog turned up there and began to cry, Mrs. Tarkhad got up at once and threw a piece of bread, which the dog gulped with great relish. In the afternoon, when she went to the Masjid and sat at some distance, Sai Baba said to her, "Mother, you have fed Me sumptuously up to my throat; My afflicted pranas (life-forces) have been satisfied. Always act like this, and this will stand you in good stead. Sitting in this Masjid I shall never, never speak untruth. Take pity on Me like this. First give bread to the hungry, and then eat yourself. Note this well." She could not at first understand the meaning of what Baba said. So she replied -- "Baba, how could I feed You? I am myself dependent on others and take my food from them on payment." Then Baba replied -- "Eating that lovely bread I am heartily contended and I am still belching. The dog which you saw before meals and to which you gave the piece of bread is, one with Me, so also other creatures (cats, pigs, flies, cows etc.) are one with Me. I am roaming in their forms. He, who sees Me in all these creatures is My beloved. So abandon the sense of duality and distinction, and serve Me, as you did today." Drinking these nectar-like words, she was moved, her eyes were filled with tears, her throat was choked and her joy knew no bounds
"See God in all beings" The Upanishads, the Geeta and the Bhagwat, all exhort us to perceive God or Divinity in all the creatures.
Baba's Handi - It has been stated before that Baba required very little food for Himself and what little He wanted, was obtained by begging from a few houses. But when He took it into His mind to distribute food to all, He made all preparations from beginning to end, Himself. He depended on nobody and troubled none in this matter. First He went to the bazar and bought all the things, corn, flour, spices etc., for cash. He did also the grinding. In the open courtyard of the Masjid, He arranged a big hearth and after lighting a fire underneath kept a Handi over it with a proper measure of water. To see whether the food was properly cooked or not, Baba rolled up the sleeve of His Kafni and put His bare arm in the boiling cauldron without the least fear, and churned (moved) the whole mass from side to side and up and down. First He sent part of the food as prasad to Mhalasapati and Tatya Patil and then He served the remaining contents with His own hand to all the poor and helpless people to their hearts' content. Really blessed and fortunate must be those people who got food prepared by Baba and served by Him.Shri Hari (God) will be certainly pleased, if you give water to the thirsty, bread to the hungry, clothes to the naked, and your verandah to strangers for sitting and resting
“Offers of bread and food should be regarded as auspicious signs of success." Satcharitra - Chapter XXXII - In Quest of Guru and God
we can find in this chapter how Baba accepted the vanjara’s offer of food when they (four learned men) met him second time.
The Vanjari met us again and said, "Relying on your own cleverness you missed your way; a guide is always necessary to show us the right way in small or great matters; and no quest can be successfully carried out on an empty stomach. Unless God wills it, no one meets us on the way. Do not discard offers of food; served dish should not be thrust away. Offers of bread and food should be regarded as auspicious signs of success." Saying this he again offered us food and asked us to be calm and patient. Again we did not like this good hospitality and discarded his offer and went away. Without doing any quest and without taking any food, the three began to move out. So obstinate were they. I was hungry and thirsty and I was moved with the Vanjari's extraordinary love; we thought ourselves very learned; but were quite strangers to pity and kindness. The Vanjari was a quite illiterate and unqualified fellow and belonged to a low caste. Still he had love in his heart and asked us to eat the bread. In this way, he who loves other disinterestedly is really enlightened; and I thought acceptance of his hospitality was the best beginning of getting knowledge. So very respectfully I accepted the loaf of bread offered, ate it and drank water.
In Oriental culture, the sharing of food has long been considered as a sacred duty. We offer cooked food to our ancestors, devas, to the Buddha and to monks, elders, pilgrims, as well as to family, friends, visitors and to anyone who feels hunger, including animals. In Oriental tradition, no one should go to bed hungry; even animals and unseen beings should be offered food to ensure their happiness and good will.
Manu Dharma Sastra’s aphorism ‘atithih dovo bhava’. (regard the guest as deity) plainly expresses this worldwide tradition among ancient societies that deities may move upon the earth in human guise and that one should therefore regard them with the utmost courtesy and respect. Hence, it is considered prudent in traditional societies to regard every stranger or sudden visitor with the utmost courtesy, respect and hospitality – including offering of choice food items.
Annadanams too are conducted with this very principle in mind, for among the hungry crowd there may also be the anonymous genuine devotee, saint or even a deva or deity. Indeed, each and every poor person is regarded in this way, as expressed in the Sanskrit saying Daridra Narayana (God dwells in the poor person)
He, who gives food to the poor and hungry in the name of Sri Sai, is the best donor or charitable person.
JAI SAI RAM
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