Nityannadanam by TTD
In 2006, the then Chairman of the T.T.D. Trust Board provided the facility of offering Srivari ‘annaprasadam’ to all the devotees who came to Tirumala irrespective of the ‘Darshan’ of Srivaru. Later, the TTD started a new building complex for ‘Nityannadanam’. At that time, Matrusri Tharigonda Vengamamba, a devout devotee generously used to offer food to the devotees.
Later, the T.T.D continued the traditional culture of charity by offering food in Tirumala putting the name of Matrusri Tharigonda Vengamamba to the building complex. The scheme of Nityannadanam was also started in Sri Padmavathi Ammavaru at Tiruchanur in the past.
Recently on 29-02-2024 in Sri Govindarajaswamy temple in Tirupati the programme ‘Nityannadanam’ was started and going on well every day from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. It is the staunch wish of the TTD that all the devotees in Tirumala, Tirupati and other places should make use of the facility of ‘annadanam’ and get the graceful blessings of Lord Venkateswara.
Food is Divine
‘Annam Parabrahmaswarupam’ is a spiritual saying of our elders. Of all gifts, charity is the greatest. Those who give charity will receive ‘Devalokapuja’. Food is the essential thing that sustains the human body for achieving ‘Purusharthas.’ Without food, animals will also die. Therefore, offering food means offering life. Food sustains life.
Giving life is giving all things to human beings. So they receive the fruits by the charity. It is said that whoever eats rice can perform any pious work with energy. Half of the virtue i.e., ‘punyam’ will go to the giver of the food and the other half of it will go to the person who has done the work.
Service to man is service to God.
Offering of food to the hungry is equal to performing a ‘yajna.’ One can satisfy others with food only. But one cannot satisfy others by offering gold, clothes, or anything else. People still want more and more. But one can hear the word ‘Enough’ from them by just offering a meal.
It is said that by doing ‘annadanam’, fame, radiance and strength will be attained in all three worlds. ‘Vedokti’ emphasizes that the first entry into heaven is for those who conduct ‘annadanam.’ The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams put this maxim into practice.
Eham and Param
There is a concept of ‘Eham’ and ‘Param’ regarding the consumption of ‘prasadam’ in temples. Offering ‘prasadam’ is an orthodox tradition for those who perform puja and other rituals and to the devotees visiting the temple. Some of the festivals are entirely related to ‘annadanam.’ ‘Thiruppavada’ in Tirumala is similar to this practice.
Sri Saluva Narasimharaya built choultries for doing ‘annadanam’ to satisfy the hunger of the devotees in Tirumala. Under the supervision of Srimad Kandadai Ramanuja Iyengar, ‘Ramanujakutamulu’ were formed. The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams, the world’s largest spiritual organization, has been serving the devotees by offering food freely to them for a long time.
Resuming the tradition of our ‘sanatana dharma,’ the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams initiated this auspicious deed on 06-04-1985. Initially started with a mere two thousand devotees, the scheme gradually became a major programme. Earlier, this ‘annaprasadam’ scheme was applicable only to the devotees who visited the Lord in the temple.
