As we mentioned earlier, many Archakas in VILLAGES are experiencing hardships and struggling to feed their families. GHHF is planning to distribute these items in Tirupati, Guntur, Hyderabad, Ananathapur, Bhadrachalam, Pendurthi Agency Area, and Visakhapatnam areas.

Each bag/kit will have the following items: Rice, Wheat flour, Cooking Oil, Urad Dal, Moong Dal, Brown Sugar, Tea Powder, Meal Packet, Chilli powder, Soaps, Tamarind, Turmeric, Sugar, Coconut oil, Upma Ravva, Mustard Seeds, and other items.

As per Vedas, “Annadanam Samam Danam Trilokeshu Na Vidhathe” meaning Annadanam is supreme and it cannot be compared to any other charity. Our tradition pronounces that one who does annadanam attains Punya Loka (heaven). In fact, the whole creation depends on the food. Taittireya Upanishad says “Annam vai Pranaha”, which means All life force comes from food. In Bhagavad Gita, Sri Krishna declares, “Annad bhavanti bhutani.” That means all beings evolved from food. Our scriptures talk about “Daridra Narayana” - God dwells in the poor person.

“Gaja turaga Sahasram Gokulam koti danam

Kanaka Rajatha patram Methini sagarantham

Upaya kula vishuttam Koti kanya pradanam

Nahi nahi bahu danam Annadanam samanam”

MEANING: Donating 1000 elephants & horses, donating 10 million cows, donating any number of vessels of silver and gold, donating the entire land till sea, offering the entire services of the clan, helping in the marriage of 10 million women, all this is never ever equal to Annadanam, the feeding of hungry and needy.

Annadanam, offering food to the needy and the visiting guests in many Ashrams, is a common practice for thousands of years. More importance is given to providing meals to the people who are hungry. Providing meals at many Hindu Temples and Ashrams is an old custom. Our Temples provide Naivedyam to Gods on a regular basis as we believe the presence of Paramatma/God in the installed Deities. Similarly, we believe there is a divinity in all the creatures – humans as wells as non-human. Sharing food is considered a sacred duty in Hindu culture. At almost all the festivals, the organizers provide meals. Thus, annadanam is given the highest importance because of our belief that God lives as Atman in each one of us.

For more than 15 months, due to the rampant spread of Coronavirus, all the Hindu Temples are closed. Now, many Pujaris / Hindu Temple priests are having a hard time meeting their basic needs. Many of them do not have any salaries either from the government or the private Temples. Most of them do not have enough savings to pay their rent and electricity. Furthermore, many private temples do not have enough income to pay their salaries. Consequently, many Pujaris do not have enough resources to meet their daily expenses to provide meals for their families. Recently, newspapers wrote about some priests begging on the streets as they could not provide meals for the family. That news pained so many people and some organizations are helping them financially. They are facing a grim and grave predicament.

It is time to help these Priests to meet their basic needs with our generous donation. It is time to acknowledge their invaluable service to Hindu Temples and Hindu Dharma. It is time to protect their dignity and self-respect.

Support 10 Priest families for $250
Support 40 Priest families for $1000

DONATIONS:

We would appreciate your donation to continue annadanam to the needy, poor, Archakas/Priests in Villages.

PayPal Method: To donate visit our website. Click on the Donate button, then press the Purpose category and select “Support a Priest” Category.

By Check: Or you can send a check payable to:

GHHF, . It is tax-deductible.

http://www.Savetemples.org

For more information, call ; email: ghhfusaorg@gmail.com