Sri Jayalakshmi Mata Nitya Annadhana Trust
was founded by His Holiness Sri Sri Ganapati Sachchidanada Swamiji and formed
mainly to provide Annadhana (free feeding - Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner) to
all. In addition, The Trust helps the poor and needy by providing free
Education, free medical care, and Social upliftment, irrespective of Caste,
Creed, Color, Sex, Religion or Nationality.
The main object of the Trust
is Annadanna (feeding). The residents of the Ashrama, numbering about 400, are
given free breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day irrespective of caste, creed,
sex, religion or nationality. In addition, people visiting the Ashrama for
various reasons are also provided free breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Approximately 10,000 people
per day visit the Ashrama from all over India and Abroad during the following
yearly festivals: week long program celebrating His Holiness Sri Swamiji’s
birthday in May/June, ten to twelve-day program for Navaratri in October,
Dattatreya Jayanti in December, and Maha Shivaratri in March. Approximately
2,000 people are present in the ashrama for the following festivals/occasions:
Jayalakshmi Mata Aradhana in April, Lakshminarasimha Jayanti in May, Guru
Poornima in July, Sri Narahari Teertha Aradhana in July/August, Sri Krishna
Janmashtami in August, Gowri and Ganesh festival in August, Deepavali in
November, Dhanalakshmi pooja in October, Iftar party to Muslim brethern,
Christmas in December, New Year day on January 1st, Sankranti on January 14th,
Venkatamakhi and Thyagaraja Aradhana in March and other celebrations. The
numbers above are approximate and increase each year, but regardless of the
number of people who attend, The Trust provides free food for all.
Various medical and dental
camps are conducted in the ashrama each year. Hundreds of patients and their
families attended. In addition many doctors and medical staff are present to
provide the care. The Trust provides free food facilities for all these
individuals.
Distribution of Anna
Prasada at Sri Datta Venkateswara Temple:
On every Saturday and Sunday evenings between 5 to 9 pm., more than 2,500 people
from nearby and far off places as well as tourists visit Sri Datta Venkateswara
Temple complex. The Trust has arranged for serving Anna Prasada of nearly 100
kgs of rice for distribution to the general public.
WHY SHOULD YOU DO
Annadhana?
His Holiness Sri Sri Ganapati
Sachchidanada Swamiji has made it a priority in His mission to feed people.
Jayalakshmi
Mata Nitya Annadhana Trust
gives us the divine opportunity to participate and involve in Sri
Jayalakshmi Mata Annapoorna Mandir at Avadhootha Dattapeetham . Providing food
to fellow devotees and others is an important way in which we can do service (seva).
In India, at Sri Swamiji’s request, it is a common practice for Datta devotees to keep aside a
fist full of uncooked rice each time rice is cooked at home. Devotees
accumulate the rice and bring or send it to the ashrama, where the rice is
cooked and served to the many residents and vistors of the ashrama. Since we
are not in India, it is not practical for us to send rice to India. We can
however provide monetary assistance to the ashrama to cover the cost of rice and
other food items.
During a short visit in the year 2000 to San Jose in California (San Francisco Bay Area), Sri Swamiji announced and permitted the Datta Yoga Center's San Jose Chapter to lead the Annadanam Programme for the Jayalakshmi Mata Nitya Annadana Trust in Mysore. Sri Swamiji asked the DYC's San Jose chapter to be responsible for this programme and permitted to manage and maintain the Annadanam program in USA. Sri Swamiji
spoke on the importance of Annadanam and the way of Annadanam in Mysore
Ashrama. Sri Swamiji said that it was one of the most important
instruction from Jayalakshmi Mata (Sri Swamiji's mother) when Sri Swamiji was
a child. To fulfill her command the Annadanam was being performed since
the day Mysore Ashrama started in 1966. Three times a day food is
served to all inmates and visitors irrespective of caste, creed, color, sex
or age. Scriptures glorify the merits, Annadanam act brings and it was
an important activity in Sri Swamiji's life. Sri Swamiji was against
the sales of food in Ashrama, as it would lose its sacredness and
reverence with which a devotee consumes food. Sri Swamiji exhorted all present
to actively support the Programme. Improve the activity of Annadanam (feeding of food) in your centres. Those centres where it is not started yet, kindly do so now. Every
household should offer at least a fistful of Rice daily.
During Sri Swamiji’s 60th birthday
celebrations, Sri Swamiji stressed the importance of Annadhana seva and
encouraged all to take part in this seva.
