Annadhana Seva 4th March, 2023

Jai Sai Ram 🙏

Shirdi Sai Stichting Netherlands (SSSNL), a non-profit organization involved in various social projects and volunteering activities in the Netherlands, initiated “Cooking for Others” (Annadhana Seva) an activity addressing a social problem. At SSSNL Annadhanam seva, the sacred offering of food is served for free to people. This service is done in community centers (buurthuis) as the service is to involve everyone. Currently, the seva is organized in Amsterdam Zuidoost, Amstelveen, Denhaag and Eindhoven. A three-course meal is served in a relaxed and quite environments, that starts with serving of Chai/ Tea and snacks / biscuits.

“Annadanam Samam Danam Trilokeshu Na Vidhathe”

These are the verses from the Vedas, meaning Annadanam is supreme and incomparable to any charity. Food is the basic requirement for all humans. Thus according to Vedas, the one who does annadanam, attains heaven (Punya Loka) in this Universe (Brahmanda) itself. In this whole universe, the creation and its progression depends on food. Hence giving food to the devotees is more than attaining heaven.

“Gaja turaga Sahasram Gokulam koti danam

Kanaka Rajatha patram Methini sagarantham

Upaya kula vishuttam Koti kanya pradanam

Nahi nahi bahu danam Annadanam samanam”

– Bhagavath Gita

One aspect of taking to the spiritual path is to make every aspect of life conscious, which is why offering food in a certain way is given so much importance at Shirdi Sai Samaj Netherlands.