Annadhana Mahathmiyam

A tale goes that Once
Upon a time there lived a Rich man lived, he used to perform 
Annadhanam/poor feeding every day. Slowly his wealth started depleting 
but still he continued his Annadhanam. He was on his death bed, So he 
called his wife and took a promise that even after his death she will 
continue the Annadhanam. Then the old man died and his wife continued 
the good work, but her teenaged son got wild started asking why she is 
doing Annadhanam and squandering the little wealth they had.  He asked 
his mother what is the Thatparya of Annadhanam. Mother advises her son 
to go to a forest and meet the wise sage over there and find out the 
things which he wants to know. Then the Boy starts his journey to the 
forest. 

It
is afternoon and he meets a man near a mango tree. They both introduce 
themselves and the man in forest tells he is also going to meet the 
sage, But unfortunately he cannot move even a single step and he is 
trying to move since so many decades and he is not able to do so. He 
requests our boy to find out the Parihara from the sage. They were under
a beautiful Mango tree which had lot of fruits. Since it was afternoon 
and boy was hungry. He plucks one Mango and was about to eat then his 
newly acquainted friend warns that these fruits are Poisonous and not to
eat them. The tree felt very bad and started crying that nobody eats 
the fruit and like a true mother she is feeling bad that none of her 
child partake the fruit because it is poisonous.  She request the boy to
find out the reason from sage. 

He
starts walking towards the sages hermitage and the night befalls, 
meanwhile the boy meet's a hunter and and hunter asks the boy to stay 
for night with him and then proceeds to hermits hermitage later on. Boy 
agrees and hunter takes to his house on top of the tree. Hunters wife 
chides him for bring in a guest to house and says there is only meals 
for two persons and place for two persons to sleep and she tells she 
will not sacrifice her luxury of meals and good place to sleep. Then 
Hunter gives the food to the boy and also asks him to sleep in the 
house. Hunter sleeps out side the house without having the food. But 
unfortunately hunter falls down and he is eaten by a tiger. 

Next
day boy gets up and proceeds to the forest and he is able to reach the 
hermit. As the sage is a trikala Gnaani he tells to him that he cannot 
answer his questions, but a son born to the ruler of this Place will 
answer his questions and He instructs the boy to go to Ruler and tell 
him that the ruler is going to be blessed with a Male Child and raja 
asks the Boy what does he wants in return as a boon. Boy tells that once
his son is born let him be brought in golden Plate and he will ask 
three questions to the new born. Then After ten months, the queen gives 
birth to a beautiful Male child. then the Child is brought to the court 
in a Golden plate as desired by the Boy. 

The boy tells to the Prince that he want, to get three questions 
clarified including the personal one, but first let the prince answer to
the queries of the others first, this shows the boy is not selfish 
person.  First question he asks regarding the man who was unable to 
walk. For that prince tells that man is too learned and he has not done 
Vidya Dhannam to other then tells if does Dhannam, he will be able to 
move. 

For
the second question about the Tree Prince tells that there was a rich 
man who was greedy and a miser and he did not give it to the needy and 
he has buried the wealth under the tree and since is it sinful money the
fruits are becoming Poisonous, If the tree donates it to someone the 
fruits will become eatable. 

Then
Boy asks the Prince the Mahatmiyam of Annadhanam, for that Prince asks 
him to see him properly, but boy says he could not recognise him, for 
that prince tells he is the same hunter whom he met on the way and since
he did Annadhanam of his share of food he is born as a prince, and at 
the same time a Pig out side the palace has given birth to a piglet and 
it is his wife who was selfish and because of her deed in past birth she
is born as Pig and by virtue of doing Annadhanam one time he attained 
the birth at Rajas Palace. Such is the power of Annadhanam. 

Boy
thanks the Prince and proceeds back to tree he repeats what Prince has 
told and tree asks the boy to dig the Treasure and take it. Then he 
repeats to the man what Prince has told for him and immediately the man 
says that he will gladly accept the Boy as disciple and teaches and does
Vidya Dhannam. Now the boy is a scholar and wealthy man. He goes back 
to his mother and continues the Annadhanam which his father did. 

 The Moral is We should distribute our Vidya,Wealth and Anna. Then only Punya will come.