Offering food to others is the best dharma, says R. Narayanan
A discourse highlighted the importance of generosity through the story of Ilayankudi Maranar and his devotion to Lord Siva.
Offering food to others constitutes the best dharma, according to R. Narayanan during a recent discourse, as reported by The Hindu.
The discourse referenced Tiruvalluvar, who stated that nothing equals this act, and Tirumoolar, who suggested offering a vilva leaf to Lord Siva, grass to a cow, and food to humans.
Narayanan noted that Tiruvalluvar also said even nectar that confers immortality should be shared, and that people must always use sweet words.
The discourse shared the story of Ilayankudi Maranar, one of the 63 Nayanmars praised by Sekkizhar in the Periya Puranam, who was known for his wealth and for washing the feet of devotees with scented water.
The story recounted how Lord Siva made Maranar lose his wealth, leaving him with only a tiled house and a small plot of land.
After heavy rain, Maranar and his wife cooked rice using grains that had been sown that morning and used a wooden beam from their house as firewood to feed a visitor who revealed himself as Lord Siva.