Starting in 1997 as a small service in Velachery, Chennai, the capital city of Tamil Nadu, out of awareness of the suffering of those wasting away from hunger, and becoming a government-registered spiritual-humanitarian (Anma Neya) charitable organisation in 2007, Deepam Trust has since then, growing from day to day, been running a daily morning gruel service for many thousands of people and a daily hunger-relief service for many hundreds of the poor, through the daily Nithya Deepa Dharmachalai, the Mobile Dharmachalai and 11 Dharmachalais across Tamil Nadu. This service continues gloriously by the great compassion of the Almighty Arutperunjothi Andavar, the great kindness of compassionate donors, and the hard work of our tireless volunteers.
- 1997Food service began in Velachery
- 2007Registered as a charitable organisation
- 11Dharmachalais across Tamil Nadu
Annadhana Arputhangal
Morning Gruel
One who thinks of relieving hunger, is a human
One who relieves hunger, is a great human
One who rejoices at seeing the hungry fed, is a saint
One who is praised by those who were fed, is God
With the Velachery Nithya Deepa Dharmachalai as its headquarters, through 11 Dharmachalais in Tamil Nadu, herbal gruel (gruel with mint, pepper, long pepper (thippili), ginger and cumin) is served every day to hundreds of children, elderly people, mothers and destitute souls, with humane love and with the love and kindness of hundreds of compassionate benefactors, without any discrimination.
Mobile Annadhana
“Jeevakarunyam (compassion towards all living beings) is the key to the abode of liberation.” To take it from street to street and house to house and help people attain it, Deepam Trust, Velachery, Chennai, has undertaken many achievements, strategies and activities, and the Mobile Dharmachalai is one of them.
Poor families without means in places such as Velachery and Kalkuttai live in houses with a roof of plastic or tin sheets and a torn saree hung up as a door. Like a bird's nest, no door, no toilet, and no food for the next meal. Can mothers with small children come to our Nithya Deepa Dharmachalai? Can the blind, the physically disabled, the elderly and the hungry whom we see on the streets come to the Nithya Deepa Dharmachalai?
A worldwide charitable organisation that works for the welfare and education of children published a report a few months ago. When two 10-year-old boys in a slum were interviewed and asked what their wish was, they said, “We wish not to die!” When asked why they had this fear, they said: “There were ten of us friends in this lane. We used to roam everywhere together from morning till night. But in this one year, eight of them have died. They said it was due to some disease or other!” The organisation concluded that the lack of healthy food was the cause and began working on many fronts.
For us, healthy food is certainly needed, and we are happy when it is available. But even ordinary food to satisfy hunger is becoming hard to get. Seeing this, “Vallalar” says that “whenever one sees, hears of or comes to know of someone suffering, one must run and relieve it.” This can be found in Jeevakarunya Ozhukkam. To put into practice what he said in that prose work, Deepam Trust created a “Mobile Dharmachalai” and has been feeding the hungry for the past 10 years.
Vadalur Service
Every month, on the auspicious Poosam day, volunteers are taken to serve at the Sathya Dharmachalai in Vadalur. On the night before Poosam, at 9 pm, a vehicle leaves from the Velachery Nithya Dharmachalai for Vadalur.
Children’s Homes
On behalf of Deepam Trust, Velachery, Chennai, based on the principle of “let us make others happy and be happy”, it is our custom every year on the occasion of Deepavali to give sweets and savouries to delight destitute poor children and the elderly.
Dharmachalais
Through 11 Dharmachalais across Tamil Nadu, a daily morning gruel service for many thousands of people and a daily hunger-relief service for many hundreds of the poor are carried out gloriously, by the great compassion of the Almighty Arutperunjothi Andavar, the great kindness of compassionate donors, and the hard work of our tireless volunteers.
Meiyur
In Meiyur village, Tiruvallur district, Deepam Trust provides 100 children every day, as a village service, with nutritious, hot, hygienic and tasty food twice a day, at ₹3,000 per day (₹90,000 per month).
A scene of daily food being served to tribal children living below the poverty line in a very backward village bordering reserve forests, with no street lights…
We bow at the holy feet of the human gods who generously give a continuing monthly compassion fund to relieve the children's hunger every day.
Everything is dedicated to Arutperunjothi Andavar.
Children's, Old-Age and Mentally Challenged Homes
We visit homes for destitute children and the elderly in person, sing and dance with them to bring them joy, and provide a special meal.
Food for the Roadside Poor
As part of the Mobile Anna Dharmachalai, on holidays, cooked food is taken in a vehicle and served to people living on the roadsides.
Food to Temple Devotees
Various kinds of anna prasadam (sacred food offerings) are given to devotees who come to temples in the Velachery area during festival seasons, congregational worship and special days.
Food to Sanmarga Sangams
Special food is provided for meetings, satsangs and Sanmarga festivals conducted by Sanmarga Sangams.