Kindly enlighten the inner meaning of kanyaadaanam.

[Ms. Purnima asked: Padanamaskaram Swami. Today, on the auspicious occasion of Sri Ramanavami, I participated in the Sita Rama Kalyanam. During the ceremony, the priest mentioned that among all forms of dāna (charitable giving), annadānam holds the highest place, followed by kanyādānam, which is considered so sacred that it is believed to bless and benefit seven generations. Swami, kindly enlighten us on the inner meaning of kanyādānam - Purnima]

Swami replied:- Several people say several things as per their opinions. We should believe anything with the help of logical analysis. Charity of food is really the best, but, we have to feed the really deserving poorest beggars and not everybody without discriminating deserving from undeserving. I don’t think that Kanyaadaanam is so important like Annadaanam. Kanyaa means daughter and she is not an inert item like food to be donated to whomever you like. You have to donate her as per her liking. In the ancient generations, the marriage of daughter was done at the age of her 8^th year. In that age only, she was called as kanyaa. Today, the girl is not married in her childhood. She is married as per her liking only at a well grownup age. Neither she is called ‘Kanyaa’ nor her marriage can be called as ‘Kanyaadaanam’.

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