Charity or donations actually develop the spirit of compassion, welfare and brotherhood. To bring non-devout people to the creed is also a great form of charity or donation. The donation of religion is the excellent donation because the element of religion is the best among all. Charity is connected with the quality or character of the human being. Many types of donations such as ANNADAAN, VASTRADAAN, JALDAAN ABHYADAAN, SHAKTIDAAN, VIDHYADAAN, DHARMADAAN, AANANDADAAN, GAJDAAN, ASHWADAAN, BHOOMIDAAN, SUWARNDAAN, etc. are mentioned in the scriptures. Poverty and hoarding can be ended with the immense power of donations. If charity eliminates numerous sins, then sometimes the charity also performs the act of atonement.
Donations are considered a doorway to happiness and welfare. It is said that the donation that increase the welfare of one has considered as the true charity. The donation given to the recipient directly with kindness by the donor is considered to be the best donation. The donation that is given to the person by the deep understanding of duty and gives generously, considering the country, the time, the character, the donation given to the person who has not done anything good to you is called the real donation. It is the best donation which does not create the ego and arrogance in the mind of the donor and no feeling of shortage in the recipient’s mind. If the spirit of faith and renunciation is involved in charity, then that donation is totally successful. As we never see after stool pass the same feeling should be there after donation. Only the generous person has the ability to be a donor. Donations should always be made with a sweet speech and humbleness. Blood donation eye donation (CHAKSHUDAAN) and donation of body (DEHDAAN) are also the charities of the modern age. Mahatma BHARTOHARI states that money earns by own self is like the daughter, earns by father and inherits then it is like sister, if produced by the other, it is like the unknown woman. Money found in these three forms is not worth collecting. Money produced by others is not only unworthy, but even if it has immense affection or love like daughter or sister it cannot be kept with us for a long period of time.
Actually there are mainly three motions or direction of wealth. 1) Indulgence 2) Theft and 2) Donations. Means there is no other way to use money rather than these three. Money or LAXMI is very volatile. It never stays in one place, you can use it for enjoyment or use it in a wrong way that is misuse means gambling, drinking, speculation etc. or it may be stolen or can be utilised in hospital or can be donate. In short we need to think that on which way we want to utilised it. Use of money for indulgence represents it’s glory while donation reflects the divinity. There is danger of drowning if the boat is overloaded by water so that the task of lifting it out with both hands is inevitable. The same logic is applicable to money. Prayer leads to God halfway, fasting leads to the door of God’s palace, while donations make it possible to enter the palace. Donation is not just sacrifice but it is sowing, which becomes immortal (AKSHAYA), so donation is very important on the day of AKSHAYA TRITIYA.
Donation is our duty. As great as the donor is, the beneficiary is also the one who becomes the cause of the donor’s fortune and make the donor great and full of virtue. Eating alone is a disorder, it is a divine nature to eat together and share it with others. It is our culture of enjoying feeding your food to others even if by remaining hungry. LAKSHAMI becomes MAHALAKSHAMI by earning it through pure means and ethics, through sensible use and equitable livelihood and by doing charity or donation. It is a success if there is a sense of abandonment and devotion to life and charity. The same gets back to the man as per scriptures, the keeper of LAKSHAMI is actually a destroyer so that in all circumstances favorable or unfavorable, one should continue to donate. Giving generously with the warmth of the heart is the cause of welfare. Donation is nothing but giving everything you have with the intention of doing good. By which the philanthropy take place is known as charity. The heart becomes conscious when the bag of money is empty. LAKSHAMI has four sons Dharma, Raja, Agni and Thief. When the first son is humiliated, the remaining three are angry.
Charity and philanthropy is known as honor of LAKSHAMI’s eldest son. The donor is considered to be the true donor if he donates his own money collected by honest hard work, donating from the money collected by exploiting others is meaningless or hopeless. Just as object should be pure, the instrument must also be pure. Absolute renunciation, in both the spiritual and the practical realms, makes person hero from zero. Abandoning in the spiritual realm creates quality, eligibility and character in us which helps in self-realization. While in practice, donations have the potential to make someone great. Absolute renunciation is the role of a monk, while limiting the will and sacrifice the excessive things is the role of a noble man who is known as VAISHANAVJAN in the mythology. Money earned from religious way or ethically is always used wisely. So make sure to earn money from ethical ways before donating.
Shilpa Shah, Director in-charge, HKBBA College
