A PERSON WHO DOES NOT DONATE IS DESTITUTE IN HIS NEXT LIFE: JIYAR SWAMI

A PERSON WHO DOES NOT DONATE IS DESTITUTE IN HIS NEXT LIFE: JIYAR SWAMI

27-SEP-ENG 6

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA---------------------------At the Paramanpur Chaturmasya fasting site, India's great sage, Shri Lakshmiprapanna Jiyar Swami Ji Maharaj, said that after the birth of Lord Shri Krishna, when the little child arrived in Gokul, Mother Yashoda and Nand Baba received the news of the birth of a son that morning. Following this, they performed generous donations for several days in a row. The scriptures also state that the importance of donation is very special. "Daanam durgati nasanam" (Donation is the only means to destroy misery in Kaliyuga).

The meaning of donation should also be understood. Donation is not merely given in a yagna (fire sacrifice). It also means spending a portion of whatever we earn honestly for the welfare of society. For example, money spent on temples, schools, orphanages, hospitals, yagnas, saints, mahatmas, the poor, and the helpless falls under the category of donation. Assisting in the marriage of a girl child is also considered charity. Similarly, helping a poor person suffering from illness who has no money for treatment is also considered charity.

There are many ways to donate in this way. But one thing must be kept in mind: donations should be made only to those who are worthy of receiving them. Donating to the wrong place can have adverse effects on you. Donating to someone who is atheist, who misuses your money, who harms society with your donations, or who uses your donations for purposes contrary to religion can also have adverse effects.

Donations should only be given to those in need. It is stated in the scriptures that any donations you make during your home rituals should be given to a worthy Brahmin. Donations should only be given to a Brahmin whose eating habits, lifestyle, behavior, and posture are in accordance with the scriptures. The wealth earned by a person who does not donate in his life and does not work for the welfare of humanity is like that of a person who, despite having wealth at home, fails to utilize it properly.

That is why donations should be made to social welfare, human welfare, public welfare, girl's marriage, temples, yagnas, saints, mahatmas, pilgrimage sites, and other places. The Srimad Bhagavatam states that after the birth of Lord Krishna, Nand Baba and his sister Sunanda, and Nand Baba's wife Yashoda Maiya, donated generously for several months.

Lord Krishna was born in Mathura. After that, the child form of Krishna was taken to Gokul. Yesterday's story discussed how Lord Krishna was born in Mathura and what messages Krishna gave to his mother after his birth. Later, Lord Krishna is sleeping in the lap of Mother Yashoda. No one in Gokul knows that a son has been born. Everyone is busy with their own work. Nand Baba's sister, Sunanda, arrives at Yashoda's room. She sees a baby sleeping in Yashoda's lap.

Sunanda is overjoyed. First, she comes to Nand Baba and tells him the news. Nand Baba, who is over 60 years old, rejoices. Meanwhile, Yashoda also awakens from sleep. Nand Baba is silently thinking that God has fulfilled his promise. A grand celebration ensues at home. Yashoda's sister-in-law, Sunanda, was the first to see Lord Krishna. Lord Krishna shone like a sapphire gem. Therefore, he was the first to be named Neelmani.

When morning came, Vasudev, who had taken the baby from Yashoda's lap, was with Devaki. Everyone learned that Devaki had given birth. When Kansa learned of this, he came and tried to take the baby and kill her. Devaki and Vasudeva pleaded with him to release the child, but Kansa refused. As he tried to throw the child onto a stone, the child slipped from his grasp and flew into the sky. She was none other than Yoga Maya. She said, "You fool, why would you kill me? The one who will kill you has already been born on this earth."

Yoga Maya then went and established herself in Vindhyachal, known as Ashtabhuja. Hearing Yoga Maya's words, Kansa became a little frightened. He ordered his ministers to kill all the children in the kingdom, from one day to one year old. He began creating trouble in the kingdom. He began harassing all the sages, saints, and Mahatmas who performed puja, japa, tapasya, and yagna. As a result, Kansa's lifespan began to diminish.

Here in Gokul, when Nanda's sister, Sunanda, saw the child playing in Yashoda's lap while Yashoda was asleep, she went to Nanda and told him that he had a son. Then she comes and wakes Yashoda. After which, people slowly begin gathering throughout Gokul to celebrate. The birth of Lord Krishna was celebrated in Gokul for nearly a month, in various ways. Nand Baba happily donated generously to the saints.