Hi,
I'm currently debating about charity work done by Hindus in ancient, medieval and preindependent India. These people are of opinion that Hindu organizations are doing charity only as as a reactionary measure to combat conversions. I find this statement very demeaning as it assumes Hindus don't do charity as a genuine effort to alleviate poverty.
Can someone please give me references to refute these claims? I would like links which give evidence of charity work done by Hindus in the 1800 to 1950 period.
See below connected to this topic:
(This thread will be moved to miscellaneous questions shortly)
On some dAnas and utsargas of the mediaeval Hindus
The dharma texts interminably dilate on the performance of a variety of dAna-s and utsarga-s to deserving people or for public benefit which ranged from elephants, cattle, horses, clothing, umbrellas, footware, toothbrushes, gold, gems, grains, sugar etc. These have all been discussed at length by the great scholar PV Kane in his voluminous studies on the dharma literature. However, there were a few points that we noted during our peregrinations through the laborious dharma literature that are of some interest:
1) grAntha dAnaM is described in a few texts and the mediaeval authority hemAdri, the yAdava prime minister, dilates extensively on this, in his enormous volume on Hindu charity. Typically volumes of purANa-s, itihAsa-s and dharma manuals were gifted to deserving individual or to maTha-s. In particular it was recommended that grantha dAna-s be made to temples of rudra, viShNu or sUrya for the use of the public and said to be as meritorious as the gift of gold, land or cattle. This indicates the presence of Hindu public libraries associated with temples. Astronomical texts, the siddhAnta-s were also recommended as donations as per the agni-purANa (211.61; per Nag press prints).
2) Both aparAditya, the shilahara king of Konkans (~1120 CE) in his legal tract built on yAj~nyavalkya's smR^iti and hemAdri also prescribe a dAna known as the ArogyashAlA dAnaM. This involved construction of hospitals that supplied free medication, and the provision to support a competent physician to man the ArogyashAlA-s. This dAna was considered one of the highest dAna-s because it provided for everything by helping in successful achievement of the 4 puruShArtha-s. The skandapurANa provides an older presentation of the same point.
3) Making public water-resources, kupAdi dAnaM, are considered amongst highest of meritorious activities. shabharasvamin mentions the R^igvedic mantra RV10.4.1 to provide shruti's authority on the matter. The mantra mentions the water shed set up in a arid zone to provide for way-farers. One is supposed to burn half of ones duShkarma when one makes water resources for public use. The recommended water resources are kUpa: wells, prapA: water-sheds in arid areas, apA-chakras: water-wheels, vApI: a water-tank with steps leading to the water, hrada: deep tank, pushkarinI: a pond and a taDAga: an artificial lake. There is some debate amongst Hindu authorities as to whether the maker of the water reservoir can use it as a member of the public. A water-shed may also be built in the temple and a nominal brahmin appointed to distribute drinking water to the general public.
After establishing the water-reservoir the donor should perform in the least the following ancient vedic fire sacrifice on a sthaNDila altar. He cooks barley in milk as an offering for deva varuNa. He then offers 8 oblations of this barley on the fire with the R^iks: RV 4.1.4-5, 1.24.14, 1.25.19, 1.24.15, 8.42.3 and a final two using the formula known as "the greedy dog in the kennel" . These oblations are made starting from the west in each 8 directions on the altar in the anti-clockwise direction. Then in the middle of the altar he makes 2 oblations of milk with RV 10.81.3 and 1.22.17. Then he takes a bath (if a tank and larger) in that water body with the formula RV 7.89.5 to varuNa. If it is a pond or lake he then introduces fishes, terrapins and water fowl mentally invoking deva varuNa. Then he gives fee to the performing priests if he has employed them and feeds brAhmaNas.
4) vR^ikShaM: Tree plantation is an extremely meritorious karma as per Hindu authorities from the earliest times. The kaTha-s believed that trees should be treated like sons, while the padma purANa gives a long lecture on the benefits of tree-planting. hemAdri prescribes that the ashvattha (Ficus religiosa), ashoka, chinchini (tamarind) and dADimi (pomegranate) vR^ikSha-s should be planted. Others recommend the mango, the banyan, kapittha (Jamun), bilva and amalaka (gooseberry) trees to be planted. For vandalizing a fruit-tree the ruler should administer the highest fine; for a flower tree the middle fine, for a bower a 100 coin fine and for desecrating grass and shrubs a one coin fine. hemAdri also recommends plantation of a garden as an act of highest merit.
In the plantation and gardening karma he performs a fire rite with 3 oblations of cooked rice with formulae:
OM viShNave svAhA | OM indrAgnibhyAM svAhA | OM vishvakarmaNe svAhA ||
Then he makes a series of oblations with the R^iks of vishvAmitra RV 3.8.6-10.
then he goes watering the tree or garden with the formula of vishvAmitra "vanaspate shatavalsho vi roha..." RV 3.8.6.
dharma-shAla, sadAvarta, gaushala
dharma shAlAs were community-supported shelters/inns for homeless, travelers, and pilgrims. Every town had at least one such dharma-shala where people could stay. From Gupta era, description of these dharma-shalas can be widely found, but these existed even during the time of Bhagwan Guatam Buddha and Bhagwan Mahaveer Swami, as described in Bauddha and Jain literature. After sultanate period onwards, there are descriptions of 'sarAy' (apbhransha of 'Ashray' - shelter). These may have been modifications to the dharma-shalas.
sadAvarta are community kitchens/stores. pilgrims, homeless, hungary, travelers can eat there, or receive the raw material for cooking themselves (as was dictated by the Varna-Ashram dharma). These survive even today at various places in north, central India.
gaushalas were the homes for homeless/sick/abandoned cows. There have always been gaushalas in every community.
Particularly see Jain literature for very descriptive details of these as well as several other charity works. Refer to 'KuvalayamAlA'.
Thank you,
Are there any references to Hindu charity in the 1800-1950 period?
If specifically between 1800-1950, then refer to the social works of Sri Ramkrishna Mission and Kanchi Kam Koti charities from last decade of 19th cent. Also Sri Ghanshyam Das Birla's charities.
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Arya Samaj started lot of charities in now Pakistan and India.
My grand parents were involved in one of those charities in Muree(Pakistan), Pindi(Paki), Abottabad(Pak) and Bastar area of MP. It was around 1918-1947.
RSS and Hindu MahaSabha was very active in charity work in Greater Punjab before and during partition.
