I would like to ask a couple of questions from everyone who read this, Especially the ones who believe in GOD.. 🙂
I had gone to The Gurudwara Sahib, as I entered there was a huge list on the notice board with several names etc of people who had donated money for various reasons, The headline of the notice was “DAANIYAAN DI SOOCHI”.. ( name of people who have Donated”.
Although when we translate it in english it somehow loses the meaning of the word DAANIYAAN
It was a co-incidence that the Person who was reading from the holy book and trying to tell the meaning of the words written in Guru Granth Sahib ji, He made a startling comment on that headline too which sort of is still going through my mind, Hence the question Just wanting to know If I am right in thinking what it is.
We are all individuals so I am sure many of us will have different ideas on the question or maybe different interpretation..
What does Daan (donation) mean ?
Who is it given TO
Who is it Given By
Why is it Given..
That is it just a simple set of questions, although I might just start another controversy here once I tell the What I think and what the Guy said … (The questions are in context to God-religion.. Not otherwise)
Update:- Let me re-iterate the above questions are in context to God-Religion , What we donate to temples/ religious places in name of god etc.. Have our names in that list of Donateee’s , We say we donated to this religious place.
PS:- My previous post on justice for a child, here is the original court judgement and One my blogger friends has given a view from the lawyers perspective, which is quite good and She has given a good reply, as to what and how the law of land works, which does need to change. A good point of view.
Me and My Random Thoughts 
I think its given in the name of god to the temple/Gurudwara authorities….well thats all ihave to say here coz it doesn’t make any sense to me bcoz I dont know where does this money go!
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That is true no one know where does it go an we see the board trustees of some religious places living a life of luxury 🙂
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And oh yes, its given by rich ppl who have lots of moeny to give away! Why is it given….god only knows!
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Yeah true on that tooo
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There is an interesting belief down South. In one of the worlds richest temples (Starting with T, ending with I and having ‘irupath’ in between 🙂 ), it is believed that people get back a multiple of what they donated. And their donations are in line with their social symbol. So, it is for ones own benefit that people donate. But yeah, the temples do undertake some good activities too… And they keep the commerce wheel moving.
Destination Infinity
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hmmm yeah we donate so we can get something in return. 🙂
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I think donation is something you give without any gluttony for getting anything in return. It is a feeling that comes inside you to help someone.
Like it is said in hindi – Daan is tarah se hota hai ke left hand se karo toh right hand ko bhi pta na chale. So, it should be that way only.
P.S : Sorry, didn’t know right and lrft in hindi. 😛
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very true, that is what it should be and as you said ..
and its dayen – bayen in hindi if i am not wrong 🙂 although my hindi is also not that great ….
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I think ‘daan’ is charity given to someone who we feel might benefit from it, generally material things, cash, clothes, something we have promised to donate if some wish is fulfilled etc. Can be given to a temple like in all these rich temples etc, or to an organisation which works for our causes.
Given by those who want to feel good (peace, satisfaction, even out of fear or superstition) or have made a wish.
Given for wish fulfillment or charity or to save income tax etc.
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Hello IHM .. it always makes me smile to see you here .. 🙂
yeah i like that to save income tax he he he i bet all those ministers can then donate millions 🙂 he he h
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Daan , as in what we offer in templese etc is done to feel good about oneself , maybe to appease ones conscious too . In most cases its negotiating with God for some better times .
I dont see what good any daan is , say what we offer at temples etc . Mostly benefits the pujaris .
A better form of daan in my opinion is to directly make a difference in somones life – for the better ,
Ok ready for some flack for these honest views !
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So very true, now that we have done maybe GOD will give us the DAAN back too 🙂 very true we negotiate with god tooo ..
100rs ka parshaad if you do a miracle and i pass my exam 🙂 I know done that a lot …
and very true its only the trusteees who reap benefit from all that money …
and yes it will be better if we give directly adopt a child or pay for there education etc ..
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A person who has more is supposed to give his surplus to the less fortunate. Traditionally temples did that job. The money was used to give, food, clothes etc, but is that done now, I don’t know.
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I liked the second part of ur reply “Traditionally temples did that job”…
I am trying to get there … 🙂
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The “haves”need to help the “have nots”. In our context we need to make sure that the donee really deserves it.
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yes very true. agreed with your view. but have a think in context to GOD – religion and our name in that list of Donaterssssss 🙂
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All wealth (no matter the size) is given to us by God, we therefore donate back to causes which help humanity.
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I agree with what you have said but as i said these questions are in context to GOD – Religion .. I ma not talking of what we give to poor or beggers etc .. WHat we donate to temples in name of god etc
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Daan (usually money, clothes, food, animals) is given by people to others without thinking of holding them back (goods)…
Daan can be given to people/charities/temples. When it is given to temples, I don’t know how exactly they use it. Do they just build temple premises and pay all those priests with that money or whether they actually help those in needs….
but you know over the years, word Daan has lost its meaning, certain traditions force people to give Daan even though they can’t afford or Daan has taken the form of human/animal slaying to please God…..
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yeah that is so true.. when given to religious places it goes to the people who maintain that place seldom it goes for the welfare of the people , which is so wrong.
Yeah daan has become synonym to wealth now people are knows because one gave so much money , or the other gave this much money ..
traditions i think are not from GOD but from those who preach about god… many of the traditions were started by them so they could be fed etc …
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all money received or given in the name of god by should be used as charities – education, food, sanitation – but sadly we do not live in an ideal world … ad the “donations” are use to increase the circumference of the bellies of the temple keepers!
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Yeah the word you said is SHOULD although it never gets used otherwise how can one understand there are SUCH rich religious places who have tons of money yet there are Beggers sitting out of that holy place begging for money or for foood … something ot think about …
I second that too the circunference of the bellies 🙂
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Daan is offering clothes/food/money to temple or people who cannot afford with a selfless nature. Daan given to temple (esp. money) will be handled by the trust people who manage temple expenses and will be used for the welfare of temple but I am doubtful if that is what happens in all cases 😦
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but offering to temples etc are in turn supposed to be given to the needy , which does not happen , os when that does not happen then we shud not expect any thing that we wish for to be fulfilled by god, indirectly we have failed to do the daan..
the people who manage all these places hardly use them for welfare of people …
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I’ve always been wondering that what special donation they have given(the one with their names on the list)…???
It has to be donated for the noble cause…and everyone donates, so y are they so much special…???
anyways coming to the special question…”why is it given…???” I think its to save the TAX…
however the donation was supposed to be made as they are giving “DASVAND”, I.E. donating 10% of ur earning in the name of GOD for noble cause…unfortunately very few sikhs know this message of our GURU and out of those who know this…hardly anyone follows this… 😦
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EXACTLY my thought .. I think its just to have their name on the list to SHOW off, which basically defeats the idea of DAAN as such …
I like the reply to why it is given… I know thats what it was used to be 10% of ur earnings but then those earnings were to be used by the people to help those in need .. that does not happen either ..so it all goes to waste
Guru sahib have told us a lot of things but do we follow them I doubt it , does anyone follow I doubt that too even the caretakers dont take care of what they are supposed to ..
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OK Here goes:
What does Daan (donation) mean ?
Daan or donation means something .. either cash or kind, that belongs to and you are giving up for charity.
Who is it given TO
It is supposed to be given to one who is in need of it the most.
Who is it Given By
It can be given by anyone who is in possession of something another needy person requires.. and can do without.
Why is it Given..
It is given because humanity is the biggest religion of all. I may not have seen God, and I may not know the ultimate truth, but I know that if I feed a hungry man, I have served God.
It is given because charity teaches us how to be humble in our living and sensitive towards fellow human beings who might be more unfortunate than we are.
What I believe is, when we give daan at the temples, we do not even know if it is reaching the needy. Instead, I always help where I see the need.. coz I believe I need to see the positive change happening in a person’s life with the help i extend.
And i am against the way people including celebrities giving daan in laalach that God will return x-times more than given.. blah!!
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hmmm right…
yeah humanity is the biggest religion but does anyone beleive in it i doubt it …
true to that if it goes to the right people or not . i doubt that
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I believe… Abbas and I have stopped donating to any religious trust. On Mantam’s birthdays and on any other special occassions when we feel grateful to God, we donate to Akshaya Patra. They have been doing great work. Also, help people in need that we know and interact, like domestic help, security guard etc. At the end of the day, we feel satisfied that someone benefited from our ‘Daan’.
I know I didn’t answer your questions coz I never donated a penny at any religious place.
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I will say good, as when we give to religious trust it goes in their pockets … You do the right thing. 🙂
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Now this is some reply.. thank you for replying ot each one .. I totally agree with what you have said.
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Daan/dhaan is a money / any form of kind given to people who are in need of it, and is given by someone who is capable of giving that. Why they give is a big question now – Some give for the sake of giving, while others give as a status symbol. But it should be given whole heartedly, with lot of kindness, love and affection!
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its those who give it for status symbol which is not right i think but then at least htey are giving some who have dont even bother to give ….
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The Bible teaches us to give one tenth of our yields such as earnings, agricultural yields etc to be shared amon the poor, the needy, and the priests.
Interestingly, even our left hand should not know what the right hand gives, which means we should not advertise our giving.
It is given as a Thanksgiving offering, if you will.
Hope I have answered all your questions.
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I think all religions teach that , to help needy and poor , to be humane problem is we dont adhere to it … and our leaders sure dont help at all…
Yes you have 🙂
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Hello Bikram.
LOL…This is one of those topics that will always be controversial. I don’t feel like adding to the controversy today.
When you get a chance, please come to my blog…I have a special gift for you & it’s FREE! LOL
Award Time…Sharing The Love Again!
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Yes it can be controversial one for we all have different ideas and ways …
and I did and thank youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu
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Donation would consist of any form of charity- say money,food, clothes or items to those in need of help.Both the rich and not so rich give to those more in need than themselves.Usually building/repairing a mosque is the reason for donating to the community mosque. Or if they are collecting to help others.
It is a shame when people go around asking for there names to be on display on donaters lists when the hadith clearly states that the prophet has said : ear Allah rewards greatly man who gives in charity and hides it, such that his left hand does not know what his right hand gives in charity
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As for the reasons for gicing some give for really helping,others for getting a good name(show), some to appease God and get something from him here ir hereafter…and some to simply feel good
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Oh some even give in thanks…oh god im going on…hehe
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🙂
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Yes so very true..
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First of all, I dont like these displayed boards in temples that have lists of people who have done “charity”.. for me it has lost its significance. Charity need not be with money. If you have the spirit with in you to brighten up one person’s day, it is an act of charity. The poorest of the poor can do charity by giving space to a dog on the street to sleep. So charity is an action of giving something in kind or mind to someone in need. 🙂
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Same here i dont understand why they want their names out there and mostly if you look the names are same week in week out and usually belong to those involved in the religious institute..
and yes to charity is not jsut about money..
a lovely comment thank you
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you know Bikram there can be other types of daan, apart from money, like anna daan or shram daan…mainly I think we all give daan, because its a human nature to be human…errr..that doesnt make sense eh?
Though I would never agree to putting up the names of the people on the board who give daan, because everyone else also gives daan in some way or the other,
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I ma sure their are a lot of ways , feeding the poor is one.. and you have named a few too. and its that human nature towards human we are missing i think and that is what is needed …
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To me donation is way to thank god for his mercy, to share what I have.
Most of the religious places need money for their upkeep and sometimes they celebrate functions also.like festivals or poojas, may be some construction…
Putting up the names of donors is to publicise good work, so that more people do it.
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hmm haanji. not that much money is needed for the upkeep and why build new constructions that money can be used for building a set of hostel for those who dont havea roof on their head, god will be more happy i am sure .
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Daan – for me, is sharing what I have got. Sometimes it is in form of material things, and sometimes just a guiding hand. And it need not be through religious institutions only. I have lost faith in most of our temples/Gurdwaras etc when it comes to taking care of the poor. Please someone tell me that there are some which still stand up for such causes.
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YEs. thats how it shud be done. Religious institutes and religious leaders have done enough to dent our sentiments and seldom to anything good … its always the leaders or caretakers who have taking the public for a ride always
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I personally don’t believe in giving donations to Temples, Gurdwaras etc etc. I believe DAAN is something which is done without announcing .. to the poor needy people.
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yes thats what i think of tooo …
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I believe those who have must do whatever they can for those who do not-but I never make donations in institutions and especially religious places like temples…it never really reaches the deserving but goes in adorning statutes…
Look around, there are always people within your surroundings like maids, a slum region….needing more help than you can fathom. such things are done quietly and sensibly…not flashingly!
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you do the right thing. yepp thats what i think it never goes to the ones who need it most …
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I like this post Bik 🙂
Even though my religion is different to you but we are after all talking about God in general.
In my religion donation is called zakat or infaq and i is given to the poor, orphans and mosque…but it is all better if names of the giver is not mentioned because it will lead to riya or show off. Let God be the only one who knows the good deed we had done.
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Thank you so much.
it does not matter what religion some beleive in. every god has said the same thing be kind to humans ..
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The donation is given to god to say thanks for some wish fulfilled, to get our good karma properly registered, some give for the upkeep and charitable acts the Trustees may undertake.
i have been an agonstic for thalf a decade now and I wish donations are also given to the needy. My parents donate money every year to Iskcon Mumbai for the Anna Dana seva they do to the poor on Makar Sankranti or lohri .
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donation to GOd is not right , how can a human do that .. because we give daan to poor and if we are giving to god then that makes him poor or needy but its the other way round we are the needy ..
yesss donations needs to be given the the needy for sure and your poarents do a great act.
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I don’t believe in the word Dhaan…If we give something to the needy we are actually giving something which we have in excess. So, it’s more like a balancing act. Dhaan word is coined to help those who feel their sins will be washed if they pay or do some charity.
I was very annoyed as I went to sign on the petition which was linked on to your last post and there was a donation for signing Couldn’t understand whether it needed voice or money. Please explain if I missed something…
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I like that tooo , that is right we give as we have excess . yeah i think so that way that is makes people happy that they have done some charity so their sin’s will be washed away
THe donation i think is to keep the website running that needs money, but you dont have to give anything ..
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Some truly make use of the “daan” for their personal gains, while others actually use it towards proper means. Either way, who we are to judge unless and until we know for certain if there’s any “gotala” happening in the first place? The judgement day is when he/she faces the god.
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yeah so very true. Well the ghotala might not be there but then where does the money go .. or if spent its spent on not so good things i must say ..
yeah and that day does come soon
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Many big temples use the money to run schools, hospitals, colleges etc. alongwith swindling some! India is becoming famous for swindling from every place!
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its tht swindling which is so bad …
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I don’t grudge some publicity to those who give away something for the society. Most would not part with anything under any circumstances.
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hmmmm yes sir.
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its good to feed hungry people rather than donating to religious places.
you may like to see the video which i made in the past below is the link.
KABHI PYASE KO PANI PILAYA NAHI with English Translation
http://realityviews.blogspot.in/2010/09/spiritual-song-bhajan-kabhi-pyase-ko.html
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YEs you are right, I will definitely see the video thanks for the link SM
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A donation means giving something without expecting anything in return, if there is expectation, then it becomes business.
For example, if we help someone in need, with the intention, that we have helped this person, someday when need arises we too might be helped by someone, well even thinking like that makes your deed a business transaction, and so the act of your loses its meaning.
Am I making sense?
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YEssssssss thats what it is , you give what you can when you can .. without expecting anything in return but in most case we humans try to bribe GOD too..
You make perfect sense
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I have always wondered why people photograph their charity works 😡
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T oshow off for sure .. ot make sure others know how good they are
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I read this post the other day but was a bit gazumped to answer, had to go away and think about it.
It’s true that by giving to charity we are meant to get more back. It’s like your wealth and health evolves from charity. You keep giving and you keep getting back ten fold.
It’s encouraged in every religion. It’s hammered home to you at every god given opportunity to give back into your community and to those less fortunate of you.
Charity is when god is most pleased with you. It brings you peace of mind and makes you feel more spiritual and good about yourself. It lifts your spirits and lets you feel you are doing something good in this world and maybe even making a difference to someone. So when our religion encourages us to give its for all the positives that we feel.
In Islam charity is paramount. I was talking to my sister about this the other day and she said that she thinks no matter how evil we are or how much we sin our charity will earn us that highest place in heaven after we are gone.
Even after our parents pass away we are reminded to give in their memory as its our duty to them. When we are ill or in financial difficulties we are still encouraged to give.
When we sin this is another way to repent and ask for forgiveness.
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Yeah that is true but i dont undersand one thing how can sin be forgiven jsut by charity ..
That also is a wrong thing it shows it is ok to SIN as then later we can do charity and get pardoned ..
I beleive Hell and heaven is here on earth in our life we feel both hell and heaven
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Absolutely it’s here on earth we feel it everyday. Charity is repentance, it eases guilt of any sort. I know religions don’t endorse sin and give but every religion does encourage it so somewhere it will all add up.
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yeah end of the day everyone is answerable and will have to face the judgement day for sure 🙂
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Humanitarian approach… Humanity is at ICU
Lets kill it
–Dee..
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yesssssss go for it
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what u see in holy places cannot be comprehended by logic. there r ppl who faithfully donate money to temples but do not even bother when they see a fellow human being in distress. god bless them.
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yeah religion and Logic dont go together … It is so true they will give money to a temple but not to that person who is so needy ..
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My Mom always says God never asks us to donate money. The money which we donate to temples, I’m sure even God doesn’t know where it goes 🙂
But Charity is different, and is considered good. There are thousands to take care of God (Duh, As if he needs our help), but there are many people who would do well, with a bit of help from us. GIving them and helping others would make them happy, and seeing them happy would make us happy 🙂
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Indeed your mom is saying the truth, why would god want a donation.. its GOD who gives us the DAAN not the other way round 🙂 nope I am sure of that too that god does not know …
I totallyu agree with you I think there are enough people looking after God, its the HUMANS we need to look after the ones who are needy and need help …
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Daan is mostly given at Temples. Reasons could be many – to avoid taxes, bribing God for good returns in life. If daan is made publicly it could be to gain goodwill or may be to show off! :p But, I don’t think God ever demands or expects money. 🙂
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God never asked moreover who are we mortals to give daan to god, its the other way round god gives us daan.
yeah show off is the only thing i can think of ..
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..Well I donate but never cud be on the list ..I wish it was harman singh donated 1 million lol
But hai kismat,,, but not far you will see me soon ha ha haaaaa
seriously jokes aside,God knows who gave wht and with what mood ..whom else do we want to show?
lol
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haanji hai kismat .. mery lottery wagerah lag jaave mera v naam list ch auga fer , jadon donate kita kaafi sara paisa 🙂
Thank you harman
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what I wonder is the meaning of “gupt daan” written on the boxes in almost all the temples in UP. why should it be gupt?
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It is called GUPT because when the people open it up they can take all the money for their own use and no one knows what or how much they have taken its all very very very GUPT.. 🙂
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