Swami Ram Swarup Ji, Yogacharya
Very few know that vedas themselves are treasure of unlimited and perennial knowledge.
So, the learned of vedas are of the view that just as sun sets, the darkness covers the whole atmosphere. Similarly, the eternal and everlasting knowledge of Vedas is like a divine sunlight and since the time people have left the study of vedas, the dark clouds of illusion have covered/overspread the entire world.
As per vedas, authenticity of unlimited matters of the world like sun, moon, earth, air, water, spiritualism, politics, moral duties/responsibilities of all mankind. etc. i.e. right from the blade of grass to Almighty God, must tally with ved mantras, otherwise truth cannot be established (Yog Shastra Sutra 1/7 also refers). The said fundamental unchangeable vedic law is now not in vogue due to the lack of knowledge of vedas and as a result illusion has generated and mostly people have made their own paths of worship, without recognising their authenticity according to vedas. (Tulsikrit Ramayan Uttarkand, Doha 100{kha} also refers).
For example: – A person says that existence of ghosts is there in the world. Now, as stated above, its authenticity should tally with vedas i.e., there must be some ved mantra which confirms the existence of ghosts in the world. But, you see, there is no such matter in vedas. So, existence of ghosts is a man-made false tradition.
Now here, keeping in view the vedic authenticity, we consider/discuss only one subject matter of Donation – as to who is entitled to get the same as per vedas.
Rigved Mandal 10, Sukta 107 inspires to donate only in Yajyen. Mantra 1 states that after sun rise, the Yajyen is preformed wherein donation is offered to the learned of vedas.
Mantra 3 educates us that performing Yajyen with ved mantras and doing other pious deeds like services towards acharya, parents and after listening to the preach of vedas, the donation must be offered to learned of vedas. Mantra further states that those who do not donate, they are sinners.
Mantra 4 states those who offer the aahuti in Yajyen and after participating in such a pious function of vedic pravachan of learned of vedas, they should provide pure food and donate wealth to the learned.
Mantra 6 states that when the Yajmaan gives dakshinna to the learned then he becomes able to know the name of God.
Mantra 7 states that horses, cows, gold, food grains and other valuable articles should be donated to the learned of vedas, because the said donation becomes shelter to save the donor from sins.
Rigved Mantra 10/117/6 inspires rich people to donate to a learned of vedas in Yajyen.
Yajurved mantras 7/45 and 46 state to donate gold etc. to learned of vedas.
Mantra 46 clearly preaches that donation should only be given to a learned of vedas, Rishi and munis who have realised God.
I also appeal to all the aspirants to study the above ved mantras in the matter of donation, to know facts and to become learned themselves.
Based on the vedic knowledge, Manu Bhagwan in his Manu Smriti has also expressed his valuable views regarding donation, as under:-
Those who donate to the persons (a) who lack brahmacharya, true preach and austerity (b) who are ignorant of vedas (c) who take donation on the religious matters other than vedic fundamentals, they due to their corrupt deeds, immerse in the sea of sorrows. Further, such donation to the said three persons destroys the donors in present life and as regards donees, they are destroyed in future births. (So, keeping in view the preach of God in above ved mantras, should not public immediately stop donation to so-called undeserving saints to avoid spreading of illusion and sins?)
Manu Smriti also preaches that just as person drowns with the boat made of stone in a river similarly, the ignorant donor and donees, both drown in the sea of sorrows. So, be alert about donation.
Conclusion Of Vedas: – The entitled dignitaries get all kinds of pious donation like gold, silver, food grains, wealth etc. They are tapasvis, have full control over their senses, Rishi-munis, learned of vedas and who have realised God. Atharvaved states that such tapasvis make the nation strong.
Finding:- So, in the absence of vedic knowledge, people have started donating to the unauthorized so-called saints and such saints have spread blind faith like Present Astrology, Tantrikism, Teva, Vaastu Dosh, Kaal Sarp Yog, Mangalik, Pitri Dosh, Nav Grah Pooja , Ghost Worship, Worship against the vedas etc. (which do not exist in vedas and so are unauthentic), corruption, women dishonour, illusion etc. while dealing with the public. So, to make the nation strong we’ll have to follow the vedic culture. Donation is a serious matter because duly indulged in blind faith, public has donated unlimited wealth to the undeserving so-called saints who are being caught by the police nowadays due to their immortal activities etc. The said activities are organised by spending huge amount of donation which they receive from their followers. That is why, Manu Bhagwan has stated above in his shloka that in such cases donor is destroyed in present life and donee in future births.
(Ved Mandir, Tikka Lehsar)