Charity to ISKCON - The highest form of charity

23. Greatness of Lord Krishna 7.6—Of all that is material and all that is spiritual in this world, know for certain that I am both the origin and the dissolution. 7.7—There is no truth superior to Me. Everything rests upon Me, as pearls are strung on a thread. 7.8—I am the taste of water, the light of the sun and the moon, the syllable Om in the Vedic mantras; I am the sound in ether and Ability in man. 7.9—I am the original fragrance of the earth and I am the heat in fire. I am the life of all that lives, and I am the penances of all ascetics. 7.10—Know that I am the original seed of all existences, the intelligence of the intelligent, and the prowess of all powerful men. 7.11—I am the strength of the strong, devoid of passion and desire. I am sex life which is not contrary to religious principles. 7.12—Know that all states of being--be they of goodness, passion or ignorance--are manifested by My energy. I am, in one sense, everything, but I am independent. I am not under the modes of material nature, for they, on the contrary, are within Me. 7.13—Deluded by the three modes [goodness, passion and ignorance], the whole world does not know Me, who am above the modes and inexhaustible. 7.14—This divine energy of Mine, consisting of the three modes of material nature, is difficult to overcome. But those who have surrendered unto Me can easily cross beyond it. 7.15—Those miscreants who are grossly foolish, who are lowest among mankind, whose knowledge is stolen by illusion, and who partake of the atheistic nature of demons do not surrender unto Me. 7.16-17—Four kinds of pious men begin to render devotional service unto Me--the distressed, the desirer of wealth, the inquisitive, and he who is searching for knowledge of the Absolute. Of these, the one who is in full knowledge and who is always engaged in pure devotional service is the best. For I am very dear to him, and he is dear to Me.

25. Famous Beatle George Harrison gives 23-acre estate outside London to ISKCON

28. Khajuraho Temple built by the Chandela kings (9th - 12th century)

30. The Brihadisvara temple of Thanjavur built by the Chola kings

32. The Airavatesvara temple at Darasuram built by the Chola kings

34. Govindaji temple in Vrindavan built by Akbar's general, Man Singh of Jaipur

36. Canakya Pandit glorifies Lord Vishnu

38. Lakshmi Narayan temple (Birla Mandir)

41. Asokan pillar at Vaishali, Bihar, India

43. Asokan pillar

45. Wealthy Seth family built Rangaji Temple of Mathura in the year 1851

47. Vijayanagara king Krishna Deva Raya (AD 1509-1529) built Krishna temple at Hampi after his victorious campaign in Orissa

49. Ganga King Narasimha Deva built Sun Temple at Konark in 1278 CE

51. King Suryavarman II built Angkor Wat Temple (Vishnu Temple)

54. Virtues of charity to Brahmanas Bhagavad-gītā As It Is 10.4-5 buddhir jñānam asammohaḥ kṣamā satyaḿ damaḥ śamaḥ sukhaḿ duḥkhaḿ bhavo 'bhāvo bhayaḿ cābhayam eva ca ahiḿsā samatā tuṣṭis tapo dānaḿ yaśo 'yaśaḥ bhavanti bhāvā bhūtānāḿ matta eva pṛthag-vidhāḥ As far as charity is concerned, one should give fifty percent of his earnings to some good cause. And what is a good cause? It is that which is conducted in terms of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. That is not only a good cause, but the best cause. Because Kṛṣṇa is good, His cause is also good. Thus charity should be given to a person who is engaged in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. According to Vedic literature, it is enjoined that charity should be given to the brāhmaṇas. This practice is still followed, although not very nicely in terms of the Vedic injunction. But still the injunction is that charity should be given to the brāhmaṇas. Why? Because they are engaged in higher cultivation of spiritual knowledge. A brāhmaṇa is supposed to devote his whole life to understanding Brahman. Brahma jānātīti brāhmaṇaḥ: one who knows Brahman is called a brāhmaṇa. Thus charity is offered to the brāhmaṇas because they are always engaged in higher spiritual service and have no time to earn their livelihood. In the Vedic literature, charity is also to be awarded to one in the renounced order of life, the sannyāsī. The sannyāsīs beg from door to door, not for money but for missionary purposes. The system is that they go from door to door to awaken the householders from the slumber of ignorance. Because the householders are engaged in family affairs and have forgotten their actual purpose in life — awakening their Kṛṣṇa consciousness — it is the business of the sannyāsīs to go as beggars to the householders and encourage them to be Kṛṣṇa conscious. As it is said in the Vedas, one should awake and achieve what is due him in this human form of life. This knowledge and method is distributed by the sannyāsīs; hence charity is to be given to the renouncer of life, to the brāhmaṇas, and similar good causes, not to any whimsical cause.

56. ISKCON, Vrindavan

57. Virtues of charity to Vaishnavas Text 48 na veda-yajnadhyayanair na danair na ca kriyabhir na tapobhir ugraih evam-rupah sakya aham nr-loke drastum tvad anyena kuru-pravira Danaih refers to charity which is offered to a suitable party, such as those who are engaged in the transcendental loving service of the Lord—the brahmanas and the Vaishnavas. Similarly, “pious activities” refers to the agni-hotra and the prescribed duties of the different castes. And the voluntary acceptance of some bodily pains is called tapasya. So one can perform all these—can accept bodily penances, give charity, study the Vedas, etc.—but unless he is a devotee like Arjuna, it is not possible to see that universal form. Those who are impersonalists are also imagining that they are seeing the universal form of the Lord, but from Bhagavad-gita we understand that the impersonalists are not devotees. Therefore they are unable to see the universal form of the Lord.

58. Charity to temples, Vaishnavas and brahmanas Text 20 datavyam iti yad danam diyate ’nupakarine dese kale ca patre ca tad danam sattvikam smrtam Translation Charity given out of duty, without expectation of return, at the proper time and place, and to a worthy person is considered to be in the mode of goodness. Commentary by Srila Prabhupada In the Vedic literature, charity given to a person engaged in spiritual activities is recommended. There is no recommendation for giving charity indiscriminately. Spiritual perfection is always a consideration. Therefore charity is recommended to be given at a place of pilgrimage and at lunar or solar eclipses or at the end of the month or to a qualified brahmana or a Vaishnava (devotee) or in temples. Such charities should be given without any consideration of return. Charity to the poor is sometimes given out of compassion, but if a poor man is not worth giving charity to, then there is no spiritual advancement. In other words, indiscriminate charity is not recommended in the Vedic literature

59. Chapter 9. The Most Confidential Knowledge TEXT 26 patram puspam phalam toyam yo me bhaktya prayacchati tad aham bhakty-upahrtam asnami prayatatmanah SYNONYMS patram --a leaf; puspam --a flower; phalam --a fruit; toyam --water; yah --whoever; me --unto Me; bhaktya --with devotion; prayacchati --offers; tat --that; aham --I; bhakti-upahrtam --offered in devotion; asnami --accept; prayata-atmanah --of one in pure consciousness. TRANSLATION If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, fruit or water, I will accept it. PURPORT Here Lord Krsna, having established that He is the only enjoyer, the primeval Lord, and the real object of all sacrificial offerings, reveals what types of sacrifices He desires to be offered. If one wishes to engage in devotional service to the Supreme in order to be purified and reach the goal of life--the transcendental loving service of God--then he should find out what the Lord desires of him. One who loves Krsna will give Him whatever He wants, and he avoids offering anything which is undesirable or unasked for. Thus, meat, fish and eggs should not be offered to Krsna. If He desired such things as offerings, He would have said so. Instead He clearly requests that a leaf, fruit, flowers and water be given to Him, and He says of this offering, "I will accept it." Therefore, we should understand that He will not accept meat, fish and eggs. Vegetables, grains, fruits, milk and water are the proper foods for human beings and are prescribed by Lord Krsna Himself. Whatever else we eat cannot be offered to Him, since He will not accept it. Thus we cannot be acting on the level of loving devotion if we offer such foods. In the Third Chapter, verse thirteen, Sri Krsna explains that only the remains of sacrifice are purified and fit for consumption by those who are seeking advancement in life and release from the clutches of the material entanglement. Those who do not make an offering of their food, He says in the same verse, are said to be eating only sin. In other words, their every mouthful is simply deepening their involvement in the complexities of material nature. But preparing nice, simple vegetable dishes, offering them before the picture or Deity of Lord Krsna and bowing down and praying for Him to accept such a humble offering, enable one to advance steadily in life, to purify the body, and to create fine brain tissues which will lead to clear thinking. Above all, the offering should be made with an attitude of love. Krsna has no need of food, since He already possesses everything that be, yet He will accept the offering of one who desires to please Him in that way. The important element, in preparation, in serving and in offering, is to act with love for Krsna.

60. Offerings of Gold to the Lord Both men and women came, all whose hearts were willing. Some brought to the LORD their offerings of gold--medallions, earrings, rings from their fingers, and necklaces. They presented gold objects of every kind to the LORD. - Exodus 35:22

61. Offerings to the LORD: gold, silver, and bronze Everyone is invited to bring these offerings to the LORD: gold, silver, and bronze; - Exodus 35:5 "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." American Standard Version

62. Offerings to Lord at Tirupati - Tirumala Tirumala is a Swayamvyuktha Kshetram (The Idol is self-manifested without the involvement of any external forces). There are only a few other Swayamvyukta Kshetrams. The Alwars(Vaishnava Saints) have sung great praises of the Lord. Telugu saint Annamaya also sang in praise of Srinivasa here and has immortalised himself in the hearts of millions and millions of disciples of the Lord. Customs: 1. Donation of Hair as a mark of respect. According to one legend, Lord Vishnu took up residence in an anthill near the place now known as Tirumala, for the purpose of performing yogic penance. When His friend, Lord Brahma, observed this noble undertaking, He took the form of a cow and went to Lord Vishnu every day so that Vishnu could be sustained by holy milk while performing His austerities. The owner of the cow, who did not fully understand this mystical situation and was frustrated that his cow kept wandering off to feed an ascetic, tried to cut the animal with a knife. Because the cow was actually Brahma, the Lord received a wound in the head, resulting in a loss of some hair. When a nearby devotee named Neeladri witnessed this, she quickly rushed forward to offer her own hair to replace what the Lord had just lost. Thus was born the tradition of offering hair to Lord Balaji at Tirumala. 2. Donation of money: The Lord had borrowed money from Lord Kubera to meet the expenses incurred during his marriage to Goddess Padmavathy Devi. It is believed that He has to pay Kubera hefty sums of money as interest every month till the end of Kaliyuga. That explains why Pilgrims donate huge sums of money to this temple.

72. Evil people - Attila The Hun

74. Evil people - Maximilien Robespierre

76. Evil people - Ruhollah Khomeini

79. Evil people - Idi Amin Dada

82. Evil people - Leopold II of Belgium

85. Evil people - Pol Pot

88. Evil people - Vlad III of Romania (also known as Vlad the Impaler, Dracula)