Who Is The Benefactor

When we donate are we the benefactors or beneficiaries?

- Lalit N Modi

One fine day I got an e-mail followed by a WhatsApp from Ram, requesting me to contribute whatever I could for the inauguration and Kumbhabhishekam (consecration) of a Shiva temple in Chennai. The temple, ordained and inspired by his Guru, was his labour of love - a product of mainly his finances. The mail caught me unawares and rendered me quite thoughtful.

I have known Ram for many years and if he really required some funds he would have spoken to me and we would have discussed the same. But the personal mail followed by a WhatsApp message perplexed me. To me, a request or command from Ram was as sacrosanct as the Ten Commandments. Without much ado, I sent him a paltry sum of Rs.5,000, a small petal in comparison with the garden he had dedicated for the Spiritual Cause.

Ram invited me for the Kumbhabhishekam ceremony and insisted that I attend without fail. Unfortunately, I could not attend the celebration because I had to leave with my family for a pilgrimage to Nathdwara Krishna temple early in the morning on that day, the plans having been made a couple of months in advance. With a feeling of guilt, I excused myself because of Lord Krishna's call from Nathdwara.