INTRODUCTION :
Vastra dana means donating clothes to the people. Generally state governments would distribute dhotis and saris to the ration card holders during Pongal festival period, and also would distribute it during the times of heavy flood, cyclone and storm.
Vastra dana can be done during the time of ceremony of our deceased parents to the Vedic scholars, who chants the mantras, perform pujas, homams and completes the ceremony. After that, they would eat either Tiffin or meals in plantain leaves, and after that, we can offer the money requested by them and also a pair of dhoti to them. Vastra dana done during the times of ceremony would satisfy our deceased parents, who lives in the Pitru Loka. We can also offer a pair of sari to the road side beggar women who live in the streets by wearing torn clothes in their body, and also a pair of lungi to the beggar men, since by doing that, we are temporarily removing their pain in their mind, and we can make them to smile at least for some time. Vastra dana should be done to all classes of people irrespective of their status, caste, creed and community. While doing that, we should consider the receivers of the clothes, as our parents and our relatives, and must treat them with affection, since god dwells in the hearts of all the living beings in the world.
We can also donate uniforms to school children and can bring the cheerful smile on their face. Donating dhotis to Veda Patasala students is considered as a very sacred act, and we can do it during festival times. When the divine avatars like Dhruva, Prahalada, Rama and Krishna ruled their respective kingdoms, they used to provide all sorts of necessities to their people. No one has suffered from poverty, and everyone lived their life happily and comfortably. But at this present Kali Yuga, we cannot expect Lord Rama or Lord Krishna to rule over the world, and to give a golden rule.
“OM”
SENT BY
R.HARISHANKAR
