Originally the word charity means preciousness, dearness, high price. This further expalins an unlimited loving-kindness to all others, such as the love of God. This much wider concept is the meaning of the word charity in the triplet "faith, hope and charity", However the English word more generally used for this concept, both before and since is the more direct love.There are different types of charities. Some reach the benificiary directly and some reach the beneficiary indirectly. Almsgiving, the act of giving money, goods or time to the unfortunate, either directly or by means of a charitable trust or other worthy cause, is described as charity or charitable giving. The poor, particularly widows and orphans, and the sick and disabled, are generally regarded as the proper objects of almsgiving. Some groups regard almsgiving as being properly directed toward other members of their group.Donations to causes that would benefit the unfortunate indirectly, as donations to cancer research hope to benefit cancer victims, are also charity. Most forms of charity are concerned with providing food, water, clothing, and shelter, and tending the ill, but other actions may be performed as charity: visiting the imprisoned or the homebound, dowries for poor women, ransoming captives, educating orphans. Originally almsgiving entailed the benefactor directly giving the goods to the receiver. People who could not support themselves -- or who feigned such inability -- would become beggars.This charity is a give and take policy. The person who does the charity gives the things or money to the needy. In return the recipient of charity may offer to pray for the benefactor. Institutions may commemorate benefactors by displaying their names, up to naming buildings or even the institution itself after the benefactors. If the recipient makes material return of more than a token value, the transaction is normally not called charity.There are many words to denote the meaning of charity.
1. Philanthropy is the act of donating money, goods, services, time and/or effort to support a socially beneficial cause, with a defined objective and with no financial or material reward to the donor. In a more general sense, philanthropy may encompass any altruistic activity intended to promote good or improve human quality of life. One who practices philanthropy may be called a philanthropist. Although such individuals are often rich, people may perform philanthropic acts without possessing great wealth.
2. Altruism is selfless concern for the welfare of others. It is a traditional virtue in many cultures, and a core aspect of various religious traditions. Altruism can be distinguished from feelings of loyalty and duty. Altruism focuses on a motivation to help others or a want to do good without reward, while duty focuses on a moral obligation towards a specific individual (for example, God, a king), a specific organization (for example, a government), or an abstract concept (for example, patriotism etc). Some individuals may feel both altruism and duty, while others may not. Pure altruism is giving without regard to reward or the benefits of recognition.
I wish to pin point a practical example for the aforesaid words. He is Swamiji Sri.Selvam Siddhar. He can be called as “a man of charities”, a philonthraphist and an Altruist.Swamiji Sri.Selvam Siddhar is the most generous person. He has donated millions of American dollars to build temples in various parts of the world. They are visible. But his invisible donations are more and more. Even though he has donated a lot towards the development of the human race he never liked to make some kind of cheap popularity from those charities. He is popularly known as a Hindu monk or Swamiji. But his religion is Humanity. He often used to say “You will live according to your thoughts”. His thoughts are always high. The words he often uses are “I have starved in this world and I have suffered much. My Shivji blessed me with all. I should use everything given by him in the best manner. The best way to give to him is doing charities”. His charities are endless. There is an old saying “He earns like a king and spends like a princess”. The king earns a lot of money and wealth. But he will never spend unnecessarily. But his son, the prince will never care about the suffering of his father and he will spend lavishly. It is entirely different in our Swamiji’s life. His king is Lord Shiva. He blesses Swamiji with all sorts of things needed by Swamiji for the most luxurious living style. But Swamiji understood the blessings of Lord Shiva. He needs only simple food for two times a day, a comfortable place to live and simple clothes to cover the body. More than these things everything is gift. That’s why Swamiji does a lot of charities. He has divided charities in various classes. Before doing the charities he used to understand fully about the person receiving the charity. Swamiji’s motto is, the suffering people should get help immediately. But at the same time Lord Shiva’s money or wealth should not go to the unqualified persons. Swamiji never uses a charity badge any where in the temple or in the websites. But he is aware of Charity fraud. He double checks the back ground of the reciever before doing the charity.He does a lot of helps to those who have none to help them. As a philonthrapist he has an active membership in a lot of orphanages. Even though he has donated a lot of money towards the needy,Swamiji never permits any body to advertise his name as a donor. Every year from the first week of April to the first week of May tests will be conducted by the officials of Swamiji to select a parrticular number of children to get benefit for their school studies. Every year three engineering college students and three medical college students get their full fees paid by Swamiji. Every year 27 marriages are being performed and the couples get the required things for their family, as a gift fro0m Swamiji. Break fast and lunch are supplied to the persons staying at various orphanage homes at Swamiji’s home town. Swamiji oftens calls the old age homes. If any body is left there by their own son or daughter, he calls the family immediately. After talking with the family member,if Swamiji feels that they are very poor and needy he immediately deposits money in the bank under the name of the old person. With the intrest amount received from the bank, the older person will be taken care. After the death of the concerned old person the family of the old person can take the money and utilize the money for the betterment of their family. There a lot of persons stand as examples for the genrosity of the great philanthrophist. They love and admire Swamiji as their hero.They are even ready to sacrifice their life for the sake of Swamiji. His genorocity grows up day by day and his fame is also increasing day by day. Also the Siddhi Times, the wonderful Indian American Spiritual Publication,which is bringing its 20th issue, fully reaching the mjaority of Indians’ hands all over the world free of cost with Swamiji s greatest Donation, which is countless. Also siddhi times is the only free highest circulated monthly spiritual magazine with more than half a million readers now- YES 100% free of cost to the 99.99 % of readers . This is not a human effort. Definitely I should say he is a “LIVING GOD” .We all pray the Almighty to shower its entire blessings on this holy philonthrapist for continuing his genorocity.All the aforesaid makes swamiji H. H Sri Selvam “Siddhar”as the youngest Swamiji in the world who did the Highest charity and the youngest Holy Philonthraphist in the world!!
Punyakoti Mahalingam
88years old man. An ardent Devotee and a beneficiary
Of Swamiji Sri Selvam Siddhar’s Heart surgery fund.
Living peacefully and happily with Swamiji’s funding.
Let all of us pray the Almighty to shower its entire blessings on this holy philonthrapist for continuing his genorocity.
Don Bosco Anbu Illam is functioning from the year 1998 onwards at coimbatore. there are 122 Students at the age from 4 to 19 years with 20 aged people. The Director of this institution is Mr. Santhanam. There are totaly 35 staff members. Daily rotine work of the Students:Wake up 6.00am7.30am, Prayer9.00am go to School4.30pm Tea time5.00pm Games6.00pm Evening bath8.00pm News Watching8.15pm Dinner9.00pm go to bed The activities of the institution is in the phamplet. (attached file 001 & 002) all the Details gathered from Mr.Francies Xavier, One of the senior staff.
