Hare Krishna to all the devotees
All glories to srila Prabhupada
When I visit temple I try to purchase fruits to take with me as I have heard in lectures that we should never go there empty handed. But after class we also get prasadham of lord Jagannath. But I don't donate any money to temple as I conserve it to purchase fruits every week. (I use generally the money which I have, and not from my parents , atleast till I have some left) .
So should we also give some money to temple apart from fruits which I bring, especially when I am eating in temple?
My mother said to me that since I am eating there I should give money too. Like rather than buying fruits for ₹100 I should purchase fruits of ₹50 and donate the residual money.
Dear devotees, can you please tell me what should be a good way of donation in Temples?
Replies
Hare Krishna,
As far as you are concerned..I think you are not still earning anything. So, whatever allowance you got is recieved from your parents isn't it? So, do as per what you mother says for now.
When you earn and you can decide and do as per whatever you wish to do.
For now listen to your mother. pay 50 rupees for purchasing fruits for Lord Jaganntha ji and 50 put in the hundi which will again be used in the seva only for Lord and His devotees.
If you are earning 100 rupees and it fully belongs to you.. like you did chores at home and you mom paid you 100 rupees. You can decide as per your wish. Whatever your want to do with them it is upto you.
You are buying fruits and offering it to Lord which is also good. Some devotees will get the fruit as prasadam or you can get them back when it is offered and returned to you back by the preist as prasadam.
If I were you. I would take some part of the fruit back home and some parts of the fruits donate to the poor people ( beggers). Jagannatha ji will be please.
Hare krishna
Hare Krishna mataji
Actually some of the money I used is actually from when I taught tution to someone and they paid me some amount.
Also only last time I got the fruits as prasadam but since it was in a use and throw bowl and I went to thru scooter I couldn't get them back with me so I ate them there. What should I do in such condition.
Do as per what your heart feels to do.
even if you donate to temple also it gets utilized for Lord's service.
Mataji i have one more question, it is about eating prasadam in temple.
After class we get prasadham in temple, I generally try to take just whatever is given first time by prabhuji there. But I want to know whether we should try to consume less as a matter of respect only of we should eat now much we want to ? I mean what should be a conception of attitude towards prasadam?
If prasadam is given ( in the bowl the leaf bowl ) and you are not so hungry at that time and just want to consume a little bit and keep it in you bag to go home and later consume or give it to someone at home. Then take some portion of the prasadam without making the whole contents joota with your saliva. You must take some portion into the hand and put it into the mouth directly without touching ur hands to the lips. and take the rest of the portion back home and distrubute it to others.
if in case you made it touch ur saliva and you have partilly touched it with ur lips you can still take it home and consume it later but in this case you are not going to distrubute it to the others.
If you are hungry and want to consume it all then do it then wash your hands and request the priest to give one more bowl of prasadam for those at home ( mother, father, brother, sister) and take that back home.
It is good to share the prasadam with your family. One more important thing is never throw away the excess prasadam. somehow consume it. If not hungry now consume it later.
Because, Lord's mahaprasadam is rare to get. If you are able to get it it means you are very fortunate so share it if you are not hungry but never throw it.
Hare Krishna