Chapter 16 - 'Giver, not Taker'
It was the year 2013. I was staying in Prayagraj during the ‘Kumbh Mela’. My relatives had come to take a holy dip (pavitra snan), and afterward, we visited Varanasi to offer prayers at the ‘Kashi Vishwanath’ temple.
I received prasadam (Item No. 1) from the temple. Since I had plans to visit my hometown for Holi a few days later, I kept the original prasadam for my family and bought a separate packet from the market for my friends in Prayagraj.
Upon returning to Prayagraj, I offered my friends the market-bought sweets instead of the original prasadam from the temple. When one friend specifically asked for the original temple prasadam, I refused and lied, saying I hadn’t received any. It was a mistake; I failed to show good character.
A few days later, I began my journey home. I took a rickshaw pulled by a man who was handicapped, pedaling with only a single leg.
Seeing his hard work moved me deeply.
His clothes were torn, and I happened to have some new clothes (Item No. 2) in my bag intended for Holi. I decided to give them to him instead. However, after I paid him the fare and offered the clothes, he refused.
He was a man of great self-respect. His dignity inspired me to work hard regardless of the situation.
Next, I took a train from Prayagraj to Chandigarh. I had an exam in the afternoon but some free time in the morning, so I decided to visit the ‘Mansa Devi’ temple. I bought prasadam (Item No. 3) and stood in the queue, but the crowd was so vast that I realized I might miss my exam.
I offered my prayers from afar, folded my hands toward the temple, and left. Since I couldn't offer the sweets at the altar, I put them in my bag.
At that point, my bag contained three "rejected" items:
The Kashi Vishwanath prasadam (which I refused to share).
- The clothes (which the rickshaw puller refused to take).
- The Mansa Devi prasadam (which I couldn't offer to the deity).
After my exam, I reached Ambala station late at night by bus. I was waiting at the scheduled platform with a general ticket. It was a cold night, and I was wrapped in a shawl. Suddenly, I saw my train departing from a different platform.
The announcement had been made about changing of platform, but I was too far from the speakers to hear it.
I began to run. I climbed the footbridge, reached the new platform, raced down the stairs, and chased the accelerating train. At the very last moment, as the train gained speed, I managed to jump aboard.
It was only after I caught my breath that I realized I had left my bag behind on the original platform. By then, the train had left the station.
The bag with all the "rejected" items was gone.
I realized then that my misfortune began the day I refused to share the ‘Kashi Vishwanath’ prasadam with my friends.
This incident changed me completely. Today, I do my best to offer whatever I can to others.
Since that day, I have tried my best to be a Giver, not a Taker, and I find that the more I offer, the more God provides for me.
