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karna from Mahabharata

Karna attaches an arrow to his bow, pulls back and releases – the arrow is aimed at Arjun’s heart.  Krishna, Arjun’s Charioteer, drives by sheer force the chariot into the ground several feet.  The arrow hits Arjun’s headgear and knocks it off. Missing its target – Arjuna’s heart.
Krishna yells, “Wow! Nice shot, Karna.”
Arjuna asks Krishna, ‘Why are you praising Karna?’
Krishna tells Arjun, ‘Look at you! You have Lord Hanuman on the flag of this chariot. You have me as your charioteer. You received the blessings of Ma Durga and your Guru, Dronacharya before the battle, have a loving Mother and an aristocratic heritage. This Karna has nobody, his own charioteer, Salya belittles him, his own Guru (Parusurama) cursed him, his Mother abandoned him when he was born and he has no known heritage.  Yet, look at the battle he’s giving you. Without me and Lord Hanuman on this chariot, where would you be?’

karna
Comparison between Krishna and Karna
on various occasions. Some of them are Myths while some are pure facts.


1. Immediately after Krishna’s birth, he was transported across the river by his father, Vasudeva to be brought up by his step-parents – Nanda & Yasoda
Immediately after Karna’s birth, his Mother – Kunti placed him in a basket on the river. He was transported to his step-parents – Adhiratha & Radha – by the watchful eye of his father, Surya Dev

2.  Karna’s given name was – Vasusena
– Krishna was also called – Vasudeva

3. Krishna’s mother was Devaki, his Step-Mother – Yasoda, His Chief Wife – Rukmini, yet he is remembered mostly for his lila with Radha. ‘Radha-Krishna’
– Karna’s birth mother was Kunti, and even after finding out she was his mother – He told Krishna that he will not be called – Kaunteya – son of Kunti, but will be remembered as Radheya – Son of Radha. Till date, the Mahabharata refers to Karna as ‘Radheya’

4.  Krishna was asked by his people – Yadavas- to become, King. Krishna refused and Ugrasena was King of the Yadavas.
– Krishna asked Karna to become Emperor of India (BharataVarsha- Extending to Pakistan, Bangladesh & Afghanistan at the time), thereby preventing the MahaBharat War.  Krishna argued that Karna being elder to both Yudhisthira & Duryodhana – he would be the rightful heir to the throne. Karna refused the Kingdom on account of principle

5. Krishna broke his vow of not picking up a weapon during the War, when he impulsively rushed at Bhishma Dev with his Chakra.

Krishna rushing towards Bhishma with his Chakra

6. Krishna vowed to Kunti that all 5 Pandavas were under his protection
–          Karna vowed to Kunti that he would spare the lives of 4 Pandavas and battle Arjuna (In the War, Karna had a chance to kill – Yudhisthira, Bhima, Nakula & Sahadeva at different intervals. Yet, he spared their lives)

7. Krishna was born in the Kshatriya caste, yet he played the role of Arjuna’s charioteer in the War
–          Karna was raised in the Suta (Charioteer) caste, yet he played the role of a Kshatriya in the War

8. Karna was cursed to his Death by his Guru – Rishi Parusharam for deceiving him for being a Brahmin (In actuality, Parusharam knew about Karna’s true heritage – however, he also knew the big picture that was to be played out later. Aside from that – along w/ Bhishma Dev, Karna was his favorite disciple)
–          Krishna was cursed to his Death by Gandhari as she felt he allowed the War to unfold and could have done more to prevent it.

9. Draupadi called Krishna her Sakha (Brother) & loved him openly. (Krishna cut his finger from the Sudarshan Chakra and Draupadi immediately tore a piece of cloth from her favorite sari that she was wearing, soaked it in water and  rapidly wrapped it around his finger to stop the bleeding. When Krishna said, ‘That is your favorite Sari!’. Draupadi smiled and shrugged her shoulders as if it was no big deal. Krishna was touched by this – hence when she was being stripped by Dushashana in the Assembly Hall – Krishna by his maya supplied Draupadi with never ending Saris.)
–          Draupadi loved Karna secretly. He was her hidden crush. When Dushashana strips  Draupadi of her sari in the Assembly Hall.  Which Krishna replenished one by one (Bhima had once told Yudhisthira, ‘Brother, do not give Krishna your sins. He multiplies everything.’)

10. Prior to the War, Krishna was looked upon with great respect and reverence.  Even among the Yadavas, they knew Krishna was great, nay The Greatest…yet, they didn’t know his Divinity.  Very few knew for sure who Krishna was. After the War, many Rishis and people were angry with Krishna as they felt he could have prevented the atrocity and millions of deaths.
–          Prior to the War, Karna was looked upon as an instigator and right-hand man of Duryodhana – jealous of the Pandavas. After the war, Karna was looked upon with reverence by the Pandavas, Dhritarashtra & Gandhari. For his endless sacrifice & they were all sad that Karna had to face such ignonimity his whole life

11. Krishna/Karna had an enormous amount of respect for each other.  Karna somehow knew about Krishna’s divinity and surrendered himself to his Lila.  Whereas, Karna surrendered to Krishna & gained glory – Ashwattama could not accept the manner in which his father, Dronacharya was slayed and unleashed a vicious guerrilla warfare against the Panchalas – men, women & children. Ending up being a bigger villain than Duryodhana.

12.  Krishna asked Karna how he knew the Pandavas would Win the MahaBharat War.  To which Karna responded, ‘Kurukshethra is a sacrificial field. Arjuna is the Head Priest, You-Krishna are the presiding deity. Myself (Karna), Bhishma Dev, Dronacharya and Duryodhana are the sacrifice.’
Krishna ended their conversation by telling Karna, ‘You are the best of the Pandavas.’

13. KARNA is the creation of Krishna to show the world the true meaning of sacrifice and to accept your fate. And in spite of all the bad luck or bad times you come across maintain: Your Spirituality, Your Generosity, Your Nobility, Your Dignity and Your Self- Respect and Respect for others.

Arjuna killing Karna Arjuna killing Karna

Post Credits: Aman Bhagat
Image Credits: To the Owner

Tirumala Balaji temple do make money in millions but they do donate it. There are many trusts and schemes which helps the poor. Some of the trusts are mentioned below.


TIRUMALA TIRUPATI DEVASTHANAMS DONATION SCHEMES  & Trusts

1. Sri Venkateswara Pranadana Trust
2. Sri Venkateswara Nitya Annadanam Trust
3. Balaji Institute of Surgery, Research &    Rehabilitation (BIRRD) Trust
4. Sri Venkateswara Balamandir Trust
5. Sri Venkateswara Heritage Preservation Trust
6. Sri Venkateswara GosamrakshanaTrust
7. Sri Padmavathi Ammavari Nitya Annaprasadam Trust
8. S. V Vedaparirakshna Trust
9.  S.S Sankara Netralaya Trust
                                     

Tirumala temple Tirumala Venkateswara Temple

Schemes
1 .  Sri Balaji Arogyavaraprasadini Scheme (SVIMS)

1.       Sri Venkateswara Pranadana Trust :
Sri Venkateswara  Pranadana Trust aims at providing free medical facilities to poor  patients afflicted with life threatening diseases related to the heart,  kidneys, brain, cancer etc., for which the treatment is expensive.
The scheme also  proposes to encourage research and development in the treatment of  diseases / conditions like chronic renal failure, hemophilia,  thalassamia and cancer. Basic amenities including blood-bank, artificial  limbs, physiotherapy, tools and implants will be provided to poor  patients, free of cost.

This scheme is  applicable to all poor patients, irrespective of caste, creed or  religion. Treatment will be provided at all TTD-run hospitals – SVIMS,  BIRRD, SVRR and the Maternity Hospital.

             
2.  Sri Venkateswara Nitya Annadanam Trust :
Sri Venkateswara Nithya Annadanam Scheme provides free meals to the pilgrims in Tirumala.
The  scheme was started on a small scale in 6-4- 1985, with food being  served to around 2,000 persons a day. Today, free food is served to  nearly 30,000 pilgrims a day. The number increases to about 50,000  pilgrims a day during festivals and other important occasions.

Recently free food is  being supplied to the waiting pilgrims in Vaikuntam Complex -11 with  free tiffin, lunch and dinner to about 15,000 pilgrims per day. Free  food is also served to nearly 2000 patients a day in the TTD managed  SVIMS, BIRRD, Ruia and Maternity Hospitals.

3. Sri Balalji Institute of Surgery,Research and Rehabilitation for the disabled Trust (BIRRD)
Sri  Balalji Institute of Surgery, Research and Rehabilitation forthe  Disabled (BIRRD) Trust is a premier medical institute, that treats  patients suffering from polio myelitis, cerebral palsy, congenital  anomalies, spinal injuries, and the orthopaedically handicapped.
It comprises a centrally air-conditioned hospital with the latest medical equipment, built byTTD at a cost of Rs. 4.5 crores.  BIRRD  makes use of state-of- the- art medical technology and provides  services to the poor, at no cost. It also distributes artificial limbs,  calipers and aids, free of cost, to the needy and the poor. Food and  medicine are supplied free of cost.
TTD accepts generous  contributions from the philanthropists to this reported medical  institute. Towards cost tothe inpatients ofthe BIRRD.

4.   Sri Venkateswara Balamandir Trust 
              The  T.T.Devasthanams has undertaken various social and welfare activities  in fulfillment of its Motto of “SERVING THE LORD BY SERVING HUMANITY”.  With a view to give a helping hand to the destitutes and orphans, the  TTD has established Sri Venkateswara Balamandir in Tirupati in the year  1943.
Children,  both boys and girls, who have no parents as well as those whose father  expired and mother is unable to bring up the children and vice-versa are  admitted to this institution. The TTD is providing accommodation, food, clothing and education to the children admitted to    Sri Venkateswara Balamandir from 1st class onwards.
The  children are given education upto graduation in TTD run schools and  colleges. Meritorious students are also given coaching for EAMCET. It is  the motto of the TTD to see that orphans admitted to the Balamandir  live on their own. Give a helping hand to the orphans.
The  TTD has created a separate Trust for improving this Institution with  following objects. (a) To run an Orphanage for orphans, destitutes and  disadvantaged children of both sexes; (b) To provide free accommodation  and boarding to orphans, destitutes and disadvantaged children; and (c)  To provide free education to these children. upto post graduation and  professional courses like MBBS and Engineering.

5. Sri Venkateswara Heritage Preservation Trust
Our Temples symbolize India’s hallowed calture and sanatana dharma.   Temples,  which are the repositories of sculpture, paintings, music, literature,  dance and other art forms, are built for the prosperity and well-being  of all people. According to sastras, God monifests Himself in the images  and fulfils the desires of the devotees on account of the spiritual  penance of the great sages who consecrated the deities in the temples  and the regular rituals performed there and due to the enchanting beauty  of the idols, which conform to the silpa agamas. It is the bounden duty  and responsibility of every Indian to preserve these temples, which are  the centers of vedic culture, to renovate any dilapidated portion of  the temples or rebuild them. It may be the vimana or prakara, balipeetha  or dwajasthambha or it may be even the main idol. It is said natural  disasters like flood and drought may occur not only in the villages  where such ruined temples are located but also in the entire country.
Many acharyas have  expressed their displeasure as raising new temples indiscriminately and  stressed the need for preserving the ancient temples, consecrated by the  great sages-they may be temple – like edifices, which reflect the glory  of vedic culture and religion or places of archeological interest.
it is an uphill task  for individuals alone to undertake their preservation and renovation.  With a view to accomplish this lofty aim, Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams  has launched ‘Sri Venkateswara Heritage, Preservation Trust’. ‘Karta  Kartayite chaiva preraka syonu modaka’ which means one who organizes or  execules a noble task, encourages, approves and derives pleasure from  it, enjoys all fruits of such a merilorious act.
We earnestly appeal to  all philathropists to contribute generously to ‘Sri Venkateswara  Heritage Preservation Trust and participate in this sacred endeavor.  There is need for renovating dilapidated temples in every village and in  every town for universal welfare.

6. SRIVENKATESWARA GOSAMRAKSHNA TRUST              
Lord Sri Venkateswara did it.
In  ‘Sri Venkatachala Mahathyam’ Lord Brahma became a cow, Lord Siva became  a calf and Sri Lakshmi become a Yadava maid and both the cow and calf  were sold to Chola king by Sri Lakshmi in a bid to provide milk to  meditating Srinivasa in Venkatachalam. There also He protected the cow  from the curse of its herdsman.  The  Lord did it, we do it. Sri Venkateswara Gosamrakshana Trust is  established for protecting the cow and emphasizing the spiritual  importance of the cow apart from its economic aspect.
The  Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams proposes to create a modern Gosala at  Tirupati with all the facilities for maintaining the bovine population.  Cow is the greatest blessing of human race, lands grow rich, homes  flourish and civilization advances where the Cow is kept and cared for.  The Trust also aims at improving the living conditions of cows outside  Goshala by providing technical inputs to the general public.

The S.V. Dairy Farm,  TTD, Tirupati supplies milk and curd to all the TTD Temples for rituals,  prasadams, Abhishekhams etc., to the service institutions like S.V.  Balamandir (Orphanage), SV.Deaf and Dumb School, S.V. Training Centre  for the Physically handicapped, S.V. Poor Home (Leprosy Hospital) S.V.  Vedapatasala, S.V. Oriental College Hostel, TTD Hospitals, “Annadanam”  scheme of TTD etc.

7. Sri Padmavathi Ammavari Nitya Annaprasadam Trust :
Goddess  Sri Padmavathi Devi of Tiruchanoor, the divine consort of Lord  Venkateswara, is the immeasurable ocean of compassion and love. She is  renowned as Annalakshmi, who grants peace and plenty to the seekers.
This  scheme provides forthe distribution of prasadam, free of cost, to  pilgrims at Sri Padmavathi Ammavari Temple, Tiruchanoor, on a continous  basis, during the temple working hours. Donations can also be sent for  free distribution of Annaprasadam to the pilgrims on the occasion of  Panchami –Theertham clebrated during Sri Padmavathi Ammavari Annual  Brahmotsavams held every year.

SCHEMES
A.      Sri Balaji Arogyavaraprasadini Scheme{SVIMS)
( Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences)
For  ages, Tirumala, the abode of Lord Venkateswara, has been a great centre  of pilgrimage. Thousands of devotees visit the sacred Hills every day  and offer their solemn prayers to the Lord for their spiritual and  physical well-being.
Alleviating  human suffering has been a part of dedicated efforts of TTD to the  mankind. TTD already manages a Leprosarium, centre for physically  handicapped, a poor home and also a central hospital. To provide the  most advanced medical technology to the needy, the TTD has launched  another remarkable institution a blessing from the Lord Sri Venkateswara  Institute of Medical Sciences a sophisticated super speciality center  on the lines of AIIMS of New Delhi, JIPMER of Pondichery and PGIMS of  Chandigarh. Total well being of man is the aim of Sri Venkateswara  Institute of Medical Sciences, which apart from offering service,  training and education in medical sciences also facilitates Research and  Development.
It  is the fervent desire of the Devasthanams that the doors to such a  state of the art technology should be open to our poor and disabled  breathren. With a view to achieving this goal, Sri Venkateswara  Institute of Medical Sciences has introduced a new scheme, Balaji  Arogyavaraprasadini Scheme. To accomplish the goal of making available  the cutting edge medical technology to every individual at an affordable  rate, we invite the generous cooperation of philanthropists and the  general public.

Tirupati Balaji Tirupati Balaji

Source: Tirumalabalaji.in

January 12, 2015