Daana Dharma is an organization started by four friends with the aim to serve society in keeping with the Hindu philosophy of nishkaam seva. Venkat Vutukuri took the initiative and what started as a WhatsApp group has now grown into an organization that predominantly works for Dharma in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
The organization works on the twin concepts of Daana and Dharma. Explaining the need for working within the framework of Dharma, Venkat said that they work on the principles enlisted in the Bhagavad Gita. The organization began its work at an individual level when the four friends, who were based out of the USA, got together to help poor students.
However, this initiative was set to open the doors for associating seva with Dharma. They donated money to a person for buying cycles for students. A local reached out to Venkat on social media and raised the red flag about the donation going to the wrong hands. Venkat was informed that the beneficiaries were told that they would be given cycles only if they convert.
Venkat made his own inquiries and discovered that the local was telling the truth. It is a well-known fact that Andhra and Telangana are plagued by Christianity in general and crypto-Christianity in particular. This incident made Venkat and his friends realize that they need to ensure Dharma is the foundation of their seva.
They chose Dharmic volunteers and made Grama Devata temples their focal point. They have since combined seva and Dharma. To date, 200 such small temples have been brought to use due to the organization’s efforts. It is worth mentioning that 90 to 95% of their activities are undertaken among the underprivileged sections of society. These activities help to keep the SC-ST communities rooted and prevent them from falling prey to the conversion mafia.
Besides education, the organization serves pregnant women. Volunteers of the organization visit the hospitals to create awareness regarding eating healthy. One of their activities is providing pooja kits to small temples during the month of Kartik. The volunteers also organize bhajans and other religious activities in the Grama Devata temples. The organization is also introducing kids to Hindu epics by teaching them through animation.
The organization intends to create Dharmic leaders who will serve society in the best possible manner. Daana Dharma encourages its volunteers to start their own organizations or branch out on their own. They have created a pool of volunteers whose motivation is to work for Dharma.
(Featured Image Source: Daana Dharma)
