Phulbani: In a rare gesture of devotion and services of God, a woman beggar has donated Rs 1 lakh for development of old Jagannath temple in Odisha’s Phulbani.
According to sources, 70-year-old Tula Behera used to move from door-to-door for begging along with her physically challenged husband Prafulla Behera. Begging has been the only source of income for Tula for sustenance. Even after the death of her husband, she continued to seek alms by sitting in front of Jagannath temple, Sai temple and Shiva temple in Phulbani for the last 40 years.
As Tula became old, she adopted Okia Mahakuda, a destitute, as her daughter. Both of them continued to sustain with alms from the devotees coming to the temples. Tula used to deposit a certain amount of her income in a bank for future security of her adopted daughter.
When Tula was informed by the bank officials that her deposit had crossed Rs 1 lakh, she decided to donate the amount to Lord Jagannath, the sources said. As per her decision, Tula along with her daughter handed over the money to the temple.
Though initially reluctant to accept the donation from a beggar, the members of the temple management committee were moved by the devotion of Tula and decided to accept it as her gesture would set an example for others, said Sunasir Mohanty, president of the committee.
The committee members also felicitated Tula while accepting her donation on the occasion of Dhanu Shankranti on Friday. “It is a rare and moving experience for all of us. We are happy that Tula has come forward to donate her life’s saving to the temple. The amount would be used for development of the infrastructure of the temple. We have decided to provide prasad to Tula for life time in recognition of her contribution,” said Mohanty.
Tula, on her part, said, “I have no relatives and have been living on begging. I don’t have any desire and want to spend the rest of life in service of Lord Jagannath. My money and saving have no use for me. If it can be of any use for the temple and devotees, that would be my service to the Lord.”
