The importance of Vedic charity

I'm not sure whether Hindus are aware of this, but one tactic used by anti-Hindus to smear our religion is the claim the Hinduism is against charity.  When I was younger I recall watching a missionary movie about Hinduism and they showed hoards of poverty stricken and sickly people, claiming that the Hindus of India had abandoned them.

Yes it is generally proclaimed by our detractors that Hindus believe that if a person has become ill or financially destitute they deserve this as it is their karma. But is being in need of help really a sin, and do the Vedas preach against helping members of the community who need us the most?

According the the Vedas, charity is one of the pillars of the earth, along with hard work, natural law (Rta), prayer and god. In fact, the Vedas say that it is those who do not engage in charity who are wicked and uncharitableness is associated with maligning others and thinking ill of others. It is said that the gods withhold favor from the rich who do not engage in charity.

The qualities of Truthfulness, confidence, and hard work (Tapas), combined with belief in Universal Order (Rta), God (Brahma), prayer and charity uphold the Earth. May this Earth, the product of our past, present and future, provide wide opportunities for us. - Atharva Veda 12.1.1

A wicked person who maligns others by his speech, thinks ill of others, refrains from charity, and indulges in deceit and trickery, hurts himself by his own such deeds. - Rig Veda 1.147.4

 God withholds his favors from the rich person who is Godless and who is not interested in giving charity. - Rig Veda.1.150.2

Rather, the gods give prosperity to those who are giving with their  money and it is taught that charity to the needy is a good way of worshiping god, and that charity is a privilege not available to non-believers. Their are prayers in the Vedas to change the hearts of misers and for great men not to become arrogant in their wealth, withholding it from others.

 Lord, Give power to his speech and grant him prosperity who serves you through his noble actions and charity. - Rig Veda 6.16.26

 Charity to the needy is a good way of worshipping the Lord. It is a blessing and a privelege which is not available to non-believers and those who indulge in sinful actions. Prayers and worship by sinners do not please God. Only those who stay away from sins and from denigrating others and make a pious gift to God are the ones who are able to please God. - Rig Veda 10.107.3

 Glorious Lord! Instigate the niggard to become generous and charitable; soften the heart of the miser. - Rig Veda  6.53.3

 O God! May I never bad-mouth the persons who are rich but charitable, who perform virtuous deeds, and who are elders and worthy of respect. May wealth not make me arrogant; may you grant me virtuous children; and may I never fail to be worshipful to you. - Rig Veda 2.27.17

Finally, the Vedas teach that the gods are disdainful of rich persons who do not give to the poor and needy and a rich man with stores of food who does not feed the beggar is abandoned and finds none to comfort him. It is said that the rich should satisfy the imploring poor because wealth can come and go for anyone.

God! You are disdainful of the lazy. You are disdainful of the rich person who does not help the poor and the needy. They both quickly perish. - Rig Veda 1.120.12

The man with food in store who, when the needy comes in miserable case begging for bread to eat, Hardens his heart against him-even when of old he did him service-finds not one to comfort him. - Rig Veda 10.117.2

Let the rich satisfy the poor implorer, and bend his eye upon a longer pathway. Riches come now to one, now to another, and like the wheels of cars are ever rolling. - Rig Veda 10.117.10

As for the gods, the Vedas teach that they accept the small gifts from the poor and that indeed poverty stricken people are allowed to approach the sacrifice where the priest is doing his rituals. The gods of war arouse the poor as well as the rich, and we can see from the hymns to the gods that it is absolutely acceptable for poor people to pray for an end to their  troubles.

Agni, thou art a guard close to the pious man; kindled art thou, four-eyed! for him who is unarmcd. With fond heart thou acceptest e'en the poor man's prayer, when he hath brought his gift to gain security. - Rig Veda 1.131.13

Stirrer to action of the poor and lowly, of priest, of suppliant who sings his praises; Who, fair-faced, favours him who presses Soma with stones made ready, He, O men, is Indra. - Rig Veda 2.12.6

Ye, O Nasatyas, mount that early-harnessed Car, that travels early, laden with its freight of balm, Wherewith ye, Heroes, visit clans who sacrifice, even the poor man's worship where the priest attends. Rig Veda 10.41.2

Listen to me, O Asvins; I have cried to you. Give me-your aid as sire and mother aid their son. Poor, without kin or friend or ties of blood am I. Save me before it be too late, from this my curse. - Rig Veda 10.39.6

From these passages we can see that any suggestion that Hinduism is anti-charity is obviously false, and all one need do is see all the Hindu charity organizations which are helping to lift people out of poverty in India, they just happen to be more humble about their work than others.