Donor (दाता)
Donor or data (Samskrit : दाता) is one who consciously gives up the ownership over a thing/substance/item (eligible for dana) to another person (or community) who accepts mentally, vocally or physically the thing or material from the donor.
Data Lakshanam
Eligible Donor
Ineligible Donor
Guidelines for a Donor
The Shastra Granthas take great care in enumerating the precautions to be taken by a donor. For, the Patrata (पात्रता । Eligibility) of the receiver, the appropriateness of the time and place of charity decide the fruitfulness of the act of donation.
Apastamba Dharma Sutra
- Expounding on how should a Dana be given, the Apastamba Dharma Sutra says,
१ तत्र गुणान्समीक्ष्य यथाशक्ति देयम् || 2:5:10:2.||[1]
tatra guṇān samīkṣya yathā śakti deyam || 2:5:10:2.||
Meaning: [The donor] must examine the qualities [of the petitioner] and give according to his means.[2]
- What requests as charity should be disregarded ? Apastamba Dharma Sutra says,
२ इन्द्रियप्रीत्यर्थस्य तु भिक्षणमनिमित्तम् । न तदाद्रियेत || 2:5:10:3.|| १७ योक्ता च धर्मयुक्तेषु द्रव्यपरिग्रहेषु च || 2:8:20:18.|| १८ प्रतिपादयिता च तीर्थे || 2:8:20:19.||[1]
indriya prīty arthasya tu bhikṣaṇam animittam | na tad ādriyeta || 2:5:10:3.|| yā-uktā ca dharma yukteṣu dravya parigraheṣu ca || 2:8:20:18.|| pratipādayitā ca tīrthe || 2:8:20:19.||
Meaning: But if persons solicit donations for the sake of sensual gratification, that is improper; one should disregard them. And let him acquire money in all ways that are lawful. And let him spend money on worthy [persons or objects].[2]
Manusmriti (11.6) also advices the same.
- Whom should a donation NOT be given to ? According to Apastamba Dharma Sutra,
१९ यन्ता चातीर्थे यतो न भयं स्यात् || 2:8:20:20.|| २० संग्रहीता च मनुष्यान् || 2:8:20:21.||[1]
yantā ca-atīrthe yato na bhayaṃ syāt || 2:8:20:20.|| saṃgrahītā ca manuṣyān || 2:8:20:21.||
Meaning: And let him not give anything to an unworthy [person], whom he does not fear. And let him conciliate people [by gifts or kindness].[2]
- What are the parameters for an appropriate donation ? Apastamba Dharma Sutra says,
११ देशतः कालतः शौचतः सम्यक् प्रतिग्रहीतृत इति दानानि प्रतिपादयति || 2:6:15:12.||[1]
deśataḥ kālataḥ śaucataḥ samyak pratigrahītṛta iti dānāni pratipādayati || 2:6:15:12.||
Meaning: One shall distribute his gifts at the proper places, at the proper times, at the occasion of purificatory rites, and to proper recipients.[2]
Manusmriti (3.98) also gives a similar instruction to the donor.
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Apastamba Dharma Sutra
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Pandit Rama Ramanujachari, Apastamba Dharma Sutras, Simha Publications (2012)