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→Dana Associated Terminology
The enormous amount of literature on dana and the accompanying science, wisdom, forms, and stories come with an important caveat: most of this is not known even among practicing Hindus. Most are not able to distinguish between dana, dakshina, bhiksha, and bheekh. Few, if any are aware of the different forms of dana, and their purpose. As a result, the practice of daan has all but disappeared. This is partly due to a disconnect with literary heritage.
The enormous amount of literature on dana and the accompanying science, wisdom, forms, and stories come with an important caveat: most of this is not known even among practicing Hindus. Most are not able to distinguish between dana, dakshina, bhiksha, and bheekh. Few, if any are aware of the different forms of dana, and their purpose. As a result, the practice of daan has all but disappeared. This is partly due to a disconnect with literary heritage.
Dana : Involves giving of mainly material items with proper respect, following rituals without an expectation of any return.
'''Dana''' : Involves giving of mainly material items with proper respect, following rituals without an expectation of any return.
Dakshina : Often confused with Dana, Dakshina is a type of honorarium for services. The amount given to not an agreed amount and is usually a random amount paid by the donor as covering fees for the dana. It does not qualify as a dana. Any donation is accompanied by dakshina.
'''Dakshina''' : Often confused with Dana, Dakshina is a type of honorarium for services. The amount given to not an agreed amount and is usually a random amount paid by the donor as covering fees for the dana. It does not qualify as a dana. Any donation is accompanied by dakshina.
Bhiksha : It is the provision of food and other basic necessities mainly to ascetics and brahmacharis living in ashrams.
'''Bhiksha''' : It is the provision of food and other basic necessities mainly to ascetics and brahmacharis living in ashrams.
Bheek : It is the giving of alms to beggars, without recitation of any mantra nor is the receiver is classified as a pratigrihita.<ref name=":0" />
'''Bheek''' : It is the giving of alms to beggars, without recitation of any mantra nor is the receiver is classified as a pratigrihita.<ref name=":0" />
According to shastras, there is a distinction between yaga, homa and dana. A yaga is constituted by abandoning something that belongs to one, intending it for a deity and accompanying it with vedic mantras. Homa is offering into fire something that belongs to oneself over which one abandons one's ownership with an intention to make an offering to the deities. Dana is willful cessation of one's ownership over a thing and creating the ownership of another over that thing. Dana occurs when the other person accepts the thing, which may be mental or vocal or physical.<ref name=":1" />
According to shastras, there is a distinction between yaga, homa and dana. A yaga is constituted by abandoning something that belongs to one, intending it for a deity and accompanying it with vedic mantras. Homa is offering into fire something that belongs to oneself over which one abandons one's ownership with an intention to make an offering to the deities. Dana is willful cessation of one's ownership over a thing and creating the ownership of another over that thing. Dana occurs when the other person accepts the thing, which may be mental or vocal or physical.<ref name=":1" />
== Procedure of Dana ==
While there are many procedures to be followed for making a dana on different occasions the general procedure is outlined as follows:
* The donor and acceptor should have taken their bath and wear two white garments (dhoti and angavastra).
* Donor should have performed his nityakarma including sandhyavandana (and agnikarya), should wear a pavitra, perform achamana, wear the sacred thread in upavita form, be seated on appropriate seat (made of darbha or kusa grass).
* Donor should be seated facing east and the receiver is to be seated to his right facing north direction.
* Donor should utter the name of the subject of the gift, its presiding deity, and purpose for which he makes the gift and chant the prescribed mantras.
== References ==
== References ==