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Appropriate item for charity, Danavastu, called Deyam (Samskrit : देयम्) is a vast topic described in the ancient hindu literature. Among the deya things, many puranas refer to different things as best, medium and of least significance each in a different way. Example : Skanda purana refers to curd and honey dana is of least type<ref name=":0">Agarwal, Sanjay. (2010) ''Daan and Other Giving Traditions in India.'' New Delhi: AccountAid, India</ref> whereas they are among the best according to Hemadri (Page 16 of Reference<ref name=":2">Pt. Bharatachandra Siromani (1873) ''[https://archive.org/stream/in.ernet.dli.2015.424417/2015.424417.chaturvarga-chintamani#page/n45/mode/2up Chaturvarga Chintamani by Hemadri, Vol 1, Dana kanda.]'' Calcutta: The Asiatic Society of Bengal</ref>).

The appropriate item for charity, Danavastu, called Deyam (Samskrit : देयम्) is a vast topic described in the ancient hindu literature. Among the deya things, many puranas refer to different things as best, medium and of least significance each in a different way. Example : Skanda purana refers to curd and honey dana is of least type<ref name=":0">Agarwal, Sanjay. (2010) ''Daan and Other Giving Traditions in India.'' New Delhi: AccountAid, India</ref> whereas they are among the best according to Hemadri (Page 16 of Reference<ref name=":2">Pt. Bharatachandra Siromani (1873) ''[https://archive.org/stream/in.ernet.dli.2015.424417/2015.424417.chaturvarga-chintamani#page/n45/mode/2up Chaturvarga Chintamani by Hemadri, Vol 1, Dana kanda.]'' Calcutta: The Asiatic Society of Bengal</ref>).

== Definition of Deyam ==

== Definition of Deyam ==

== Deya Things ==

== Deya Things ==

Among many things that are given in general for dana such as food, land, cows, gold, honey, clothes, lamps, education etc, on special occasions such as during shrarddha, sesame are given. A brief exposure to different items for gift is given in the following section.

Among many things that are given in general for dana such as food, land, cows, gold, honey, clothes, lamps, education etc, on special occasions such as during shrarddha, sesame are given. A brief exposure to different items for gift is given in the following section as explained in a few texts as follows:

=== Yajnavalkya smriti ===

=== Yajnavalkya smriti ===

=== Dhenudanas (धेनुदानानि) ===

=== Dhenudanas (धेनुदानानि) ===

In imitation of the gift of the cow, gift of certain articles were made and they are described as dhenus. Matsya Purana (82.17 to 22) and Agnipurana (210.11-12)<ref name=":3" /> enumerate the same ten dhenus made of different materials. Matsya Purana cites the following dhenudanas<ref>Matsya Purana ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%AE%E0%A5%A8 Adhyaya 82])</ref>   

In imitation of the gift of the cow, gift of certain articles were made and they are described as dhenus. Matsya Purana (82.17 to 22) and Agnipurana (210.11-12)<ref name=":3" /> enumerate the same ten dhenus made of different materials. Matsya Purana cites the following dhenudanas along with three others<ref>Matsya Purana ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%AE%E0%A5%A8 Adhyaya 82])</ref>   

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* नवनीतधेनुः । Navanitadhenu (butter)

* नवनीतधेनुः । Navanitadhenu (butter)

* रत्नधेनुः । Ratnadhenu (precious stones)

* रत्नधेनुः । Ratnadhenu (precious stones)

}}

}}These mostly follow the same template: a motif of a cow and calf made on a dark coloured antelope skin laid on the floor, cleaned with cowdung and has been covered with kusha grass with the neck portion facing east direction. A smaller skin (represents a calf) is also spread prepared in the same manner. The body is made with main item of the daan, for example if jaggery is the item to be donated a mound of 2 or 4 bharas (a unit of measure) is placed on the skin. If this is in liquid form, then pots are used to keep the material. If the material is dry, then it is kept in a mound. Various articles such as conch shells, sugarcane pieces, pearls, chowries, corals are placed on the skin to represent various limbs of the cow. This is then worshipped with dhupa (incense) and lamps and invoked with pauranika mantras. The the articles are donated to a brahmana.<ref name=":1" />

=== Parvatadana (पर्वतदानानि or मेरुदानानि) ===

=== Parvatadana (पर्वतदानानि) ===

The Matsya Purana (Adhyayas 83 and 92) speaks of ten kinds of danas called Parvatadanas or Merudanas (Matsya Purana 83.4 to 6<ref>Matsya Purana ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%AE%E0%A5%A9 Adhyaya 83])</ref>)

The Matsya Purana (Adhyayas 83 and 92) speaks of ten kinds of danas called Parvatadanas (Matsya Purana 83.4 to 6<ref>Matsya Purana ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%AE%E0%A5%A9 Adhyaya 83])</ref>)<ref name=":1" />

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* शर्कराचलः । Sharkara (sugar)

* शर्कराचलः । Sharkara (sugar)

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== References ==

== References ==