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Utsarga means 'divesting oneself of ownership over a thing and dedicating it for the use of all'. Thus, when a man makes an Utsarga, he no doubt gives up his ownership, but he gives up the thing for the benefit of all (he uses the word sarvabhutebhayah) and so the opinion of most writers is that he can as a member of the public make use of the thing dedicated by him, though a few authors recommended that he should not do so.<ref name=":03" />

Utsarga means 'divesting oneself of ownership over a thing and dedicating it for the use of all'. Thus, when a man makes an Utsarga, he no doubt gives up his ownership, but he gives up the thing for the benefit of all (he uses the word sarvabhutebhayah) and so the opinion of most writers is that he can as a member of the public make use of the thing dedicated by him, though a few authors recommended that he should not do so.<ref name=":03" />

=== प्रतिष्ठा ॥ Pratishta ===

=== प्रतिष्ठा ॥ Pratishta ===

According to Danakriyakaumudi (p. 166) [[Pratishta (प्रतिष्ठा)]] generally means dedicating to the public with prescribed rites.<blockquote>प्रतिष्ठापनं सविधिकोत्सर्जनमित्यर्थः । </blockquote>There are four principal stages in the procedure of Pratishta.<ref name=":03" />

According to Danakriyakaumudi (p. 166) [[Pratishta (प्रतिष्ठा)]] generally means dedicating to the public with prescribed rites.<blockquote>प्रतिष्ठापनं सविधिकोत्सर्जनमित्यर्थः । </blockquote>While both Utsarga and Pratishta involve giving up ownership for the benefit of the community, Utsarga is the term used with regard to dedication of water bodies (vapi, kupa, pushkarini and tadaga). In case of installing images in temples, the proper word to use is Pratishta and not Utsarga.<ref name=":03" /> Pratishta as a procedure involves Utsarga (which is the act of divesting one's ownership) as one of the steps.

 

# Utsarga

== Importance of Utsarga ==

== Importance of Utsarga ==

Construction of temples, digging of wells, and establishing religious and charitable foundations and institutions is included under purtadharma and people of all varnas, ashramas, women and widows could perform such dharma. The Istadharma included vedic sacrifices and danas associated with them had some restrictions about who should perform them and the procedures involved. Shabara in his Bhashya on Jaimini sutras (1.3.2) refers to the Smrti rules about charitable objects which are based on Shruti passages as  <blockquote>प्रपास्तडागानि च परोपकाराय न धर्मायेत्येवावगम्यते तथा च दर्शनम् धन्वन्निव प्रपा असीति तथा स्थलयोदकं परिगृह्णन्तीति च ॥ </blockquote><blockquote>प्र ते यक्षि प्र त इयर्मि मन्म भुवो यथा वन्द्यो नो हवेषु । धन्वन्निव प्रपा असि त्वमग्न इयक्षवे पूरवे प्रत्न राजन् ॥१॥ (Rig. Veda. 10.10.4)</blockquote>'O Agni, who art ancient and a king, thou art to the man who desires to offer a sacrifice like Prapa (shed where water is distributed to travellers) in a desert."<ref name=":03">Kane, Pandurang Vaman. (1941) ''History of Dharmasastra (Ancient and Medieval Religious and Civil Law) Volume 2, Part 2.'' Poona : Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute</ref>

Construction of temples, digging of wells, and establishing religious and charitable foundations and institutions is included under purtadharma and people of all varnas, ashramas, women and widows could perform such dharma. The Istadharma included vedic sacrifices and danas associated with them had some restrictions about who should perform them and the procedures involved. Shabara in his Bhashya on Jaimini sutras (1.3.2) refers to the Smrti rules about charitable objects which are based on Shruti passages as  <blockquote>प्रपास्तडागानि च परोपकाराय न धर्मायेत्येवावगम्यते तथा च दर्शनम् धन्वन्निव प्रपा असीति तथा स्थलयोदकं परिगृह्णन्तीति च ॥ </blockquote><blockquote>प्र ते यक्षि प्र त इयर्मि मन्म भुवो यथा वन्द्यो नो हवेषु । धन्वन्निव प्रपा असि त्वमग्न इयक्षवे पूरवे प्रत्न राजन् ॥१॥ (Rig. Veda. 10.10.4)</blockquote>'O Agni, who art ancient and a king, thou art to the man who desires to offer a sacrifice like Prapa (shed where water is distributed to travellers) in a desert."<ref name=":03">Kane, Pandurang Vaman. (1941) ''History of Dharmasastra (Ancient and Medieval Religious and Civil Law) Volume 2, Part 2.'' Poona : Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute</ref>

=== Dedication of Gardens ===

=== Dedication of Gardens ===

Hemadri in Chaturvarga Chintamani (Dana Kanda p.1029 - 1055) deals at length with the planting of trees, the dedication of a garden and the merit acquired by making gifts of various trees. The procedure of dedicating a garden is prescribed in Shankhyayana grhyasutras (5.3)<ref name=":3" />, Asvalayana grhyasutra parisishta (4.10), Matsya purana (58 and 59), Agnipurana (70) and in many other works. It is modelled in the dedication of wells and tanks. The Matsyapurana expressly states that the procedure of the consecration of a tank is extended to the consecration of everything, such as a prasada (large house or hall for public use), a garden, the only difference being that the mantras are different. <blockquote>एवमेषु पुराणेषु तडाग विधिरुच्यते।। ५८.५० ।।

Hemadri in Chaturvarga Chintamani (Dana Kanda p.1029 - 1055) deals at length with the planting of trees, the dedication of a garden and the merit acquired by making gifts of various trees. The procedure of dedicating a garden is prescribed in Shankhyayana grhyasutras (5.3)<ref name=":3" />, Asvalayana grhyasutra parisishta (4.10), Matsya purana (58 and 59), Agnipurana (70) and in many other works. It is modelled in the dedication of wells and tanks.

 

The Matsyapurana expressly states that the procedure of the consecration of a tank is extended to the consecration of everything, such as a prasada (large house or hall for public use), a garden, the only difference being that the mantras are different.<ref name=":03" /> <blockquote>एवमेषु पुराणेषु तडाग विधिरुच्यते।। ५८.५० ।।

कूपवापीषु सर्वासु तथा पुष्करिणीषु च। एष एव विधिर्दृष्टः प्रतिष्ठासु तथैव च।। ५८.५१ ।।

कूपवापीषु सर्वासु तथा पुष्करिणीषु च। एष एव विधिर्दृष्टः प्रतिष्ठासु तथैव च।। ५८.५१ ।।

मन्त्रतस्तु विशेषः स्यात् प्रसादोद्यानभूमिषु। (Mats. Pura. 58.50 to 52)<ref name=":2" /></blockquote>

मन्त्रतस्तु विशेषः स्यात् प्रसादोद्यानभूमिषु। (Mats. Pura. 58.50 to 52)<ref name=":2" /></blockquote>In most cases, a well or pond is also provided in an orchard to ensure water supply for the trees. The procedure for dedicating trees is similar to that of dedication of a pond. The plants should first be watered, and then rice and curd is to be sprinkled over them. These should be decorated with garlands, and clothes. Two leaves of each plant should be pierced with a gold needle to symbolise Karn Vedh (कर्णवेधः). Seven or eight fruits made of gold are also used in the rituals.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

== References ==

== References ==

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