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Utsarga (Samskrit : उत्सर्गः) literally means ‘letting go’. This happens when a property or item is dedicated or released for general public use. Pratishta and Utsarga involve acts of foundation of temples and dedication of wells, tanks, parks for the benefit of the public. Such works of public utility have been highly recommended from very ancient times.<ref name=":022">Agarwal, Sanjay. (2010) ''Daan and Other Giving Traditions in India.'' New Delhi: AccountAid, India</ref>

Utsarga (Samskrit : उत्सर्गः) literally means ‘letting go’. This happens when a property or item is dedicated or released for general public use. Pratishta and Utsarga involve acts of foundation of [[Devalaya Vyavastha (देवालयव्यवस्था)|temples]] and dedication of wells, tanks, parks for the benefit of the public. Such works of public utility have been highly recommended from very ancient times.<ref name=":022">Agarwal, Sanjay. (2010) ''Daan and Other Giving Traditions in India.'' New Delhi: AccountAid, India</ref>

== Definitions ==

== Definitions ==

There is a difference in the technical meaning of Dana and Utsarga. Pratishtha, however, involves the concept of Utsarga but differ in the things beings dedicated.  

There is a difference in the technical meaning of [[Dana (दानम्)|Dana]] and Utsarga. Pratishtha, however, involves the concept of Utsarga but differ in the things beings dedicated.  

=== दानम् ॥ Dana ===

=== दानम् ॥ Dana ===

[[Dana (दानम्)]] is when the donor gives up his ownership over a thing, makes another the owner of it and cannot thereafter use it nor has any control over it.

Dana (दानम्) is when the donor gives up his ownership over a thing, makes another the owner of it and cannot thereafter use it nor has any control over it.

=== उत्सर्गः ॥ Utsarga ===

=== उत्सर्गः ॥ Utsarga ===

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>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.  

According to Danakriyakaumudi (p. 166) [[Pratishta (प्रतिष्ठा)]] generally means dedicating to the public with prescribed rites.<blockquote>प्रतिष्ठापनं सविधिकोत्सर्जनमित्यर्थः । ''pratiṣṭhāpanaṁ savidhikotsarjanamityarthaḥ ।'' </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.  

== 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 [[Varna Dharma (वर्णधर्मः)|varnas]], [[Ashrama Dharma (आश्रमधर्मः)|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 (स्मृतिः)|Smrti]] rules about charitable objects which are based on [[Shruti (श्रुतिः)|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><blockquote>''prapāstaḍāgāni ca paropakārāya na dharmāyetyevāvagamyate tathā ca darśanam dhanvanniva prapā asīti tathā sthalayodakaṁ parigr̥hṇantīti ca ॥''</blockquote><blockquote>''pra te yakṣi pra ta iyarmi manma bhuvo yathā vandyo no haveṣu । dhanvanniva prapā asi tvamagna iyakṣave pūrave pratna rājan ॥1॥ (Rig. Veda. 10.10.4)''</blockquote>'O [[Agni (आग्निः)|Agni]], who art ancient and a raja, 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>

In Rigveda, mandala 10, a mention of pushkarini is made as given<blockquote>भोजायाश्वं सं मृजन्त्याशुं भोजायास्ते कन्या शुम्भमाना । भोजस्येदं पुष्करिणीव वेश्म परिष्कृतं देवमानेव चित्रम् ॥१०॥ (Rig. Veda. 10.107.10)</blockquote>The Vishnu Smrti (Adhyaya 91)<ref name=":12">Vishnu Smrti ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%8F%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%BD%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83 Adhyaya 91])</ref> extensively deals with the rewards obtained by conducting acts of digging wells, planting trees, building new temples and renovating dilapidated temples.  

In [[Rigveda (ऋग्वेदः)|Rigveda]], mandala 10, a mention of pushkarini is made as given<blockquote>भोजायाश्वं सं मृजन्त्याशुं भोजायास्ते कन्या शुम्भमाना । भोजस्येदं पुष्करिणीव वेश्म परिष्कृतं देवमानेव चित्रम् ॥१०॥ (Rig. Veda. 10.107.10)</blockquote><blockquote>''bhojāyāśvaṁ saṁ mr̥jantyāśuṁ bhojāyāste kanyā śumbhamānā । bhojasyedaṁ puṣkariṇīva veśma pariṣkr̥taṁ devamāneva citram ॥10॥ (Rig. Veda. 10.107.10)''</blockquote>The Vishnu Smrti (Adhyaya 91)<ref name=":12">Vishnu Smrti ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%8F%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%BD%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83 Adhyaya 91])</ref> extensively deals with the rewards obtained by conducting acts of digging wells, planting trees, building new temples and renovating dilapidated temples.  

Even later day Samskrit texts such as Kadambari by Banabhatta mentions that smritis enjoined upon men the foundation (for public use) of halls, shelters, wells, prapas (water sheds), gardens, temples, embankments, and water wheels. <blockquote>इष्टापूर्तौ स्मृतौ धर्मौ श्रुतौ तौ शिष्टसंमतौ । भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदं पूर्तमिष्टं भोगार्थसाधनम् ॥  Kalika Purana <ref name=":03" /></blockquote>It is said that the reward of sacrifices is only heaven, but by purta (consecration of temples etc) one secures release from samsara as per Kalika purana.<ref name=":03" />

Even later day Samskrit texts such as Kadambari by Banabhatta mentions that smritis enjoined upon men the foundation (for public use) of halls, shelters, wells, prapas (water sheds), gardens, temples, embankments, and water wheels. <blockquote>इष्टापूर्तौ स्मृतौ धर्मौ श्रुतौ तौ शिष्टसंमतौ । भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदं पूर्तमिष्टं भोगार्थसाधनम् ॥  Kalika Purana <ref name=":03" /></blockquote><blockquote>''iṣṭāpūrtau smr̥tau dharmau śrutau tau śiṣṭasaṁmatau । bhuktimuktipradaṁ pūrtamiṣṭaṁ bhogārthasādhanam ॥ Kalika Purana''</blockquote>It is said that the reward of sacrifices is only heaven, but by purta (consecration of temples etc) one secures release from samsara as per Kalika purana.<ref name=":03" />

Mahabharata, Danadharma parva of Anushasana parva extolls the greatness of charity to brahmanas as well as that made to community.

[[Mahabharata (महाभारतम्)|Mahabharata]], Danadharma parva of Anushasana parva extolls the greatness of charity to brahmanas as well as that made to community.

This shows that charitable works for the use of the public or large sections of the public came to be regarded as more meritorious than sacrifices where gifts benefited only brahmanas.<ref name=":03" />

This shows that charitable works for the use of the public or large sections of the public came to be regarded as more meritorious than sacrifices where gifts benefited only brahmanas.<ref name=":03" />