Changes

== Right Disposition  ==

== Right Disposition  ==

The qualities of a respectable transaction mentioned as Shraddha (श्रद्धा) are outlined in this section. In the Taittiriya Upanisad, the Guru imparts the student to be charitable. It mentions various conditions of charity<ref>Taittiriya Upanisad, 1:11:2 and 1:11:3</ref>:<blockquote>ये के चास्मच्छ्रेयाँसो ब्राह्मणाः तेषां त्वयाऽऽसनेन प्रश्वसितव्यम् । श्रद्धया देयम् । अश्रद्धयाऽदेयम् । श्रिया देयम् । ह्रिया देयम् । भिया देयम् । संविदा देयम् । अथ यदि ते कर्मविचिकित्सा वा वृत्तविचिकित्सा वा स्यात् ॥ ३ ॥</blockquote>

The qualities of a respectable transaction mentioned as Shraddha (श्रद्धा) are outlined in this section. In the Taittiriya Upanisad, the Guru imparts the student to be charitable. It mentions various conditions of charity<ref>Taittiriya Upanisad, 1:11:2 and 1:11:3</ref>:<blockquote>ये के चास्मच्छ्रेयाँसो ब्राह्मणाः तेषां त्वयाऽऽसनेन प्रश्वसितव्यम् । श्रद्धया देयम् । अश्रद्धयाऽदेयम् । श्रिया देयम् । ह्रिया देयम् । भिया देयम् । संविदा देयम् । अथ यदि ते कर्मविचिकित्सा वा वृत्तविचिकित्सा वा स्यात् ॥ ३ ॥ </blockquote><blockquote>ye ke cāsmacchreyām̐so brāhmaṇāḥ teṣāṁ tvayā<nowiki>''sanena praśvasitavyam । śraddhayā deyam । aśraddhayā'</nowiki>deyam । śriyā deyam । hriyā deyam । bhiyā deyam । saṁvidā deyam । atha yadi te karmavicikitsā vā vr̥ttavicikitsā vā syāt ॥ 3 ॥</blockquote>

# Give with respect/honour (Sraddha deyam)

# Give with respect/honour (Sraddha deyam)

# Don’t give with disrespect/dishonour

# Don’t give with disrespect/dishonour

== Right Premises ==

== Right Premises ==

The places (देशः) where gifts are to be made are also specified in the Smritis, Puranas and digests. Danamayukha specifies that Dana given at home yields ten times as much merit (as when made elsewhere), a hundred times when made in a goshala (cowpen), thousand times when made in sacred places (tirthas) and an infinite number of times when made in the premises of Shivalinga (such as Shiva temples).<ref name=":12" /><blockquote>गृहे दशगुणं दानं गोष्ठे चैव शताधिकम् । पुण्यतीर्थेषु साहस्रमनन्तं शिवसन्निधौ ॥</blockquote>Apart from these places holy places or tirthas, temples, riversides, oceans and important forest areas are also very sacred places to offer dana.<ref>Vachaspatyam (Refer to [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%BE Da - दा])</ref>

The places (देशः) where gifts are to be made are also specified in the Smritis, Puranas and digests. Danamayukha specifies that Dana given at home yields ten times as much merit (as when made elsewhere), a hundred times when made in a goshala (cowpen), thousand times when made in sacred places (tirthas) and an infinite number of times when made in the premises of Shivalinga (such as Shiva temples).<ref name=":12" /><blockquote>गृहे दशगुणं दानं गोष्ठे चैव शताधिकम् । पुण्यतीर्थेषु साहस्रमनन्तं शिवसन्निधौ ॥ </blockquote><blockquote>gr̥he daśaguṇaṁ dānaṁ goṣṭhe caiva śatādhikam । puṇyatīrtheṣu sāhasramanantaṁ śivasannidhau ॥</blockquote>Apart from these places holy places or tirthas, temples, riversides, oceans and important forest areas are also very sacred places to offer dana.<ref name=":0">Vachaspatyam (Refer to [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%BE Da - दा])</ref>

* देवीपुराणे “सर्वे शिवाश्रमाः पुण्याः सर्वा नद्यः शुभप्रदाः । Devipurana states that all abodes of Shiva and all rivers are sacred places to perform dana.  

* Devipurana states that all abodes of Shiva and all rivers are sacred places to perform dana.  

* न हीयते यत्र धर्म्मश्चतुष्पात् सकलो द्विज! । स देशः परमो नित्यं सर्वपुण्यतमो मतः । According to Yajnavalkya smriti quoted by Hemadri<ref>Pt. Bharatachandra Siromani (1873) ''[https://archive.org/stream/in.ernet.dli.2015.424417/2015.424417.chaturvarga-chintamani#page/n113/mode/2up Chaturvarga Chintamani by Hemadri, Vol 1, Dana kanda.]'' Adhyaya 3 - Pages 82 to 86 Calcutta: The Asiatic Society of Bengal</ref> that is a good place (सर्वपुण्यतमो देशः)  to donate where dharma is followed by all brahmins

<blockquote>देवीपुराणे सर्वे शिवाश्रमाः पुण्याः सर्वा नद्यः शुभप्रदाः । devīpurāṇe sarve śivāśramāḥ puṇyāḥ sarvā nadyaḥ śubhapradāḥ ।</blockquote>

* Charities made on the banks of great rivers have always been lauded to bestow infinite rewards. This aspect has found many references in puranas and smritis. According to  

* According to Yajnavalkya smriti quoted by Hemadri<ref>Pt. Bharatachandra Siromani (1873) ''[https://archive.org/stream/in.ernet.dli.2015.424417/2015.424417.chaturvarga-chintamani#page/n113/mode/2up Chaturvarga Chintamani by Hemadri, Vol 1, Dana kanda.]'' Adhyaya 3 - Pages 82 to 86 Calcutta: The Asiatic Society of Bengal</ref> that is a good place (सर्वपुण्यतमो देशः)  to donate where dharma is followed by all brahmins.

: गङ्गा-द्वारे प्रयागे च अविमुक्ते च पुष्करे । नगरे चाट्टहासे च गङ्गासागरसङ्गमे । कुरुक्षेत्रे गयायाञ्च तीर्थे वाऽमरकण्टके । एवमादिषु तीर्थेषु दत्तमक्षयतामियात् । सर्वतीर्थमयी गङ्गा तत्र दत्तं महाफलम् ।

: Banks of Ganga river, Prayaga, Pushkara, place where Ganga joins the sea, Kurukshetra, Gaya,  

* Charities made on the banks of great rivers have always been lauded to bestow infinite rewards. This aspect has found many references in puranas and smritis. According to Vyasa smriti referred in <ref name=":0" />

 

<blockquote>गङ्गा-द्वारे प्रयागे च अविमुक्ते च पुष्करे । नगरे चाट्टहासे च गङ्गासागरसङ्गमे । कुरुक्षेत्रे गयायाञ्च तीर्थे वाऽमरकण्टके । एवमादिषु तीर्थेषु दत्तमक्षयतामियात् । सर्वतीर्थमयी गङ्गा तत्र दत्तं महाफलम् । </blockquote><blockquote>Banks of Ganga river, Prayaga, Pushkara, place where Ganga joins the sea, Kurukshetra, Gaya, Amarakantaka tirthas are places where immense rewards are bestowed when danas are made, especially Ganga river which is equal to all tirthas.</blockquote>

== Types of Dana ==

== Types of Dana ==

Dana has been classified in several overlapping ways, depending on one's perspective: <ref name=":02" />  

Dana has been classified in several overlapping ways, depending on one's perspective: <ref name=":02" />  

=== Based on the Nature of Dana  ===

=== Based on the Nature of Dana  ===

According to Shrimad Bhagvad Gita, all dana can be classified into three categories: sattvik (associated with purity and spirituality), rajasik (associated with materialism and worldly affairs) and tamasik (associated with lack of intellect and leads to darkness). Shraddha is also defined in Skanda Purana as follows<blockquote>त्रिविधा भवति श्रद्धा देहिनां सा स्वभावजा॥ सात्त्विकी राजसी चैव तामसी चेति तां श्रृणु॥ ४.४६ ॥  (Skan. Pura. Mahe. Khan. 4.46)<ref name=":23" /></blockquote><blockquote>trividhā bhavati śraddhā dehināṃ sā svabhāvajā॥ sāttvikī rājasī caiva tāmasī ceti tāṃ śrṛṇu॥ 4.46 ॥</blockquote>

According to Shrimad Bhagvad Gita, all dana can be classified into three categories: sattvika (associated with purity and spirituality), rajasika (associated with materialism and worldly affairs) and tamasika (associated with lack of intellect and leads to darkness). Shraddha or the right disposition is also defined in Skanda Purana as follows<blockquote>त्रिविधा भवति श्रद्धा देहिनां सा स्वभावजा॥ सात्त्विकी राजसी चैव तामसी चेति तां श्रृणु॥ ४.४६ ॥  (Skan. Pura. Mahe. Khan. 4.46)<ref name=":23" /></blockquote><blockquote>trividhā bhavati śraddhā dehināṃ sā svabhāvajā॥ sāttvikī rājasī caiva tāmasī ceti tāṃ śrṛṇu॥ 4.46 ॥</blockquote>

* '''Sattvika Dana (सात्त्विकदानम्)''' : Sattvik dana is one that is made as a duty. It should be made after considering the time, place and the suitability of the receiver. The receiver should not perform any service or provide any benefit in return (अनुपकारी Anupkar). Swami Ramsukhdas explains that this kind of dana is really tyag, relinquishment, in which nothing is desired in return. This type of dana is not the kind that gives punya (पुण्यम्), merit in return. Seeking such punya will transform the dana into rajasik (राजसिकदानम्).<ref name=":02" />  The Bhagavad Geeta expounds the satvika dana as follows:<blockquote>दातव्यमिति यद्दानं दीयतेऽनुपकारिणे । देशे काले च पात्रे च तद्दानं सात्विकं स्मृतम् ॥ (भ.गी.१७.२०)<ref name=":32">A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (1972), Bhagavad-gita As it is,The Bhakti Vedanta Book Trust</ref></blockquote><blockquote>dātavyamiti yaddānaṃ dīyate'nupakāriṇe । deśe kāle ca pātre ca taddānaṃ sātvikaṃ smṛtam ॥ (Bhag. Gita.17.20)</blockquote>

* '''Sattvika Dana (सात्त्विकदानम्)''' : Sattvik dana is one that is made as a duty. It should be made after considering the time, place and the suitability of the receiver. The receiver should not perform any service or provide any benefit in return (अनुपकारी Anupkar). Swami Ramsukhdas explains that this kind of dana is really tyag, relinquishment, in which nothing is desired in return. This type of dana is not the kind that gives punya (पुण्यम्), merit in return. Seeking such punya will transform the dana into rajasik (राजसिकदानम्).<ref name=":02" />  The Bhagavad Geeta expounds the satvika dana as follows:<blockquote>दातव्यमिति यद्दानं दीयतेऽनुपकारिणे । देशे काले च पात्रे च तद्दानं सात्विकं स्मृतम् ॥ (भ.गी.१७.२०)<ref name=":32">A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (1972), Bhagavad-gita As it is,The Bhakti Vedanta Book Trust</ref></blockquote><blockquote>dātavyamiti yaddānaṃ dīyate'nupakāriṇe । deśe kāle ca pātre ca taddānaṃ sātvikaṃ smṛtam ॥ (Bhag. Gita.17.20)</blockquote>

* '''Rajasika (राजसिकदानम्)''' : Rajasika dana is made for getting some direct or indirect benefit (whether material or spiritual) in return. The parting (of property) causes pain or regret to the donor. Or the dana is given after some persuasion (as in a collection or chanda - चंदा). Rajasika dana gives whatever benefits are sought by the donor.<ref name=":02" /> According to the Bhagavad Geeta,<blockquote>यत्तु प्रत्युपकारार्थं फलमुद्दिश्य वा पुनः । दीयते च परिक्लिष्टं तद्दानं राजसं स्मृतम् ॥ (भ.गी.१७.२१)<ref name=":32" /></blockquote><blockquote>yattu pratyupakārārthaṃ phalamuddiśya vā punaḥ । dīyate ca parikliṣṭaṃ taddānaṃ rājasaṃ smṛtam ॥ (Bhag. Gita.17.21)</blockquote>

* '''Rajasika (राजसिकदानम्)''' : Rajasika dana is made for getting some direct or indirect benefit (whether material or spiritual) in return. The parting (of property) causes pain or regret to the donor. Or the dana is given after some persuasion (as in a collection or chanda - चंदा). Rajasika dana gives whatever benefits are sought by the donor.<ref name=":02" /> According to the Bhagavad Geeta,<blockquote>यत्तु प्रत्युपकारार्थं फलमुद्दिश्य वा पुनः । दीयते च परिक्लिष्टं तद्दानं राजसं स्मृतम् ॥ (भ.गी.१७.२१)<ref name=":32" /></blockquote><blockquote>yattu pratyupakārārthaṃ phalamuddiśya vā punaḥ । dīyate ca parikliṣṭaṃ taddānaṃ rājasaṃ smṛtam ॥ (Bhag. Gita.17.21)</blockquote>

'''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=":02" />   

'''Bheek''' : It is the giving of alms to beggars, without recitation of any mantra nor is the receiver classified as a pratigrihita.<ref name=":02" />   

According to shastras, there is a distinction between yaga, homa and dana.<ref name=":12" />   

According to shastras, there is a distinction between yaga, homa and dana.<ref name=":12" />   

# Sanvaya Sarvasva Dana (सन्वय सर्वस्वदानम्) - giving away everything despite availability of descendants.

# Sanvaya Sarvasva Dana (सन्वय सर्वस्वदानम्) - giving away everything despite availability of descendants.

=== प्रतिग्रहीता ॥ Receiver ===

=== प्रतिग्रहीता ॥ [[Acceptor (प्रतिग्रहीता)|Acceptor]] ===

A receiver should be assessed for his mental attitudes and physical conditions by the donor for a dana to be fruitful.There are sixteen kinds of payments made to donees that does not qualify as dana. <ref name=":02" />Some of these are: to an immoral Brahmin, to a fallen Brahmin, to a thief, to a liar, to an ingrate, to a sinner, to a person who sells the Vedas, money earned through injustice to the village / town priest, to one’s father and other such gurujan, to snake-charmers, to one’s servants, to one’s family, to a person who abandons his vanprastha ashram, or sanyasa ashram and becomes a householder again.<ref>Mahabharat, Vanparv, Markandeya Samaasya Parv, 3.12.200.6-8, (Ved Vyas, 2001, p. 1524)</ref>

A receiver should be assessed for his mental attitudes and physical conditions by the donor for a dana to be fruitful.There are sixteen kinds of payments made to donees that does not qualify as dana. <ref name=":02" /> Some of these that lead to a fruitless effort include dana given : to an immoral Brahmin, to a fallen Brahmin, to a thief, to a liar, to an ingrate, to a sinner, to a person who sells the Vedas, money earned through injustice to the village / town priest, to one’s father and other such gurujan, to snake-charmers, to one’s servants, to one’s family, to a person who abandons his vanprastha ashram, or sanyasa ashram and becomes a householder again.<ref>Mahabharat, Vanparv, Markandeya Samaasya Parv, 3.12.200.6-8, (Ved Vyas, 2001, p. 1524)</ref>

== References ==

== References ==