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Utsarg (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=":02">Agarwal, Sanjay. (2010) ''Daan and Other Giving Traditions in India.'' New Delhi: AccountAid, India</ref>

Utsarg (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=":02">Agarwal, Sanjay. (2010) ''Daan and Other Giving Traditions in India.'' New Delhi: AccountAid, India</ref>

== Dana and Utsarga ==

== Definitions ==

 

=== दानम् ॥ Dana ===

There is a difference in the technical meaning of Dana and Utsarga. Dana 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.

There is a difference in the technical meaning of Dana and Utsarga. Dana 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.

When a man makes an Utsarga, he no doubt gives up his ownership, but he gives up 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=":0" />

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=":0" />

 

== Importance of Utsarga ==

== Importance of Utsarga ==

Construction of temples, wells, and similar 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. Shabara in his Bhashya on Jaimini sutras (1.3.2) refers to the smrti rules about charitable objects which are based on sruti 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=":0">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=":0">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=":1">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, 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=":1">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.  

|Equivalent to Ashwamedha Yayna

|Equivalent to Ashwamedha Yayna

|}

|}

Anushasana Parva (58.16 to 18) describe the rewards linked to the usage pattern. Vishnu Dharmottara Purana also describes the rewards in similar lines<blockquote>प्रावृट्काले तु पानीयं तडागे यस्य तिष्ठति ।। १२ ।। (Vish. Dhar. Pura. 296.12)<br>

Anushasana Parva (58.16 to 18) describe the rewards linked to the usage pattern. Vishnu Dharmottara Purana also describes the rewards in similar lines<blockquote>प्रावृट्काले तु पानीयं तडागे यस्य तिष्ठति ॥१२ ॥(Vish. Dhar. Pura. 296.12)<br>अग्निष्टोमफलं तस्य पुरुषस्य प्रकीर्तितम् । (Vish. Dhar. Pura. 296.13)</blockquote>

अग्निष्टोमफलं तस्य पुरुषस्य प्रकीर्तितम् । (Vish. Dhar. Pura. 296.13)</blockquote>

=== Vishnudharmottara Purana ===

=== Vishnudharmottara Purana ===

Benefits of water and constructing water bodies depending on their location has been described in Vishnudharmottara Purana.<ref>Vishnudharmottara Purana ([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%A7%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%96%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A9/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A8%E0%A5%AF%E0%A5%AC-%E0%A5%A9%E0%A5%A6%E0%A5%A6 Adhyaya 296])</ref><blockquote>शक्रलोकमवाप्नोति तडागकरणात्पथि । मरौ तडागे पानीयं यस्य तिष्ठति वै द्विजाः ।।११।। (Vish. Dhar. Pura. 296.11)<br>

Benefits of water and constructing water bodies depending on their location has been described in Vishnudharmottara Purana.<ref>Vishnudharmottara Purana ([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%A7%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%96%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A9/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A8%E0%A5%AF%E0%A5%AC-%E0%A5%A9%E0%A5%A6%E0%A5%A6 Adhyaya 296])</ref><blockquote>शक्रलोकमवाप्नोति तडागकरणात्पथि । मरौ तडागे पानीयं यस्य तिष्ठति वै द्विजाः ॥११॥(Vish. Dhar. Pura. 296.11)<br>विमानेनार्कवर्णेन ब्रह्मलोकं स गच्छति । (Vish. Dhar. Pura. 296.12)</blockquote>The following table summarizes the benefits of constructing tadagas and kupas in different locations:<ref name=":02" />

विमानेनार्कवर्णेन ब्रह्मलोकं स गच्छति । (Vish. Dhar. Pura. 296.12)</blockquote>The following table summarizes the benefits of constructing tadagas and kupas in different locations:<ref name=":02" />

{| class="wikitable"

{| class="wikitable"

!Location

!Location

=== Vishnu Smrti ===

=== Vishnu Smrti ===

The following are the details from Vishnu Smrti (Adhyaya 91)<ref name=":1" /> outlining the rewards of digging wells and planting trees.<blockquote>अथ कूपकर्तुस्तत्प्रवृत्ते पानीये दुष्कृतस्यार्धं विनश्यति । । ९१.१ । । तडागकृन्नित्यतृप्तो वारुणं लोकं अश्नुते । । ९१.२ । । जलप्रदः सदा तृप्तो भवति । । ९१.३ । ।</blockquote>The digger of a well has the half of his evil acts destroyed as soon as water springs forth in it.  One who digs water reservoirs is for ever freed from thirst and attains Varuna loka. One who gives water will be satisfied for ever (never suffer from thirst).<blockquote>वृक्षारोपयितुर्वृक्षाः परलोके पुत्रा भवन्ति । । ९१.४ । ।वृक्षप्रदो वृक्षप्रसूनैर्देवान्प्रीणयति । । ९१.५ । ।फलैश्चातिथीन् । । ९१.६ । ।छायया चाभ्यागतान् । । ९१.७ । । देवे वर्षत्युदकेन पितॄन् । । ९१.८ । । सेतुकृत्स्वर्गं आप्नोति । । ९१.९ । ।</blockquote>One who plants trees will have them as sons in future existence. One who plants trees please the devatas by their flowers, atithis by their fruits, travellers by the shade of those trees. He pleases the forefathers with the water (trickling down from their leaves) when it rains. One who builds dikes (dams, water reservoirs) attains heaven. <blockquote>देवायतनकारी यस्य देवस्यायतनं करोति तस्यैव लोकं आप्नोति । । ९१.१० । । सुधासिक्तं कृत्वा यशसा विराजते । । ९१.११ । ।विचित्रं कृत्वा गन्धर्वलोकं आप्नोति । । ९१.१२ । ।</blockquote>One who constructs temples enters the loka of the deity for whom he erected that temple. He who paints the temple, white, acquires brilliant fame while one who colours it with different paints attains gandharva loka. <blockquote>पुष्पप्रदानेन श्रीमान्भवति । । ९१.१३ । । अनुलेपनप्रदानेन कीर्तिमान् । । ९१.१४ । ।दीपप्रदानेन चक्षुष्मान्सर्वत्रोज्ज्वलश्च । । ९१.१५ । ।अन्नप्रदानेन बलवान् । । ९१.१६ । ।</blockquote>By giving flowers he becomes fortunate. Charity of aromatic applications (and scents) endows one with fame. By giving lamps one obtains an excellent eyesight and becomes radiant with lustre. By giving food the donor obtains strength.<blockquote>देवनिर्माल्यापनयनात्गोदानफलं आप्नोति । । ९१.१७ । ।देवगृहमार्जनात्तदुपलेपनात्ब्राह्मणोच्छिष्टमार्जनात्पादशौचादकल्यपरिचरणाच्च । । ९१.१८ । । कूपारामतडागेषु देवतायतनेषु च । पुनः संस्कारकर्ता च लभते मौलिकं फलम् । । ९१.१९ । ।</blockquote>By removing the devanirmalya (remains of an offering to a deity) he obtains the same reward as for giving a cow. Same reward is also obtained by scouring a temple, smearing it with cow-dung, removing the left-overs of the food of a brahmana, by washing his feet and nursing him when sick. One who consecrates anew a well, garden, a pool or water reservoir, a temple (which have been soiled in time) obtains the same reward as he who first made them.

The following are the details from Vishnu Smrti (Adhyaya 91)<ref name=":1" /> outlining the rewards of digging wells and planting trees.<blockquote>अथ कूपकर्तुस्तत्प्रवृत्ते पानीये दुष्कृतस्यार्धं विनश्यति ॥ ९१.१ ॥ तडागकृन्नित्यतृप्तो वारुणं लोकं अश्नुते ॥ ९१.२ ॥ जलप्रदः सदा तृप्तो भवति ॥ ९१.३ ॥</blockquote>The digger of a well has the half of his evil acts destroyed as soon as water springs forth in it.  One who digs water reservoirs is for ever freed from thirst and attains Varuna loka. One who gives water will be satisfied for ever (never suffer from thirst).<blockquote>वृक्षारोपयितुर्वृक्षाः परलोके पुत्रा भवन्ति ॥ ९१.४ ॥वृक्षप्रदो वृक्षप्रसूनैर्देवान्प्रीणयति ॥ ९१.५ ॥फलैश्चातिथीन् ॥ ९१.६ ॥छायया चाभ्यागतान् ॥ ९१.७ ॥ देवे वर्षत्युदकेन पितॄन् ॥ ९१.८ ॥ सेतुकृत्स्वर्गं आप्नोति ॥ ९१.९ ॥</blockquote>One who plants trees will have them as sons in future existence. One who plants trees please the devatas by their flowers, atithis by their fruits, travellers by the shade of those trees. He pleases the forefathers with the water (trickling down from their leaves) when it rains. One who builds dikes (dams, water reservoirs) attains heaven. <blockquote>देवायतनकारी यस्य देवस्यायतनं करोति तस्यैव लोकं आप्नोति ॥ ९१.१० ॥ सुधासिक्तं कृत्वा यशसा विराजते ॥ ९१.११ ॥विचित्रं कृत्वा गन्धर्वलोकं आप्नोति ॥ ९१.१२ ॥</blockquote>One who constructs temples enters the loka of the deity for whom he erected that temple. He who paints the temple, white, acquires brilliant fame while one who colours it with different paints attains gandharva loka. <blockquote>पुष्पप्रदानेन श्रीमान्भवति ॥ ९१.१३ ॥ अनुलेपनप्रदानेन कीर्तिमान् ॥ ९१.१४ ॥दीपप्रदानेन चक्षुष्मान्सर्वत्रोज्ज्वलश्च ॥ ९१.१५ ॥अन्नप्रदानेन बलवान् ॥ ९१.१६ ॥</blockquote>By giving flowers he becomes fortunate. Charity of aromatic applications (and scents) endows one with fame. By giving lamps one obtains an excellent eyesight and becomes radiant with lustre. By giving food the donor obtains strength.<blockquote>देवनिर्माल्यापनयनात्गोदानफलं आप्नोति ॥ ९१.१७ ॥देवगृहमार्जनात्तदुपलेपनात्ब्राह्मणोच्छिष्टमार्जनात्पादशौचादकल्यपरिचरणाच्च ॥ ९१.१८ ॥ कूपारामतडागेषु देवतायतनेषु च । पुनः संस्कारकर्ता च लभते मौलिकं फलम् ॥ ९१.१९ ॥</blockquote>By removing the devanirmalya (remains of an offering to a deity) he obtains the same reward as for giving a cow. Same reward is also obtained by scouring a temple, smearing it with cow-dung, removing the left-overs of the food of a brahmana, by washing his feet and nursing him when sick. One who consecrates anew a well, garden, a pool or water reservoir, a temple (which have been soiled in time) obtains the same reward as he who first made them.

== Dvari Bandh ==

== Dvari Bandh ==

The dvari bandh is dedicated for public use (utsarg) in an elaborate ceremony. The donor is rewarded with benefits far exceeding those of Ashwamedh Yagn, and attains divine worlds.

The dvari bandh is dedicated for public use (utsarg) in an elaborate ceremony. The donor is rewarded with benefits far exceeding those of Ashwamedh Yagn, and attains divine worlds.

== Dedication of Water Reservoirs ==

== वापीकूपतडागोत्सर्गविधिवर्णनम् ॥ Dedication of Water Reservoirs ==

 

 

== References ==

== References ==