Difference between revisions of "Donor (दाता)"
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Donor or data (Samskrit : दाता) is one who consciously gives up the ownership over a thing/substance/item (eligible for dana) to another person (or community) who accepts mentally, vocally or physically the thing or material from the donor. | Donor or data (Samskrit : दाता) is one who consciously gives up the ownership over a thing/substance/item (eligible for dana) to another person (or community) who accepts mentally, vocally or physically the thing or material from the donor. | ||
| − | + | == Donor Qualities == | |
| + | '''Shraddha''' | ||
| − | + | When on seeing a needy person the donor feels pleasure and indicates it by a smiling face, when he shows honour and is free from a feeling or ill-will or irritation (towards the supplaint), that is said to be shraddha according to Devala. Manu says that he who gives a gift with honour and he who accepts it with honour both go to the heaven, but if the reverse is the case they go to hell. (Manu. 4.235)<ref name=":12">Kane, Pandurang. Vaman. (1941) ''History of Dharmasastra, Volume Two, Part 2.'' Poona: Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute</ref> | |
| − | + | '''Selflessness''' | |
| + | |||
| + | It is mentioned in Mahabharata (Anushashana Parva 59.7) that whatever is in this world a most desirable thing and what one prizes most in one's house may be given to a man endowed with good qualities by a donor who desires inexhaustible merit from it.<ref name=":12" /> | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==== Maintain Secrecy ==== | ||
| + | According to Yajnavalkya, the reward of making gifts secretly, possessing knowledge without having pride and engaging in japa without others noticing it is infinite. Devala says sacrifice, gift and study lose their power and perish by being declared to others, by boasting about them or by repenting of having done them. Therefore, one should not without good reason proclaim one's meritorious act. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==== Ownership ==== | ||
| + | Jaimini (6.7.1 to7) establishes several propositions namely - a donor can gift only those objects that he owns and has earned them by just means. He cannot make a gift of what one's relatives (parents, sons and others) own in the Visvajit yaga among other things. Narada | ||
== Guidelines for a Donor == | == Guidelines for a Donor == | ||
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=== Apastamba Dharma Sutra === | === Apastamba Dharma Sutra === | ||
* Expounding on how should a Dana be given, the Apastamba Dharma Sutra says, | * Expounding on how should a Dana be given, the Apastamba Dharma Sutra says, | ||
| − | <blockquote>१ तत्र गुणान्समीक्ष्य यथाशक्ति देयम् || 2:5:10:2.||<ref name=":0">[https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%86%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AC-%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D Apastamba Dharma Sutra]</ref> | + | <blockquote>१ तत्र गुणान्समीक्ष्य यथाशक्ति देयम् || tatra guṇān samīkṣya yathā śakti deyam || 2:5:10:2.||<ref name=":0">[https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%86%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AC-%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D Apastamba Dharma Sutra]</ref></blockquote>Meaning: [The donor] must examine the qualities [of the petitioner] and give according to his means.<ref name=":1">Pandit Rama Ramanujachari, [http://www.srimatham.com/uploads/5/5/4/9/5549439/pastamba_d._s._abridged.pdf Apastamba Dharma Sutras], Simha Publications (2012)</ref> |
* What requests as charity should be disregarded ? Apastamba Dharma Sutra says, | * What requests as charity should be disregarded ? Apastamba Dharma Sutra says, | ||
<blockquote>२ इन्द्रियप्रीत्यर्थस्य तु भिक्षणमनिमित्तम् । न तदाद्रियेत || 2:5:10:3.|| १७ योक्ता च धर्मयुक्तेषु द्रव्यपरिग्रहेषु च || 2:8:20:18.|| १८ प्रतिपादयिता च तीर्थे || 2:8:20:19.||<ref name=":0" /></blockquote><blockquote>indriya prīty arthasya tu bhikṣaṇam animittam | na tad ādriyeta || 2:5:10:3.|| yā-uktā ca dharma yukteṣu dravya parigraheṣu ca || 2:8:20:18.|| pratipādayitā ca tīrthe || 2:8:20:19.||</blockquote>Meaning: But if persons solicit donations for the sake of sensual gratification, that is improper; one should disregard them. And let him acquire money in all ways that are lawful. And let him spend money on worthy [persons or objects].<ref name=":1" /> | <blockquote>२ इन्द्रियप्रीत्यर्थस्य तु भिक्षणमनिमित्तम् । न तदाद्रियेत || 2:5:10:3.|| १७ योक्ता च धर्मयुक्तेषु द्रव्यपरिग्रहेषु च || 2:8:20:18.|| १८ प्रतिपादयिता च तीर्थे || 2:8:20:19.||<ref name=":0" /></blockquote><blockquote>indriya prīty arthasya tu bhikṣaṇam animittam | na tad ādriyeta || 2:5:10:3.|| yā-uktā ca dharma yukteṣu dravya parigraheṣu ca || 2:8:20:18.|| pratipādayitā ca tīrthe || 2:8:20:19.||</blockquote>Meaning: But if persons solicit donations for the sake of sensual gratification, that is improper; one should disregard them. And let him acquire money in all ways that are lawful. And let him spend money on worthy [persons or objects].<ref name=":1" /> | ||
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Manusmriti (3.98) also gives a similar instruction to the donor. | Manusmriti (3.98) also gives a similar instruction to the donor. | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Eligible Donor == | ||
| + | Ineligible Donor | ||
== References == | == References == | ||
Revision as of 20:00, 3 May 2018
Donor or data (Samskrit : दाता) is one who consciously gives up the ownership over a thing/substance/item (eligible for dana) to another person (or community) who accepts mentally, vocally or physically the thing or material from the donor.
Donor Qualities
Shraddha
When on seeing a needy person the donor feels pleasure and indicates it by a smiling face, when he shows honour and is free from a feeling or ill-will or irritation (towards the supplaint), that is said to be shraddha according to Devala. Manu says that he who gives a gift with honour and he who accepts it with honour both go to the heaven, but if the reverse is the case they go to hell. (Manu. 4.235)[1]
Selflessness
It is mentioned in Mahabharata (Anushashana Parva 59.7) that whatever is in this world a most desirable thing and what one prizes most in one's house may be given to a man endowed with good qualities by a donor who desires inexhaustible merit from it.[1]
Maintain Secrecy
According to Yajnavalkya, the reward of making gifts secretly, possessing knowledge without having pride and engaging in japa without others noticing it is infinite. Devala says sacrifice, gift and study lose their power and perish by being declared to others, by boasting about them or by repenting of having done them. Therefore, one should not without good reason proclaim one's meritorious act.
Ownership
Jaimini (6.7.1 to7) establishes several propositions namely - a donor can gift only those objects that he owns and has earned them by just means. He cannot make a gift of what one's relatives (parents, sons and others) own in the Visvajit yaga among other things. Narada
Guidelines for a Donor
The Shastra Granthas take great care in enumerating the precautions to be taken by a donor. For, the Patrata (पात्रता । Eligibility) of the receiver, the appropriateness of the time and place of charity decide the fruitfulness of the act of donation.
Apastamba Dharma Sutra
- Expounding on how should a Dana be given, the Apastamba Dharma Sutra says,
१ तत्र गुणान्समीक्ष्य यथाशक्ति देयम् || tatra guṇān samīkṣya yathā śakti deyam || 2:5:10:2.||[2]
Meaning: [The donor] must examine the qualities [of the petitioner] and give according to his means.[3]
- What requests as charity should be disregarded ? Apastamba Dharma Sutra says,
२ इन्द्रियप्रीत्यर्थस्य तु भिक्षणमनिमित्तम् । न तदाद्रियेत || 2:5:10:3.|| १७ योक्ता च धर्मयुक्तेषु द्रव्यपरिग्रहेषु च || 2:8:20:18.|| १८ प्रतिपादयिता च तीर्थे || 2:8:20:19.||[2]
indriya prīty arthasya tu bhikṣaṇam animittam | na tad ādriyeta || 2:5:10:3.|| yā-uktā ca dharma yukteṣu dravya parigraheṣu ca || 2:8:20:18.|| pratipādayitā ca tīrthe || 2:8:20:19.||
Meaning: But if persons solicit donations for the sake of sensual gratification, that is improper; one should disregard them. And let him acquire money in all ways that are lawful. And let him spend money on worthy [persons or objects].[3]
Manusmriti (11.6) also advices the same.
- Whom should a donation NOT be given to ? According to Apastamba Dharma Sutra,
१९ यन्ता चातीर्थे यतो न भयं स्यात् || 2:8:20:20.|| २० संग्रहीता च मनुष्यान् || 2:8:20:21.||[2]
yantā ca-atīrthe yato na bhayaṃ syāt || 2:8:20:20.|| saṃgrahītā ca manuṣyān || 2:8:20:21.||
Meaning: And let him not give anything to an unworthy [person], whom he does not fear. And let him conciliate people [by gifts or kindness].[3]
- What are the parameters for an appropriate donation ? Apastamba Dharma Sutra says,
११ देशतः कालतः शौचतः सम्यक् प्रतिग्रहीतृत इति दानानि प्रतिपादयति || 2:6:15:12.||[2]
deśataḥ kālataḥ śaucataḥ samyak pratigrahītṛta iti dānāni pratipādayati || 2:6:15:12.||
Meaning: One shall distribute his gifts at the proper places, at the proper times, at the occasion of purificatory rites, and to proper recipients.[3]
Manusmriti (3.98) also gives a similar instruction to the donor.
Eligible Donor
Ineligible Donor