Changes

=== Based on Beneficiary  ===

=== Based on Beneficiary  ===

* Dana (दानम्) : When the giving results in transfer of property from one person to another, it is treated as dana. In some cases, the transfer might benefit more than one person. However, so long as the number of beneficiaries is fixed, the giving will be considered dana. Additionally, the donor should no longer derive any benefit from the item donated. Some types of giving are not considered dana. These include gifts to people whom one is otherwise required to support. Similarly, mutual exchange of gifts is treated as a cultural practice, but does not qualify as dana.<ref name=":0" />

* '''Dana (दानम्)''' : When the giving results in transfer of property from one person to another, it is treated as dana. In some cases, the transfer might benefit more than one person. However, so long as the number of beneficiaries is fixed, the giving will be considered dana. Additionally, the donor should no longer derive any benefit from the item donated. Some types of giving are not considered dana. These include gifts to people whom one is otherwise required to support. Similarly, mutual exchange of gifts is treated as a cultural practice, but does not qualify as dana.<ref name=":0" />

* Utsarga (उत्सर्गः) : If the item or property is dedicated or released for general public use, the giving is treated as utsarga. The property is then owned commonly, and is similar to the concept of common grazing land. In this case, there is no bar on the donor also using the property as a member of the public, without any special privileges.<ref name=":0" />

* '''Utsarga (उत्सर्गः)''' : If the item or property is dedicated or released for general public use, the giving is treated as utsarga. The property is then owned commonly, and is similar to the concept of common grazing land. In this case, there is no bar on the donor also using the property as a member of the public, without any special privileges.<ref name=":0" />

=== Based on the Nature of Dana  ===

=== Based on the Nature of Dana  ===

== Procedure of Dana ==

== Procedure of Dana ==

While there are many procedures to be followed for making a dana on different occasions the general procedure is outlined as follows:<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":22">Pt. Bharatachandra Siromani (1873) ''[https://archive.org/stream/in.ernet.dli.2015.424417/2015.424417.chaturvarga-chintamani#page/n535/mode/2up Chaturvarga Chintamani by Hemadri, Vol 1, Dana kanda.]'' Calcutta: The Asiatic Society of Bengal</ref>

While there are many procedures to be followed for making a dana on different occasions the general procedure is outlined as follows:<ref name=":1" /> (see footnote 2016 on Page 855 of Reference <ref name=":22">Pt. Bharatachandra Siromani (1873) ''[https://archive.org/stream/in.ernet.dli.2015.424417/2015.424417.chaturvarga-chintamani#page/n535/mode/2up Chaturvarga Chintamani by Hemadri, Vol 1, Dana kanda.]'' Calcutta: The Asiatic Society of Bengal</ref>)

* The donor and acceptor should have taken their bath and wear two white garments (dhoti and angavastra).

* The donor and acceptor should have taken their bath and wear two white garments (dhoti and angavastra).

* Donor should have performed his nityakarma including sandhyavandana (and agnikarya), should wear a pavitra, perform achamana, wear the sacred thread in upavita form, be seated on appropriate seat (made of darbha or kusa grass).

* Donor should have performed his nityakarma including sandhyavandana (and agnikarya), should wear a pavitra, perform achamana, wear the sacred thread in upavita form, be seated on appropriate seat (made of darbha or kusa grass).

* Donor should be seated facing east and the receiver is to be seated to his right facing north direction.  

* Donor should be seated facing east and the receiver is to be seated to his right facing north direction.  

* Donor should utter the name of the subject of the gift, its presiding deity, and purpose for which he makes the gift  and chant the prescribed mantras.

* Donor should utter the name of the subject of the gift, its presiding deity, and purpose for which he makes the gift  and chant the prescribed mantras of the occasion during which the dana is made.

* Donor explicity says " I make a gift to you of such an such an article" and and the donee says "give". Then the donor pours water in the donee's hand while making the gift. Apastamba Dharmasutras (2.4.9.9 and 10) explicitly states that all gifts are to be made with water except in the case of vedic yajnas where they are to be made as directed by the vedic texts. Gautama (5.6) also supports the same.

* Donor explicity says " I make a gift to you of such an such an article" and and the donee says "give". Then the donor pours water in the donee's hand along with offer of the gift. Apastamba Dharmasutras (2.4.9.9 and 10) explicitly states that all gifts are to be made with water except in the case of vedic yajnas where they are to be made as directed by the vedic texts. Gautama (5.6) also supports the same.

* The donor has to offer the gifts accompanied by a separate dakshina to the donee.   

* The donor has to offer the gifts accompanied by a separate dakshina to the donee.   

'''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=":0" />   

'''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=":0" />   

According to shastras, there is a distinction between yaga, homa and dana. '''Yaga''' : A yaga is constituted by abandoning something that belongs to one, intending it for a deity and accompanying it with vedic mantras.   

According to shastras, there is a distinction between yaga, homa and dana.<ref name=":1" /> 

 

'''Yaga''' : A yaga is constituted by abandoning something that belongs to one, intending it for a deity and accompanying it with vedic mantras.   

'''Homa''' : Homa is offering into fire something that belongs to oneself over which one abandons one's ownership with an intention to make an offering to the deities.  

'''Homa''' : Homa is offering into fire something that belongs to oneself over which one abandons one's ownership with an intention to make an offering to the deities.  

'''Dana''' : Dana is willful cessation of one's ownership over a thing and creating the ownership of another over that thing. Dana occurs when the other person accepts the thing, which may be mental or vocal or physical.<ref name=":1" />

'''Dana''' : Dana is willful cessation of one's ownership over a thing and creating the ownership of another over that thing. Dana occurs when the other person accepts the thing, which may be mental or vocal or physical.

== निष्फलदानम् ॥ Fruitless Dana ==

== निष्फलदानम् ॥ Fruitless Dana ==

=== प्रतिग्रहीता ॥ Receiver ===

=== प्रतिग्रहीता ॥ Receiver ===

There are sixteen kinds of payments made to donees that does not qualify as dana. A receiver should be assessed for his mental attitudes and physical conditions by the donor for a dana to be made properly.<ref name=":0" />

There are sixteen kinds of payments made to donees that does not qualify as dana. A receiver should be assessed for his mental attitudes and physical conditions by the donor for a dana to be frutiful.<ref name=":0" />

== References ==

== References ==