Tuesday, June 30, 2020

Everything you want to know about Daana

Courtesy:Sri.Bhupal

Naimittika Daan is like Samkranti Daan, Grahana (Eclipse) Daan, Daan at auspicious occasions like weddings, Vraths etc.

Significance of Daan (Charity)-Its Profile and Fruits 

In the 'Kaumarika Khand' of the present Skanda Purana, some details of Pandava's 'Vanavasa' (forest life) for twelve years pursuant to the unjust game of chess by Kauravas and Arjun's 'Tirtha Yatras' or visits to Holy Places and Rivers were described. The important Tirthas were Kumaresh Tirtha, Stambhesh Tirtha, Varkareswari Tirtha, Mahakaleswara Tirtha, and Siddheswari Tirtha.

But these Tirthas were infested by crocodiles and used to pull down 'Tapasvis' from river beds into water and kill them. Thus nobody dared to enter the Tirthas. Some persons warned Arjuna but he did not heed the advice and was caught by a crocodile which was forcibly drawn out of water and hurt so much that it was almost killed. From the dying crocodile emerged an 'Apsara' or a Divine Damsel. Similarly crocodiles from other Tirthas also turned out to be Apsaras and told Arjuna of their experience of a Tapasvi on a river bank attracted them but the Brahmana cursed them to become crocodiles till such time that a mighty warrior entered the waters and dragged the curse-ridden crocodiles forcibly on to the banks of the Rivers. The four Apsaras so redeemed by Arjuna were Sourabhi, Sameyi, Budbuda and Lata and henceforth the Sacred Tirthas were made accessible and active once again.

Thereafter, Arjuna visited the Ashram of Sage Narada and secured blessings, especially since Arjun made the 'Panchaapsara Tirthas' accessible once again. In this context, Narada described to Arjun about 'daan' (charity), its two 'hethus' (varieties), six 'Adhishtaans' (Reasons), six 'Anks' (Parties), two 'Parinaams' (end results or fruits), three bhedas (classifications) and three 'Vinas Saadhanas' (negative results). 
The two 'hethus'as normally perceived are about the size of the charity-small or big- as also of the quality. But such 'hethus' are not as important as the 'shraddha' or dedication and devotion are. Bhagavan Siva would be pleased only by the sincerity and pure heart that is attached to the charity rather than any other aspect. 

Again, 'Dhana Daan' or the charity of money is more popular than 'Vastu Daan' or charity of material, 'Vastra Daan'or charity of clothes etc. since charity of money would buy back Vastu or Vastra. 
Then the six 'Adhishtaans' or reasons of Daan are: 'Dharma Daan' without strings attached ie.
Daan given to the Virtuous or Dharmatmas; 
'Artha Daan' keeping in view some purpose or utility; 
'Kaama Daan' like favours for women, wine or such other benefits in view; 
'Lajja Daan is due to compulsions of Public or Society; 
'Harsha Daan' is made on receiving good news and out of happiness; and 
'Bhaya daan' out of compulsion, fear or avoidance of  risks. 

The six 'Anks' or donor/receiver parties are as follows: 
The Positive Donors are 'Daatas' by nature; the 'Dharmatmas' or the Virtuous; those desirous of donating willingly and happily; the 'Vyasana rahit' or devoid of bad habits; 'Pavitra' or Symbols of Purity and 'Anindaneeya' or the blemishless.
The Negative Donors are ill mannered, indolent, evil minded, persons of bad habits, persons who swear to support the Evil and persons who are sleepy! 

Among the Good Receivers of Charity are those of good 'Kula' or caste, who has 'Vidya' or good Education, good 'Aachaar' or family bearing / tradition, earners of rightful way of life or of Satvik Life, of kind heart, 'Jitendriya' or of Controlled Emotions and finally of excellent parenthood.
The second category of receivers of donations is of pleasant visage, of sincerity and thankfulness but not of demanding nature, cantankerous or mean. The donors of charity must have the perspective of what kind of material is required or useful to the receiver or otherwise the purpose of charity would be defeated.The two 'Parinams'or end results/fruits are either gain of 'Punya'for the 'Paralok' or after death or for use in 'Ihalok' or the current life to the receiver. 

The latter 'Dannas' or for the use of Ihalok are of four types viz. Dhruva, Trika, Kamya and Naimittika. 
Dhruva is for public use like digging wells, construction of Temples, gardens, Choultries, schools etc.
Trikha is for daily utility like 'Nithya Daan', say Vidya Daan.  
Kamya Daan is to fulfill one's own desires like victory, wealth, might etc. 
Naimittika Daan is like Samkranti Daan, Grahana (Eclipse) Daan, Daan at auspicious occasions like weddings, Vraths etc. or 
Kriyapeksha Daan like Shraadh, Vratas etc.; 
Gunapeksha Daan like Vidyabhyas and so on. 

Three 'Bhedas'or types of Daan are classified; the best types are charity of houses, temples, buildings, Bhumi (farms / fields), cows, Wells, gold and ornaments and the best of course is to give away one's own life itself as 'Daan'. 
The Secondary Variety of charity relates to Anna (Food grains), Vastra (Clothing), 'Vahan' etc. 
The tertiary kind of Daan is to donate footwear, umbrellas, utensils, curd, honey, 'Asan' or seating, deepa or Light, wood, stones etc. 

Now, there are three kinds of 'Daan Naashak' reasons viz. 
'Paschattaap' or regret of having given the Daan; 
'Apaatra Daan' or charity to the wrong and unserved person or 
'Ashraddha Daan'is to a person on account of laziness. 
Paschattapaya Daan indicates as to why the Daan is given at all; 
Ashraddha Daan is Rakshasa Daan and Apaatra Daan is as bad as not giving it away. 
The worst Daan is 'Paisacha Daan' or the charity duly given is returned under duress or due to the bad behaviour of the receiver or the donor. 

Incidentally, Apaatra Daan should be avoided to an undeserving Brahmana who is bereft of 'Vidya', sells his/her conscience if his Bhumi is accepted; if he accepts a cow to kill it or sell it; if he accepts gold to encash it, a horse that might destroy the receiver's eyes; Vastra to harm his wife; ghee his manliness; til seeds that might harm his children and so on. 

Source: http://www.kamakoti.org/kamakoti/details/skandapurana11.html

Bhagavad Gita - 17.20
दातव्यमिति यद्दानं दीयतेऽनुपकारिणे।
देशे काले च पात्रे च तद्दानं सात्त्विकं स्मृतम्।।
English Commentary By Swami Sivananda
17.20 दातव्यम् ought to be given? इति thus? यत् that? दानम् gift? दीयते is given? अनुपकारिणे to one who does no service (in return)? देशे in a fit place? काले in time? च and? पात्रे to a worthy person? च and? तत् that? दानम् gift? सात्त्विकम् Sattvic? स्मृतम् is held to be.
Commentary 
The gift should be given to one who cannot return the good or to one from whom no such return is expected.It is necessary to be in Kurukshetra or Varanasi or any part of the world that is eally sacred when one offes gifts. The time should be during solar or lunar eclips or an eally auspicious occasion.Worthy A pious person who is a Tapasvin? who is well versed in the scriptures (the Vedas and the,Vedangas)? who is able to protect himself and the donor? etc.At such a time and such a place there shoule be a person worthy to receive the gift? a person who is the very incarnation of purity? the very abode of good conduct. A gift may be freely given to such a highly deserving person. The donor should not boast of his charity.
Source: https://www.gitasupersite.iitk.ac.in/srimad?language=dv&field_chapter_value=17&field_nsutra_value=20&htrskd=1&httyn=1&htshg=1&scsh=1&ecsiva=1&choose=1

श्रद्धया देयम् ।  Give with Faith,
अश्रद्धयाऽदेयम् ।  Give not without Faith;
श्रिया देयम् ।  Give in Plenty,
ह्रिया देयम् ।  Give with Modesty,
भिया देयम् ।  Give with Awe,
संविदा देयम् ।  Give with Sympathy.
Source: तैत्तिरीयोपनिषदि शीक्षावल्लीनामप्रथमोध्याये एकादशोऽनुवाकः - https://sanskritdocuments.org/doc_upanishhat/shikshaavalii.html

Six are the duties assigned to brahmana- study of Vedas, teaching Vedas, performing yagas, guiding others in yagas, giving danam (ceremonial gifts) and receiving danam.
"Svadhyayo yajanam danam tasya karma iti sthitih|
Karmanyadhyapanam chaiva yajanam cha pratigrahah||"
While accepting danam, he should not aspire for accumulation of wealth, but keep the minimum required for running the family. In earlier times he studied all the four Vedas, each in twelve years.
Kshatriya was assigned five duties- study of Vedas, performing yagas, giving danam, protecting the citizens, and punishing the guilty. Vaisya was assigned the duties of study of Vedas, performing yagas, giving danam, protecting cows and engaging in agriculture, trade etc. Sudra was assigned the duties of working in agriculture, carpentry etc.,sculpture, dance and adoring brahmana etc.
Source: http://www.kamakoti.org/kamakoti/articles/VEDIC%20RELIGION%20(MATHAM).html

Emphasis is laid on Danam to be given to a 'Sat Patram', a suitable recipient. 'Sat Patram' is defined as one who observes the Sastraic rules of conduct (Aachara), austerities (Tapas), chanting of Veda, listening to Vedanta, Puja of Siva and Vishnu, giving discourses on Puranas and their import etc. If suitable 'Sat Patram' is not available, Danam should be mentally carried out to a Sat Patram and given to him later. Danam of bronze vessel filled with milk, fruits, jaggery, ghee and Tambulam, Yagnopavita, and cow with calf is recommended. Brahmanas should be offered Vastra and fed.
Source: https://www.kamakoti.org/kamakoti/articles/Mahodayam.html

Following are the slokas in praise of Kesava and Sravana Nakshatra, Chandra, Vyatipata and Vishnu, to be chanted while giving Danam:
श्रवणर्क्षे जगन्नाथ जन्मर्क्षे तव केशव ।
यन्मया दत्तमर्थिभ्यः तदक्षयं-इहास्तु मे ॥
नक्षत्राणां-अधिपते देवानां-अमृतप्रद ।
त्राहि मां रोहिणीकान्त कलाशेष नमोस्तु ते ॥
दीननाथ जगन्नाथ कलानाथ कृपाकर ।
त्वत्पादपद्मयुगल-भक्तिरस्वचला मम ॥
व्यतीपात नमस्तेऽस्तु सोमसूर्याग्निसन्निभ ।
यद्दानादि कृतं किञ्चित्-तदक्षयं-इहास्तु ते ॥
अर्थिनां कल्पवृक्षोऽसि वासुदेव जनार्दन ।
मासर्त्वयनकालेश पापं शमय मे हरे ॥
Source: https://www.kamakoti.org/kamakoti/articles/Mahodayam.html

Aa.Kaa.Maa.Vai
In the months of Aashaadha, Kaarthika, Maagha and Vaisakha, on days when Pournami tithi extends in Sunrise hours, it is very meritorious to bathe in rivers before Sunrise. It is also recommended to give danam on these days.
Source: https://www.kamakoti.org/kamakoti/books/Balabodha%20Sangraham%20-%202.html by Sri Atma Bodha Tirtha Swamiji 

Samamabraahmane daanam dvigunam braahmanabruve, praadheete shatasaahasramanantam veda -paarage/ 
Paatrasya hi visheshena shraddadhaanatayaiva cha, alpam vaa bahu vaa pretya daanasya phalamashnute/ 
While charity is offered to any of Varnas then there would be good returns of ‗sukrita phala', but once that daana is given to a Brahmana the returns get doubled ; once that daanas are executed to a well read and knowledgeble Brahmana, the fruits get further intensified hundred thousand fold, while the recipient is a Veda Vedanga paaranga, then he demands ‗anantha phala'! Even if a ‗daana'were given as per one's own ability, then undoubtedly a deserving status is accomplished in the higher worlds.
Source: https://www.kamakoti.org/kamakoti/books/Essence-Aapastamba-Dharma-Sutras.pdf

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