Rules of Donation in Hinduism: Know the Types of Donations and What Part of Your Income Should be Donated

Meaning of DaanThe meaning of daan is to bestow, to dispose, to donate, to endow. Daan is the original word in Sanskrit for donation meaning selfless giving.

It is also third in the list of the ten Niyamas (virtuous acts). Life after death is a strong belief of Hindus and is an ongoing process of rebirth. The law of Karma decides which way the soul will go in the next life.

Donation has great importance in the Hindu religion. It is also mentioned in Rigveda that donating is considered equivalent to performing a yagya. That is, the results are obtained after performing Yagya, whereas the results are also obtained by donating to someone. Donating not only relieves many types of troubles but also gives relief from sins.

The Daan should only be made with the money left over after fullfilling the requirements of the family. Daan should not result in hardship to donors’ family or loss of livelihood. In general only those who have surplus wealth are required to make daan.

Scriptures lay down varying proportions of one’s income (ranging from 10% to 40%) to give away in daan.

Skanda Puran – According to Skanda Puran one should 10% of one’s justly earned income on good deeds or works of pubilc benifit.

Bhagwat puran – At one stage, when “Sukhracharya” advises king “Bali” against giving all his wealth away. He quotes learned people to recommend dividing one’s fund into five equal parts.
1) One part should be used for Dharma (daan).
2) Second for Yash (public works, which brings fame to oneself).
3) Third should be re-invested to generate more wealth.
4) Forth for “Kaam”(काम) or material enjoyment.
5) Fifth for one’s family and friends.

Importance of Charity (Danam)
आदानां दोषेण भवेद्दारिद्रम। दारिद्र्य दोषेण करोति पापं ।।
पापदावस्यां नरकं प्रयान्ति। पुनर दरिद्रो पुनरेव: पापी ।।

“Adana Doshena Bhaveddaridram Daridraya Doshena Karothi papam Papadavasyam Narakam Prayathi Punar Dadidro Punareva Papi.”

Meaning – Great men think that poverty comes to man as a result of the miserly deeds of his past birth. A man should, as shastras say, donate some of his earning to the poor. He should cultivate the habit of doing charitable deeds. Otherwise, in his next birth he will again be born as a poor man who will be forced to do sinful deeds and as a result of which he will be placed in Narakam [Hell] and after receiving punishment in Hell, he will be born again as a poor man:दारिद्रय:कुतं दानं। शून्य: लिंगस्च पूजनं।। अन्धा प्रेत: संस्कारं। अश्वमेध: समं विदुहु।।

“Daridraya Krutam Danam Soonya Limgascha poojanam Anadha Pretha Samskaram Aswamedha samam viduhu.”
Meaning – Helping the poor with money, doing ‘Archana’/’pooja’ [worship] to the Shiva Lingam of a dilapidated temple, and doing funeral rites to the corpse of an orphan are equal to doing Aswamedha Yagam.

Daan is based on the principle that one can be happy only if every other being in society is happy. The Rigved has the earliest discussion of daan. It points to the guilt one feels from not giving to those in need.

Types of Donations
According to the beliefs of the Sanatan Dharma it is believed that by donating, a person gets welfare in this world as well as in the next world.

But in today’s busy times, the meaning of charity for people is limited only to donating money, whether it is called lack of time or something else. Charity is added to virtuous deeds.

The tradition of donating has been going on in Indian culture since the Vedic period. Five types of donations have been described in Hindu Sanatan Dharma. These five donations are education, land, girl, cow, and food donations. These five donations are considered very important. But while donating, keep in mind that any kind of donation should be done selflessly. Only then does it become fruitful. So let us know the importance of these five kinds of donations.

Land donation
In earlier times, kings donated land to worthy and superior people. Lord Vishnu took the incarnation of Batuk Brahmin and covered all three worlds in just three steps. If this donation is done properly then it has great importance. It is best if land is donated for the construction of ashram, school, building, Dharamshala, pyu, cow shed etc.

Cow donation
Cow donation is considered to have special importance in Sanatan culture. Regarding this donation, it is said that the person who donates a cow gets welfare in this world as well as in the next world. The person who donates a cow will seed himself and his ancestors and get freedom from the cycle of birth and death.

Donating food
Donating food is a very virtuous act. This is such a charity, through which a person satisfies the hungry. This donation shows the importance of food. All types of satvik food items are included in it.

Kanya Daan
Kanya Daan is called Mahadaan. Donation of a girl child is considered best form of daan in Sanatan Dharma. This donation is made by the girl’s parents at her marriage ceremony. In this donation, the parents take a pledge by placing their daughter’s hand in the groom’s hand and hand over all her responsibilities to the groom.

Vidya Daan
Through this donation, a person acquires the qualities of knowledge, humility, and prudence that benefit society and the world. In Indian culture, the transmission of knowledge has been going on in the Guru-disciple tradition for centuries. Knowledge is a wealth which increases when shared.

Know the special rules for donating
The most appropriate donation in charity is considered to be self-given, by someone who donates his things willingly. At the same time, the donation of houses and households has been considered a medium donation. This donation is considered fruitful. Let us tell you that if you stop donating at the time of donating a cow, a Brahmin, or a sick person, then you have to suffer.

If a person donates sesame seeds, kush, water, and rice with his hands, then it is auspicious, otherwise, he gets captured by demons.

Another important thing to keep in mind is that while donating, always keep your head towards the east. The one taking donations should keep his face towards north. By doing this, the age of the donor increases while the age of the taker also does not decrease.

If a person wants to make a great donation then he must donate these 16 household items along with cow, gold, silver, gems, sesame, girl, elephant, horse, bed, clothes, land, knowledge, food, milk, umbrella and necessary materials. should do.