Compilation of various Daanas from

scriptures
This document covers the different Daana mentioned in scriptures and their
merits. Contributing a part of our earnings for the benefit of society was always
encouraged in our tradition.

In the Markandeya Purana, the dialogue between

Yama, Dharma Raja and Sati Savithri reveals the
nature of bhakthi and the maha daanas to be
given away to avoid the cycle of birth and death,
Moksham.

The good works get fructified in Heavens; and the

bad works lead the Jivas to hells. This Karma can
be got rid of by Bhakti.

This Bhakti is of two kinds - (1) Nirguna of the nature

of Nirvana and (2) towards Prakriti where Maya is
inherent. Diseases come as the result of bad and ignorant actions and health
and wealth come from good and certain scientific Karmas. Similar are the
remarks for short and long lives. Therefore steadfastly doing excellent Karmas
one acquires beneficent Siddhis.

Even the actions we perform to seek punya are of two kinds. One is through
Sakama (with desires) or with Nishkama (without desires). The Nishkami is superior
to Sakami. The Sakami want to enjoy the fruits of their Karmas (Japa, tapa,
poojas), while the Nishkami does all these as his duty towards his creator, the
Paramathma. The Sakama Bhakta is born again and again as per his deeds. The
Nishkami assumes divine form and go to the Vaikunta.

The easiest way to obtain moksha is reciting the Bhagavan’s namas. (Sriman
Narayana alone gives Moksha, while Sankara gives wealth and prosperity - Sam
karothi ithi Sankara - one who gives wealth/soubhagyam).

Yama, Dharma Raja says: "He who utters the name of Hari or gives the name
(i.e., the mantra) of Hari to others, is worshipped in Vishnu loka for as many
yugas as the number of times, the name or mantra was uttered. Please come
forward and reap rich rewards in your present and after-life.
 "He who recites Hari nama koti times at any Narayana
Kshetra undoubtedly becomes free of all sins and liberated
while living and he will not get rebirth. He lives always in
Vaikuntha. He gets the Saalokya (the same region of
Vishnu), is not liable to fall, and becomes a Bhakta of
Vishnu."

But those who could afford should definitely come forward

and donate. Each and every nature of dana has its own
rewards.

Those who donate bhoomi and cattle, silver, gold, garment,

fruits and water go to the Chandraloka and live there for one Manvantara.

Again those that give gold, cows, copper, etc., go to the Surya Loka (the region
of the Sun) and live there for one Ayuta years (10,000 years), free from diseases,
etc., for a long time. Those that give lands and lots of wealth go to the Vishnu
Loka and to the beautiful Sveta Dveepa (vaikunta in the Ksheera Sagara).

Those who give dwelling places with devotion go to Vishnu Loka. And there, in
that great Visnu Loka, they live for years equal to the number of molecules, in
that house. He who offers a dwelling house in honour of any Deva, goes to the
region of that Deva and remains there for a number of years equivalent to the
number of particles in that house.

If any man offers a Vaapi (a well) in preference to other gifts, one gets ten-fold
fruits thereby. If one offers seven Vaapis, one acquires the fruits of offering one
tank. A Vaapi is one which is four thousand Dhanus long and which is as much
wide or less (Note :-- Dhanu equals a measure of four hastas).

He who plants an Asvattha tree, and dedicates it to a godly purpose, lives for
one Ayuta years in Tapo Loka.

He who dedicates a flower garden for the acquirement of all sorts of good, lives
for one Ayuta years in Dhruva Loka.

He who gives a Vimaana (any sort of excellent carriage) in honour of Vishnu

lives for one Manvantara in Vishnuloka. And if one gives a Vimaana of
variegated colours and workmanship, four times the result accrues.

And one who gives a palanquin, acquires half the fruits.

Again if anybody gives, out of devotion, a swinging temple (the Dol Mandir) to
Bhagavan SriHari, lives for one hundred Manvantras, in the region of Vishu.
O Chaste One! He who makes a gift of a royal road, decorated with palatial
buildings on either side, lives with great honour and love in that Indraloka for one
Ayuta years.

He who gives rice and food goes to the Sivaloka where he dwells with great
respect for years equivalent to the measure of that food. This “Anna-daana” is a
great daan (charity) and no other charity is superior to this.

Seats (Aasanas) given to the Devas carry the donor to the Vishnu Loka, where
he dwells for Ayuta years with great respect and love.

Giving excellent cows take the donor to Vishnuloka, where he is glorified and
remains for years equivalent to the number of pores in that cow or those cows.
And if cows be given on a meritorious day, four times the merits accrue, and if
given in a sacred place of pilgrimage, hundred times the result occurs; and if
given in a tirtha, where Narayana is worshipped, koti times the results accrue.

A gift of a beautiful white umbrella makes one goes to Varunaloka for Ayuta
years where he remains with great pleasure.

Giving garments makes one fit to remain with glory in Vayuloka for one ayuta
years.

Giving a Salagrama with garments makes one remain with glory in Vaikuntha as
long as there exist the Sun and Moon.

Giving beautiful bedding glorifies a man in the Chandraloka as long as there

exist the Sun and Moon.

To give lamps glorifies a man in Agniloka for one Manvantara.

To give elephants makes one sit in the same throne with Indra for his life period.

Giving horses to the Brahmanas makes one remain in Varunaloka for fourteen
Indra’s life periods.

Giving a white chamara and fan leads the donor to the Vayuloka where he
remains for one ayuta years.

Giving grains and jewels make one long-lived and both the donors and
receivers go certainly to Vaikuntha.
To give gingili (Sesamum) leads one to Siva Loka, where one enjoys for a number
of years equal to the number of gingili.

To give a copper plate yields double the effect.

He who gives nice and delicious fruits remains with glory in the Indra Loka for a
number of years equivalent to the fruits.

To give thousand trees while there are fruits on them, or nice fruits makes one
enjoy the Heavens for a long, long time.

A devotee of Mula Prakriti won’t have to come here and be reborn. The
devotees of Mula Prakriti go to Mani Dveepa, the highest place of Sri
Bhuvanesari Devi and remain there forever.

The worshipers of the Devi Mantra when they quit

their mortal coils, assume divine appearances, and
free from birth, death and old age, assume the
Saarupya of the Devi and remain in Her seva. They
reside in Manidvipa and see the part Pralayas. The
Devas die, the Siddhas die, the whole universe
vanishes; but the Devi Bhaktas never die and they
remain free form birth.

He who offers Tulasi leaf to Bhagavan Hari in the

month of Kaarthik resides for three yugas in the
temple of Hari. Getting again a good birth, he
acquires the devotion to Sri Hari and becomes the
Foremost of those who restrain their senses.

He who bathes in the Ganges early before the rising of the Sun remains in
enjoyment in the temple of Hari for 60,000 yugas. Getting again a good birth, he
gets the Vishnu Mantra, and quitting his mortal coil, becomes united with the
Feet of Srî Hari. He will not come back from Vaikuntha to this earth. He remains in
Hari’s Service and gets the same form of Hari. He who bathes daily in the
Ganges, becomes purified like the Sun and gets the result of performing the
Aswamedha at every step.

The man who gives cool water to drink resides in happiness in Kailaas for 14
Indra’s life periods.

He who performs the Krishna Janmaashtami is freed from the sins incurred in his
hundred births. The observer of the vow remains in great enjoyment in Vaikuntha
for 14 Indra’s life periods.
He who performs the Sivaraatri resides with great joy in Siva Loka for seven
manvantaras.

He who offers the Bilva leaves to Siva in Sivaratri time, resides with great joy in
Siva’s abode for as many yugas as there are number of leaves.

He who performs Sri Rama Navami lives in the abode of Vishnu for seven
Manvantaras.

He who performs the Durga Puja in the month of autumn of the Mula Prakriti
resides in the Siva Loka for seven Manvantaras.

He who distributes sweets goes to Vishnu Loka.

Worshipping the lotus-feet of the Devi is the best and highest, is stated in all the
Puranas, in all the Vedas, and in all the Itihasas. And the devotee will not be
born again.

Sanat Kumara's views on Danas

In the context of the experiences of Yamaloka, charity plays a significant role in

mitigating the impact of punishments to a departed Soul.

Sage Sanat Kumara says:

Paaneeya daanam paramam daana mutthamam

sada sarvesham jeevapunjanam tarpanam jeevanam amrutam

(Charity of Water is considered as the best as it provides full contentment and

life).

This is why offering water outlet is considered as a satisfying act. Construction of

water bodies, digging up of wells and supply of water through various means is
thus a source of happiness to others and to self whose post-life experiences
would become less pungent.

Those who facilitate the construction of ponds are doubly blessed giving instant
relief to human beings, animals and birds in the long run far beyond the lives of
the charity makers and attract considerable reduction of the burden of their
sins.
In fact, those who are responsible to perform this best charity of facilitating
water supply in all seasons, especially summer, would never fall down the levels
lower than heavens after life.

Next to water is the charity of planting Trees which make available innumerable
solaces to mankind, Sages, animals, birds, Devas and Danavas and even to Evil
Spirits whose blessings are richly reaped by those responsible.

Those who make available gardens with trees bearing fruits, flowers, shade and
various other facilities to public are blessed for countless uses.

Several other kinds of charity would certainly yield far reaching results and the
acts of kindness however big or small do not indeed go waste.

For instance, a person who donates an umbrella would help him to cross the hell
without heat and provide him shade; or a person donating footwear would
cross parts of hell the protection of feet.

Charity of jewelry, cows, land, servants, chariot, food grains, beds, Vidya,
money, horses and elephants have all highly beneficial value with manifold
returns.

Danas ... according to Matsya Purana

The scripture says there are different methods to donate alms.

One of the most sacred is known as Tula Purusha. In this, a pair of scales is
used. The person who is donating the alms ascends on one side of the scales
and gold is placed on the other side until the scales are exactly balanced. This
is the amount of gold that has to be donated if punya is to be acquired. The
Kings of Travancore performed such Tula Purusha danas.

A second sort of donation is known as Hiranyagarbha. In this, a pot full of gold is

donated.
Brahmanda dana - a globe of gold or gold plated is donated.

Kalpadruma - In this, a tree is made of gold is donated.

Go-Sahasra - Involves the donation of a thousand cows.

Ratna-dhenu - A cow made of gold is donated. The nose, the eyes, the brows
and various other parts of the cow should be made out of jewels.
Kamadhenu - The object of donation in this case is a cow and calf, both made
out of gold.

Hiranyashva - A horse made of gold is donated.

Ashva-radha - A horse drawn cart in gold to be donated.

Hemah Hasti-radha - An elephant drawn cart in gold to be donated.

Pancha lngalaka - 5 ploughs made of wood and 5 made of gold are to be

donated.
Dharani - A golden model of the earth is donated.

Vishvachakra - A model universe in the shape of a wheel in gold is to be

donated.

Maha kalapalaka - Ten creepers made out of god are donated.

Maha Bhoota Ghata - A pot is made gold is filled with jewels is donated.

Benefits of feeding Cow

• Soaked horse gram - confirmation in job

• Soaked Tuvar dal - to get control of anger
• Soaked Green gram - begets higher education
• Rice flour with jaggery - Peaceful life
• Black gram flour with jaggery - wealth
• Bengal gram flour with jaggery - victory in litigations
• Wheat flour with jaggery - job opportunity
• Black gingili with jaggery - removal of poverty
• White gingili with jaggery - intelligence
• Wheat – Honour
• Tuvar dal - overcoming debts
• Black gram - self confidence
• Bengal gram - to become devotional (philosophical)
• Cow peas - growth of wealth
• Potatoes - to ward off drishti
• Carrots - prosperity in business
• Beetroot/palak - wealth
• Cucumber - victory over enemy
• Tomatoes - early marriage
• Brinjal - santana prapty
• Ladies finger - self confidence
Fruits:
• Bananas - reputation

Note: For convenience you can mix the above combinations: Like Rice flour,
Black gram flour, Bengal gram flour and Wheat flour with jaggery. Soak horse
gram, Tuvar dal and Green gram and offer it. Wheat, Black gram, Bengal gram,
Black and white gingili and Cow peas can be mixed and given to the cow.

Also buy Patotatos, Carrots, Beetroot, Palak, Cucumber, Tomatoes, Brinjal and
Ladies finger and give it to the cow.

These danas are superior to all other forms of donation, and bring countless
punya. If danas are given in a temple the punya pala is 100 folds. If it is
performed at holy places like Kasi, Gaya, Badrinath etc. the pala accrued will
be 1000-fold. Similar benefits occur if it is given at Punya nadhi theera and
ocean fronts and Amavasya, Pournami, Ekadasi, Janmasthami, Rama Navami,
Grahana kalas.

The Agni Purana narrates thus:

Even a thought of constructing a Temple or a Water Body is adequate to

demolish sins of long standing nature and to actually accomplishing the task is
like establishing a right to reach Vaikuntha.

The devotee who completes the temple construction also redeems the sins of
his previous generations; indeed, his ‘pitaras’ would secure instant relief from the
torments of hells and qualify for substantial dispensations.

The person(s) responsible for this deed of extraordinary merit is eligible for Yagna
Phalam, Samasta Tirthta Snaana Phalam, and veera phalam(Veera maranam).

If a miser takes up the deed of Temple renovation, let alone construction, would
in his own lifetime qualify the fulfillment of his dream-like aspirations of multiplying
his assets.
The construction of even an ‘Ekayatan’ or single one room temple would attain
Swargaloka.

A Mandira nirmaan enables reaching Brahma loka.

A panchaayatan mandira nirmaan bestows Shiva Loka and an Ashtaayatan,

facilitates Sri Hari Sannithi, while a Shodayatana fulfils Purushaarthas, of Dharma,
Artha, Kaama and Moksha.
A rich person’s lavishness in temple construction would indeed undermine the
effort of a poor but motivated person’s temple construction, thus proving that
the motivation would have to emerge from ‘within’ rather than from fat money-
pocket.

Even when children for fun or playfulness build temples with sand would also
qualify for salvation. Persons who undertake repairs, let alone construct temples
new, are also eligible for attaining Mukti.

Those who are responsible for constructing temples of Vishnu, Shiva, Surya or
Devi become residents of those very Lokas and more significantly their family
members too share the same benefit. Of what avail is the money earned by a
rich person if even a temple is not constructed by him or her!

Of what avail is such opulence not spared for the use of the poor, the
Brahmanas, or for noble deeds! Just as death is certain, the riches unused for
religious purposes too are certain to vanish sooner or later.

That is why charity is one sure way of redeeming the sins of the past and
providing a shield against the onslaught of sins of the future. And the crowning
act of charity is to construct temples!

Equally significant is to set up Deva Pratimas made of wood or bricks or stone or

the best of all by metals.

It is stated that Deva Pratima Sthapana along with the relevant Mantras and
accompanying formalities and regular worship is a far reaching deed of divinity.

Lord Yama Dharmara Raja addressed the Yamadootas and said "‘Never bring
human beings to Narakas’ who constructed temples, or set up Idols of Devas, or
were engaged in regular Pujas there.

Avoid those persons from a distance who are connected with devotion of
Bhagavan, especially taking the name of the Supreme while in sleep or
consciousness, while sitting or walking, or in any other positions. Be far away
from those who enter the temples and make offerings to Bhagavan of flowers,
dhoopam, clothings etc, in the service of Bhagavan.

Never even look at those who built Mandirs of Bhagavan of any name like
Vishnu/Shiva/Shakti and other Forms or even the progeny or relatives of those
illustrious devotees as there is no question of bringing those to Naraka, saidYama
Dharmaraja.
 ***************Om Namo Naaraayanah****************

The document is compiled with the efforts of Shri R. Vaidyandhan, Editor Vaikom
Mahadeva temple, Journalist, Numistatist, Art Historian and an ardent Devi
Bhakta.

Reformatted by Ashish Gupta

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