Dakshinaa is a kind of fee or price given normally to Braahman. It can be in kind or cash but it is necessary to give. Braahman are supposed to be the highest among all the four Varn. Their job is to do Yagya for themselves and for other Varn, and to study and to teach other Varn. Thus when any Varn person takes any work from them he is supposed to give them Dakshinaa. Without it the religious work is not completed.

Guru Dakshinaa

When this Dakshinaa is given for teaching, it is called Guru Dakshinaa. Guru Dakshinaa is an essential part of the education and is asked by the Guru and given by his  disciples at the completion of their education. It is asked by a Guru and then the disciple pays it. In olden age, especially in Raamaayan and Mahaabhaarat ages, when children went to Guru Jee for their education, they used to give Guru Dakshinaa. In Indian history some Guru Dakshinaa are very famous.

Krishn Pays Guru Dakshinaa - Krishn brought His Guru's dead son back in Guru Dakshinaa.

Karav and Paandav Pay Guru Dakshinaa - When Paandav and Kaurav finished their education, Drone asked them to bring Drupad after defeating him in Guru Dakshinaa. Kaurav, however, could not bring him, but Paandav brought him.

Eklavya Pays Guru Dakshinaa - Eklavya's Guru Dakshinaa is famous in the whole Indian history. Although Eklavya was not a true disciple of Drone, he had his statue in front of him as his Guru, still Drone asked him to pay Guru Dakshinaa.

Eklavya was the son of an army chief of Jaraasandh (of Magadh Desh). He wanted to learn archery from Drone but could not have learnt it as he was neither a prince, nor a Kshatriya. Once he was practicing his archery. At the same time Dronaachaarya had brought Paandav and Kaurav for some entertainment in the forest. They had a dog also. As they were playing around, the dog also wandered in the forest and happened to come to the place where Eklavya was practicing his archery. The dog started barking at him, so he shot a few arrows at him and filled his mouth with them. Poor dog came running to where Paandav and Kaurav were playing. Arjun got wonderstruck as who could be who could do this their dog. Drone said - "Let us go and see that who has done this to him?"

They came to the place where Eklavya was still practicing his archery. Seeing Drone coming to him, he immediately greeted him - "Guru Jee, Pranaam." Drone asked him - "Did you fill this dog's mouth with arrows?" "Yes." "Where did you learn this archery?" "I have learnt it from you." Drone got surprised to hear this. He said - "But I have never seen you, I have never taught you." Eklavya said - "But I have learnt all this from you only." Then he took them to the place where he had established the statue of his Guru Drone. He showed them the statue and said - "I have established this statue of yours here and I learn from you only. Sometimes I see you teaching these princes from a distance."

Drone saw a future better archer in Eklavya. He had already promised Arjun that he will make him the best archer of the world, so after a careful thought he sid to Eklavya - "If you are learning from me then give me Guru Dakshinaa." Eklavya immediately said - "Please order me, Guru Dev." Drone cunnin gly said - "Give me your right hand thumb." Everybody was dumbstruck hearing such a Guru Dakshinaa from a Guru's mouth from his archer disciple. But Eklavya immediately took a knife and cut his right hand thumb and offered in his Guru's feet.

It is said that since then the people belonging to that tribe do not use their right thumb while using their bow and arrow.

Karn Pays Guru Dakshinaa - Karn's Guru was Parashuraam Jee. When Karn asked him as what he should pay as Guru Dakshinaa, Parashuraam Jee told that he did not need to pay Guru Dakshinaa to him, because he was very happy to teach him. He would take it whenever he will want. Once Parashuraam Jee was sleeping keeping his head in Karn's lap. A scorpion bit Karn repeatedly but Karn, though in pain, kept patience lest his Guru is awakened from his sleep. When Parashuraam Jee woke up and saw Karn bleeding heavily, He asked - "You are bleeding so heavily and you did not wake me up?" Karn said -"If I moved you would have awakened, that is why I did not move." Prashuraam Jee got very surprised at this and asked him - "Who are you? You don't look like Braahman because Braahman don't have so much patience. Since you lied to me, I give you Shaap that you will not be able to use that teaching which you will need the most at the crucial time." Thus Parashuraam Jee took back his teachings in his Guru Dakshinaa.