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Daan
See        Akshaya Daan Tithi        Agni Puraan, 24 (good to read);    

Charity.  Donation.  Alms. Whatever is given to Braahman, beggar, needy, poor people without taking anything in its exchange, is called Daan.

Types of Daan

Saatwik Daan - In whichever country, at whichever time, whatever thing is in scarce, giving the same to the needy people without expecting anything is called Saatwik Daan. In whichever country, whichever thing is scarce, the same thing is considered worth giving to serve people.
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In [Padm Puraan, 2/6], Vishnu says to Vane - "There are three timings for Daan - Nitya Daan (done daily), Naimittik Daan (done for some purpose), and Kaamya Daan (done to fulfill some wish). Its fourth time is Praayik Daan (related to death).

(1) Nitya Daan - Who offers even water to see my part Soorya rising in the morning, one cannot praise enough his Nitya Karm which gives him lot of Punya. At that time who takes bath, worships Pitar and Devtaa and donates Ann, water, fruits, flower, clothes, betel leaf, ornament, gold according to one's capacity, its fruit is limitless. Who donates food items at noon or afternoon, he also collects lots of Punya. Therefore one should donate something all the three times of the day. No day should be free from Daan. If somebody doesn't donate food for one fortnight or one month, I also keep him starving for the same time. I give him such a disease that he cannot enjoy anything. Who has not donated anything, he should keep many fasts.

(2) Naimittik Daan - Now I tell you Naimittik time. Amaavasyaa; Poornimaa; Ekaadashee; Sankraanti; Vyateepaat and Vaidhriti named Yog; Maagh, Aashaadh, Vaishaakh and Kaartik Poornimaa; Somvatee Amaavasyaa, Yug starting Tithi, Gajachchhaayaa (Aashwin Krishn Trayodashee); father's death date are said Naimittik times for Daan. Who donates anything in my name, I give him many things.

(3) Kaamya Daan - When a Daan is given in the name of Vrat and Devtaa with the wish to fulfill some desire, that is called Kaamya time for Daan.

Now I tell you about Aabhyudaayik Daan time - all auspicious occasions, marriage time, the rites times of a newborn baby, the time consecration of temple, Devtaa, pond, well, garden etc are said to be Aabhyudaayik times for Daan. This Daan gives all kinds of Siddhi. One should donate at the time of death knowing one's body mortal. This Daan gives comforts on the way to Yam Lok."
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In [Padm Puraan, 3/5] Vyaas Jee says "Now I tell you about Daan Dharm. This was told by Brahmaa Jee to Rishi. Giving money or anything to a worthy person is called Daan (donation). Daan is of four types - Nitya (daily), Naimittik (for some purpose), Kaamya (with wish), and Vimal (clean). Vimal Daan is the best among all Daan. To give something daily to a Braahman who has not done any thing for the person, without any desire, is called Nitya Daan. Whatever Daan is given to a learned Braahman to pacify sins, is called Naimittik Daan. This is also a good Daan. Whatever Daan is given with a wish - to have health, wealth, children etc, that is called Kaamya Daan. And whatever Daan is given with a religious mind, without any wish, just to please Bhagavaan is called Vimal Daan.

Whenever one gets a worthy person, he must donate him something according to one's capacity. Whatever remains from one's family, one should donate only that thing. If something is donated before that, that Daan doesn't give Daan's fruits. One must donate to a person who studies Ved, or who belongs to a noble family, or who is polite, or who is a Tapaswee, or who is a poor. Bhoomi Daan (donation of land) is the greatest Daan. Only Ann Daan can be compared with it. Who donates Vidyaa to a religious Braahman, he goes to Brahm Lok. Who donates Ann to a Grihasth Braahman, he attains good Lok.
--If, on Vaishaakh Poornimaa, after taking bath, one keeps fast, and worships 5 or 7 Braahman with black sesame seeds and honey with the feeling that Dharm Raaj will be happy with that. This destroys his all sins committed in the whole life. 
--If, on Vaishaakh Poornimaa, somebody donates a pitcher full of water along with Ann and Ghee, he becomes free from all kinds of fear. 
--If, on Maagh Amaavasyaa, somebody donates anything to a Tapaswee Braahman in the name of Vishnu, his all sins committed in seven lives are immediately destroyed.
--If, on Krishn Paksh Ashtamee, or Chaturdashee or Amaavasyaa, somebody, after taking bath and feeding a Braahman, worships Shiv, he never comes back in this world.
--Who keeps fast on Ekaadashee and feeds Braahman on Dwaadashee, he attains Parampad. Shukla Paksh Dwaadashee is Vishnu's Tithi, so one should worship Vishnu by all means on that day.

Whatever Daan is given in the name of Vishnu and Shiv, its fruit is eternal. Whoever wishes to worship whoever Devtaa, he should worship Braahman in his name, this pleases that Devtaa. Devtaa live on the basis of Braahman's body. Where Braahman are not available, there Devtaa live in idols. Idols give fruit very late, so one should worship Braahman only. 


Specific Daan

There are some specoific Daan -

(1) Bhoomi Daan - When one donates land to somebody, it is called Bhoomi Daan.
(2) Gau Daan - When one donates cow, normally to Braahman, it is called Go Daan. People normally do it at the time of their death or with some purpose.
(3) Kanyaa Daan - When one gives his daughter to groom without taking anything, it is called Kanyaa Daan.
(4) Tulaa Daan - When one gives the material equal to one's weight, it is called Tulaa Daan
(5) Vidyaa Daan - When one teaches somebody without taking anything, it is called Vidyaa Daan.
(6) Deep Daan - Lighting a lamp or many lamps in a temple, or on a crossroad, or under a Peepal or Banyan tree is called Deep Daan. It is especially beneficial in Kaartik month.
(7) Gauree Daan -
(8) Shayyaa Daan - donating bedding

Three types of Daan are called "Ati Daan" (the highest Daan) --
Gau Daan (cow donation); 
Bhoomi Daan (land donaion);   and
Vidyaa Daan (to educate somebody) - To donate books is like Vidyaa Daan
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One should donate something on these days -
Dhanu (Sagittarius), Mithun (Gemini), Meen (Pisces) and Kanya (Virgo) signs Sankraanti are called Shadasheeti; and
Vrish (Taurus) Vrishchik (Scorpio), Kumbh (Aquarius), and Sinh (Leo) signs Sankraanti are called Vishnupadee.

Any Punya Karm (Daan etc) done in Shadsheeti Sankraanti gives 86,000 times fruits; and in Vishnupadee Sankraanti gives 100,000 (1 Lakh) times, and on Uttaraayan and Dakshinaayan Sankraanti gives millions of times. This Punya Karm, done on Uttaraayan and Dakshinaayan Sankraantis is eternal. On Makar (Capricorn) Sankraanti, in January, one should take bath before sunrise - this gives the fruit of 10,000 cows donation.
The Triteeyaa (third day) of Shukl Paksh of Maagh Maas is called Manvantar Tithi. Who donates anything on that day, it is all indestructible."
[Padm Puraan, 1/32]

Donate warm clothes in winter - never get sick

 

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Created and Maintained by Sushma Gupta
Created on 03/15/2006 and Updated on 03/19/2008
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