a note on Daana (charity)

A subhashitam from Raja Bhartrhari's nitishatakam(arthaarthapaddhatih) speaks high about daana (charity). MaNISShaaNOlleeDah---
A gem in its raw form lacks luster and shines only when polished against a shaana stone. Without undergoing the hard process the true charms of the gem cannot manifest. A warrior's valour is worth it only if he implements them in war even though it meant isking himself against wounds or death. An elephant that attains puberty profusely discharges the mada-rasa (the fluid secreted on the temple regions of a youthful elephant)but this also only boost the image of its valour. The sands of a river that has partially dried out during autumn appears very attractive— even the loss of water in the river adds to the beauty of the sands. The half moon although waning in size, also appears beautiful. The beauty of a young women attains fulfillment when she entertains her lord, even though it meant exhaustion. (Kalidasa similarly observes- priyeshu sowbhagyaphalaa hi chaarutaa- beauty is worth it only when appreciated by the beloved / connoisseur[kumarasambhavam]). Similarly a person who has given away his wealth in charity, although rendered poorer materially by some rupees, attains divine glory through the virtuous deed.
A person should never bother about spending money for a righteous charity. By giving charity, a man proves to himself that he is the master of money and is blossoming forth as a true human bieng. By unwillingly to give charity or by doing it half mindedly,man proves to himself that he is a slave of money. Such people even tend to defend themselves by speaking of charity as merely a show of. People who intend to make a show and lavish money on glamour are different and people who genuinely give with an intention to overcome their greed and selfishness, are different. To call every donor a person of show is a sin.
Infact charity is an attitude that shows the richness of heart. We see even rich and affluent men behave like beggars with nothing at hand when charity is demanded of them. They never feel shame to recieve anything, but fear and shun to give. On the other hand, even a poor man may display richness of heart by giving whatever little he can, but whole heartedly. He is a real rich man. The one with money but no heart to share is indeed a beggar. Such a man, however religious or gentlemanly in any other sense, is still a beggar and fallen man, because, he will degenerate morally and spiritually because of his own greed.
Daana is very much a part of any vratam (vow) or religious act. It is the ego, greed and selfishness that come in the way of giving charity. The more we are caught in the fists of these vicious feelings the more we hesitate or delay in giving. This explains why most of us do think of doing a charity or service and even mentally plan towrads it. But soon we hesitate to part with money or keep postponing it, and some day later even forget it completely and finally it may even not interest us any more. That is why daana is made a mandatory aspect of all religious acts in the Hindu dharma. Without giving some tambulam or dakshina or mangala dravyas or prasadam of some or the other kind, no puja is complete or fruitful. One who thinks of himself as clever by avoiding charity, and still please God and feel noble, knows not that he is abusing himself and becoming a slave of his own lower tendencies.
Charity is a noble act that elevates the soul. It is as much a saadhana as are japa, dhyana and others. Dharmasindhu defines charity thus- svasvatva-nivRuttipurvakam-parasvatva-apaadadam daanam i.e "Charity is a method of contributing to other's gain and also overcoming passion for ones own wealth". Taittiriyopanishad directs how a charity should be given with humility, conviction, devotion, etc shraddhayaa deyam, asraddhayaa adeyam, etc----
But of course charity is not merely giving away money to anyone and everyone. Daana should always be done only to satpaatra(deserving) Tradition even asserts that charity given to the undeserving people fetches sin. Money giving to drunkards, criminals, lavish pleasures, concubines, etc is not charity.
The giver should never feel proud of his act. He should rather consider the receiver as a representative of God who has accepted his humble services. Swami Vivekananada says -'It is not the receiver but the giver that is blessed and profited'. Sage Vasista in Ramayanam directs that one should not give with contempt, arrogance or ill feelings. For such a charity is useless or will cause doom to the giver.(Ramayanam , Balakanda, the context = putrakamestiyaga by Dasharatha)
Charity given should not be a mere formality or for show. It should be befitting and of good quality. People should never give away used and unfit articles as in charity, except when it may be of real use to the reciever. such a charity is not charity but a sin.
Katopanishad narrates the episode where young Nachiketa was pained when his father Väjishravas gave away weak and barren cows in charity. He realized that his father could never attain the true fruits by such deception but would rather descend to a joyless hell.(hell named anandaa) Anxious over the sin his father may thus incur, Nachiketa requested to be offered instead of the weak cows(Katha-upanishad)
Charity is hailed as one of the noblest yajnas. That is why it is performed with the utterance of Om. (Bhagavadgeeta, 17th chapter).
Charity has been practiced in the arsha samskriti in a big way. There are hundreds of examples and wonderful reflections over this scattered across Indian literature. The spirit behind and ultimate purpose of charity is overcoming passion for worldly belongings and attaining spiritual elevation. It also makes the world a better place to live.
I would like to quote an interesting fact I read about the twin seas galilea and Dead sea, on the west coast of Israel. Both the seas are set beside each other and happen to be in very similar geographical terrains and climatic cinditions. They are also fed by a common river called Jordon. But the natures of the two seas are completely different. While Galilea sea has less salts and more fresh and cradles innumerable aquatic animals and other living beings, Dead sea, got its name because it has absolutely no living beings in it. Research about the reason for this striking difference has been infered thus- Galilea sea has 2 or more outlets and the waters are constantly circulating in and out. That is why it is fresh and full of life. On the other hand, dead sea has very dense salt contents (about 35 %)beacuse it lies at a very low level has no outlet at all. All the waters and minerals that flow into it have remained there slowly saturating the waters from centuries. Because of large amounts of such accumulation and absolutely no give away from centuries, the sea has literally become 'dead'. It can never host any life and is never fresh.Galilea sea is fresh because it always circulate what it gets, and the dead sea is 'dead' because it only recieves but never gives!Does not this feature of nature give us a beautiful message? If you accumulate without giving, you are dead. If you want to live life, then give, share and care.
Are we all not in some or the other way profitting form annadaana, vidyaadaana, dravyadaana, dhanadaana or some or the other form of daanam given liberaly by our elders of ancestors?
Let us leave back a similar legacy to posterity by keeping the spirit if daana alive!