Mahadeep Singh Jamwal
When the coronavirus has badly affected the economy of the whole world including India, the people of India have come up voluntarily as a helping hand to the government, local administrations and to social organizations indulging in charities and donations ranging from cash, managing community langers, distribution of required equipments and what not. Every generous human has extended its generosity and voluntarily providing ‘Daan’. ‘Dhana’ is a Sanskrit and Pali word that connotes the virtue of generosity, charity or giving of alms in Indian Philosophy. In Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism, ‘Daana’ is the practice of cultivating generosity. It can take the form of giving to an individual in distress or need and is an ancient practice in Indian traditions, tracing back to Vedic traditions. While ‘Daana’ is typically given to one person or family, Hinduism also discusses charity or giving aimed at public benefit. We come across Sanskrit treatises that discuss ethics, methods and rationale for charity giving in Hinduism such as 12th Century ‘Dana Kanda’ (Book of Giving) by Lakshmidhara, 12th Century ‘Dana Sagara’ (Sea of Giving) by Ballalasena of Bengal. Helping those in need is the essence of ‘Daan’. In Hindu Mythology, we have various types of ‘Daan’ traditions such as: Bhoomi Daan, Gau Daan, Kanyaa Daan, Vidya Daan, Tulaa Daan, Deep Daan, Shayaa Daan along with ‘Ahaar Daan’ (donating food) and Aushadha Daan (Donating medicines). Chapter 17 verse 20 of holy book Gita enlighten us that giving donation is an important part of one’s duty. Our religious texts enlighten and guide us about the concept of the ‘Daan’. The ‘Bhagavad Gita’ one of the most important texts of Hinduism talks about the instances when donation is proper and when it is improper. It helps millions in their day-to-day activities and decisions, and one can relate to the situation and the teachings of Gita in everyday life. Donation must be done only from the surplus income, that is to say only when you have enough for yourself first, should you consider doing it. The donation done without any expectation or reward is beneficial to both the giver as well as the recipient but it is harmful when the giver makes it look like a favour and embarrasses the recipient. It is said that the enemies loose hostility through donation. Vices are killed and a stranger may become a comrade through donations. Above all, donation must be done with a lot of love, warmth and affection, and not as a compulsion. Manusmriti enlighten us that feeding hungry gives greatest satisfaction. At the present time good works and social action are becoming the refuge of the morally and spiritually bankrupt as a cover for their inner deficiency. According to Shrimad Bhagawad Geeta, each person has mixture of three properties - Sattva (knowledge), Rajas (action) and Tamas (ignorance). The donation for a person depends on these properties in them. Chapter 17 and verses 20, 21 and 22 of Shrimad Bhagawad Geeta enlightens us about the kinds of donations such as ‘Sattwic dana’, ‘Rajasic dana’ and ‘Tamasic dana’. Chapter 17 Verse 20 “says that the gift which is given to one who does no service in return, with the feeling that it is one’s duty to give and which is given at the right place, in right time and to a worthy person is considered as “Saattvika Daana”, Verse 21 say that the gift which is given only to receive something in return or expecting a reward, again reluctantly, is considered as “Raajasika Daana” whereas Chapter 17 Verse 22 speak the gift that is given at a wrong place and time, to unworthy recipients, without respect or with insult, is declared to be “Taamasika Daana”.
It is not only the Hinduism that guides us about Daan but in other religions also, there are bindings on it. In Islam, charity holds such a great place that it is an obligation on Muslims in the form of donation referred as ‘Zakat’. It is a religious duty for all Muslims who meet the necessary criteria of wealth. In Islam, Zakat is one of the major pillars of Islam, and those who are wealthy enough, for them it is mandatory to give Zakat. Al-Tirmidhi, a Persian Islamic scholar referred The Prophet as saying “Give charity without delay, for it stands in the way of calamity.” Several different categories of charity are defined in Islam, the two most important being ‘Zakat’ (obligatory charity) and ‘Sadaqa’ (voluntary charity). ‘Zakat’ is a specific, standardized percentage of one’s extra wealth (over and above the necessities of life) that must be given to the poor and those in need.
In Christian theology, Charity is considered as one of the seven virtues and is understood by Thomas Aquinas (an Italian philosopher, Catholic priest, and Doctor of the Church) as "the friendship of man for God", which "unites us to God". He holds it as "the most excellent of the virtues". Christian texts guide us whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of us should give what we have decided in our heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. Jesus even claimed: “greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”
In Sikhism, Dana, called ‘Vand Chhako’, is considered one of three duties of Sikhs. The duty entails sharing part of one's earnings with others, by giving to charity and caring for others. Examples of dana in Sikhism include selfless service and langar. Concluding we can say that while we do our good works let us not forget that the real solution lies in a world in which charity will have become unnecessary. |
