Daanaas to be given at time of death.

[K.N.RAMESH]

Pitrupaksha Day 7

Garuda Puraanam

Description of Daanaas to be given at time of death.

Generally we hate to give Daanaas. Out of Six main ordained duties of a Vipra ( Braahmana), Daanaa is an important duty.

Shaastraas give emphasis on daanaa while one is  living and Hale and hearty.. That is all through our living, we are supposed to indulge in daanaa. 

Naadattam Upatishthati is how it is described.

If we do not give daanaa, then in next janma, we will not lead a comfortable life. What little we give now, compounds multiple times  and comes back to us only, say Shaastraas!

We don't do Daanaas, Daasaru exclaims same thing when he says - Eradu baradu ondakke karuve illaa in that famous - Mullu Koneya Mele - song.

If we get water, upon thirst, in this life, then please understand that we must have done  jala daanaa in the previous one. If we get timely food, good clothes to wear etc, previous daanaa by us must have been done!

Yet, We are stingy on what we give, how much we give etc.

For example, while buying ghee for homa, we specify to shop fellow that don't give costly ghee, give homa variety ghee? That much respect we have for homa and we fail to understand, what we give in homa through Agni, Indraadi Devataas take it.

Gita says Tair Dattaan Apradeyaebhyo Yo Bhunkte Stena Eva Sah !!

Whoever does not return a portion of whatever God's have bestowed on  us, then that fellow is verily a thief says Lord in Gita !!

Second point I wish to make about Daanaa is,  it should not be given to Ayogyaas, worthless persons and those who do not have Shaastra Nishthaa !

 Especially for Shraaddhaadi Pitrukaaryaas, Daanaa to Yogya Vyakti is very very important. Else we will accrue sin by giving Daanaa to Ayogya Vyaktis!

Giving Daanaa must be clearly differentiated with giving out of mercy. Daanaa must not be given to one who is unfit for it merely because he is poor.  This vishaya is explained by Srimadaachaaryaru in his Aitareya Upanishad Bhaashya in detail. These things must be clearly understood before reading about Daanaa at the time of death.

Lord Krishna says ten Daanaas to be given ( Dasha Daanagalu) by a person at verge of death.

These are namely

Cow, a piece of land (Bhoo),  Tila ( Ellu), Gold, butter(ghee), Vastra, Dhaanyagalu, Sugar, Silver and Salt.

Giving off these at verge of death by the dying person to Yogya braamhanaru amounts to atonement for sins committed by him ( Praayaschitta). 

Again a cow has to be given to enable him to cross Vaitaranee river. The cow must be preferably be of black colour and endowed with black udders. Such a cow is called Vaitaranee!

Further eight Daanaas are to be given - must be given to an uttama braamhana. 

Tila( Ellu), iron, gold, cotton, salt, seven grains, piece of land and cow. 

Umbrella, shoes, clothes, ungara(ring), Aasana, vessel, kamandalu and food these must also be given.

Further Garudapuraanam says lot more Daanaas are to be given. These are impossible to give these days, so I am omitting that. God save me!

Lord clarifies that Yathaashakti daanaa to be given. As intention is more important than commercial value.

Tilapaatram, vessel for ghee and shayyaadaana ( beddings) and shoes - these must be given. Salt must be given maximum.

 

Yaani Kaani cha Daanaani Svayam Dattaani Maanavaih !!

Taani Taani Cha Sarvaani Upatishthanti Chaagratah !!!! PK 4-16 

Paapaani Basmasaat Krutvaa Svargaloke Maheeyate. !!!!

Whoever gives these Daanaas gets to go to abode of Gandharvaas and stays there.

Even if sent to Narakaas, the gifts given shall give him respite from heat, cold and rain of swords and other scary punishments.

Daanaa of food & vessel ensures he gets food comfortably during the transit.

Tiladaana ensures sins done out of tongue, body and mind are destroyed.

Ghee daanaa gets him stay at Rudraloka. Shayyaadaanaa ensures his stay at Indraloka for sixty thousand years.

Asvadaanaa( gifting a good horse) gets him to stay in heaven for such many years, as many hair on that horse's body.

Rathadaana ( gifting a vehicle) equals his having done a Raajasuya Yaaga.

Daanaa of a she- buffalo to a Vipra, he gets whatever he demands  in Svargaloka!

Beesinike daanaa ensures airy travel in yamamaarga. Vastradaana ensures, wealth in subsequent births.

Here purity of heart while giving Daanaa is very important.

These are in essence the gist of various Daanaas described in Garudapuraanam.

By Ananthesh Sethumadhava Rao