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APARIGRAHA - THE HUMANE SOLUTION
83
The term 'dāna' occurs quite often in Brahmanical literature and is regarded as immensely valuable. Every householder is expected to perform the ritual of dăna. The dānāstutis of Ķgveda' reveal that the poets and purohitas were generously gifted by their patrons and the kings were the greatest donors to their priests, gifts being made out of their personal property. Dānāstutis are compilations of the praises of the gifts made by the kings to the priestly class and which commemorate the liberality of the princes. It is worth noticing that dāna meant a return gift or reward for faithful services by the priest or any other employed servant. The receipt of gifts formed the principal source of income of the priest (brāhmaṇas). “What has once been promised to a Brāhmaṇa may be claimed by him as an outstanding debt. Their greatest means of support consisted in grants of land including sometimes houses, gardens, tanks etc. given in perpetuity to gods or priests2.” Thus according to Rgveda dāna is rated as a virtue of supreme importance.”
In the Brāhmaṇas, dāna is regarded as one of the three important duties - those of yajña, dāna, and svādhyāya. Though, the concept mainly emphasises the material act of donation as having social value, but the liberality in doing so however, implies giving up of attachment to possessions by the donors. In this sense it has some resemblance to aparigraha.
In the Upanisads also dāna is given an important place. It is considered the primary virtue for all men. A parable from Bșhadāraṇyaka Upanişad throws light on the meaning of 'da' as dāna. While communicating the knowledge which Prajapati possessed, said that he meant dana by the syllable 'da' which should be practiced by all men, whereas he meant dayā (compassion) to be practised by demons, and damana or self control to be practised by gods. This shows that dănais a particularly human virtue and is recognised as such by Prajapati, since
1. 2. 3. 4.
Cambridge History of India - Vol. I, P. 85. Encyclopaedia of Religion and Ethics Vol. 6, P. 214. Rgveda - 10, 107,2 Bșhadāraṇyaka - 5,2,3,
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