Kamdhenu The Wish Cow

Author(s): Gunvant Barvalia
Publisher: Ahimsa Research Foundation

Page 92

THE CONCEPT OF CHARITY IN
THE INDIAN CULTURE
There is an episode in the Upanishads. Once Gods, Demons and Humans went to Brahma and asked, "Give us the knowledge of our duties". Brahma only uttered the syllable da da da. The Gods took the meaning of the da as daman (suppression) of the senses. The demons took the meaning of the da as daya (compassion) on the living beings, while the humans understood da as dana (charity) and tried to put this advice into practice.
Both hands can earn what one gives in charity out of one hand. Prosperity multiplies with charity. Charity is not for bloating one's ego or for building a status. Noble emotions like compassion, affection, service and brotherhood develop from charity. Along with an awakening of divinity one experiences a supreme joy. There is a great importance attached to the feeling of charity in every religion of the world. For that matter in such societies where not much faith is placed in religious matters, it is said that one hand rising in charity is more important than two arms rising in prayer at a temple.
In the Vedic philosophy of India the Mimamsa Darshan (Analytical Philosophy) is virtue based. It attaches a great importance to earning Punya through charity. While the Jain and Buddhist Shraman Traditions (the traditions of Monks) have attached importance to charity to only the eligible (supatra dana). The Jain tradition believes charity to be a good deed. Therefore, to reduce attachment and possessive nature it is suggested to do charity. That is why all the Tirthankars