The Brahmin represents the head of the Virat Purush or cosmic soul. It is said that Brahmins have taken birth from the mouth of Brahmaji. A Brahmin is knowledgeable about scriptures and the vedic texts. Secondly he is referred as the God of the Earth i.e. Bhudev. Unless the Brahmin invokes the Gods through incantations the God cannot come and partake the oblations offered. Because of these reasons it is best to donate to Brahmins.

TYPES OF CHARITY / DONATION


1. SATVIKDAAN (NOBLE CHARITY) : Noble charity is considered the most highest form of charity. In this type of charity the donor does not yearn for fame, prestige, status or honour. The donation is selflessly done.
   
   DATAVYAMITI YADDANAM DIYATE ANUDKARINE ||
   DESHE KALE CHA PATRE TAT DANAM SATVIKAM BINDU ||
   
   Means -that charity which has been done without seeing the person, time, and place and with a sense of duty is known as Satvik Daan.
   
   
2. RAJASDAAN : That charity, which is done for elimination and repentance of sins, progeny, victory, luxury and happiness, is known as Rajas Daan.
   
   YATTU PRATYUPKARARTHA FALA BUDDISHYA VA PUNAH || DEEYATE PARIKLISHTAM TAD DANAM RAJASAM SMRITAM ||           - GEETA
   Means This type of charity, done with pain and with the expectation of returns, is known as Rajas Daan. Which are material in form. Sometimes the donor could have ego and can insult the receiver at times.
   
   
3. TAMAS DAAN : Tamas Daan is of a lower standard than even Rajas Daan.
   
   ADESHE KALE YADDANAM APATREBHYASCHA DIYATE ||
   ASATKRUTAMAVGYANAM TAT TAMAS MUDRA HATAM ||
   
   Which means- the charity done for insulting people and given to unworthy people without considering time, place and qualities is known as Tamas Daan.
   
   
4. GUPTDAAN: (CHARITY DONE IN SECRECY)
   
   

   This holds special significance. Any type of charity done in total secrecy is known as Guptdaan. It is performed as repentance for one's sins without pomp and show and more over it has a sense of duty within it.It is so secretly done than neither the donor knows he is giving nor the receiver knows he is taking. One thing, which is good in Guptdaan, is that the identity of the (donor) person is not disclosed hence the question of ego does not arise and is neither fond of social status and honour. The receiver does not perceive any type of superiority or inferiority complex.

   
5. GODAAN (DONATION OF A COW)

   The Significance of Godaan :
   The benefits of donating a cow are simply endless. There is no other donation comparable to donation of a cow in this world. It helps in making a person pure and helps him in attaining the highest state of eternal bliss or heaven. One should donate a cow to Brahmin by decorating the cow by ornaments, along with cloth, Dakshina (fee) and Jewellery.If one cannot afford donating a cow, then the person should donate some money to the Brahmin.It is said that the Sun, Moon, Varuna, Agni, Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva salute the person who donates cow benevolently.

   Donation of fruits, food and gold is considered to be very noble. By donating food one enjoys all the happiness of maternal life. It also pacifies the gods, the sages and the deceased ancestors. Other than this donation of cloth is also very beneficial and noble.

6. NITYA DAAN (DONATIONS TO BE DONATED REGULARLY)
   Every person should donate and should offer to the gods the following things regularly.A bowl full of food, fruits, flowers, vegetables, milk, curd, ghee etc.
   
   Oblation to be offered in religious sacrifices -
   Every day in the morning one should add sugar to rice and offer this to the god 17 times reciting the Mantra, 17 times.
   
   AUM NAMO BHAGVATE VASUDDEVAYA ||

   One should regularly offer food to Brahmins, Poor people and destitues.Everyday one should donate some money to the cowshed for hay for cows. If possible one should give one roti (bread) to the dog. One should give bits of bread to the crows.Every day in the morning a bowl full of gram should be given to the birds.One should offer balls of flour to fishes in a pond or river. The person who performs all these types of donations can get all his desires fulfilled.

7. DONATIONS TO BUILD HOSPITALS ECC.
   One should every year regularly earmark a certain amount as donation to hospitals or other charitable organisations.
   
   
8. DONATION OF STATIONERY
   One should donate Register, Files, Diaries, Pens, Slates, Pen, Pencil, Envelope etc.
   
   
9. DONATION OF LAMPS, ELECTRICTY CONNECTIONS.
   Giving electricity connections, or donating lamps, candles, cells, lantern, kerosene oil is recommended By donating lamps to the temple one remains healthy and is free from penury.
   
   
10. DONATIONS OF FANS.
    The person who donates fans, coolers, table fans is free from all sins and he attains Vaikunthlok.
    
    
11. DONATIONS OF UMBRELLA.
    The person who donated Umbrellas begets progeny and wealth. One can attain even spiritual growth by donating umbrellas.
    
    
12. DONATION OF FOOTWEAR.
    The person who donates footwear such as chappals, shoes, sandals to a Brahmin is free from all his problems.
    
    
13. DONATION OF BETEL NUT LEAVES.
    One can attain long life, wealth and fortune by donating betel nut leaves.
    
    
14. DONATION OF FUEL.
    Buy donating fuel such as gas, wood, chulha etc all desires of a person can be fulfilled. It improves digestion power and pacifies the lord .
    
    
15. DONATIONS GIVEN TO APPEASE PLANETS (NAVAGRAHA)
    
    
    • Donation to appease the Planet Sun _ (On Sunday)
      Ruby, coral, wheat, jaggery, ghee, red cloth, sandalwood, saffron flowers.
      
      
    • Donation to appease the planets moon (On Monday)-
      White cloth, rice, curd, sandalwood, camphor, flowers, conch.
      
      
    • Donation to appease the planet Mars (On Tuesday) -
      Gold, copper, lentil, jaggery, ghee, red cloth, saffron, sandal wood.
      
      
    • Donation to appease the planet mercury (On Wednesday) -
      Emerald, gold, green cloth, lentil, sugar, ghee, flowers, fruits, camphor, Dakshina.
      
      
    • Donation to appease the planet Jupiter - (On Thursday)
      Topaz, Gold, Yellow cloth, Chana (grams), Turmeric, Jaggery, Ghee, flowers, fruits books, Dakshina.
      
      
    • Donation to appease the planets Venus (On Friday)
      Diamond, Gold, Silver, cloth, rice, Sugar candy, milk, curd, sandalwood, flowers
      
      
    • Donation to appease to planet Saturn (on Saturday)
      Sapphire, gold, black cloth, oil, horse bean, music, flowers, Dakshina.
      
      
    • Donation to appease the Planet Rahu
      Agate, gold, lead, blue cloth, blanket, Sesanum, mustard oil, flowers, Dakshina.
      
      
    • Donation to appease planet Ketu
      Gold, bluish grey cloth, seven types of cereals, oil coconut, knife, Dakshina.
    
    
16. TEN (10) OTHER TYPES OF CHARITY (MAHADAAN)
    
    
    1. Godaan (Donating Cow) - Direct or indirectly
       
    2. Donating Land - According to one's ability
    3. Donating Gold - According to one's ability or 34 Grams
    4. Donating Silver - According to one's ability or 2 Kilos.
    5. Donating clothes - Cloth measuring 8 yards.
    6. Donating grain/cereals - According to one's ability or 100 Kilo.
    7. Donating Ghee - According to one's ability or 20 Kilos
    8. Donating Jaggery - According to one's ability or 13 Kilos
    9. Donating Sesanum - According to one's ability or 18 Kg.
    10. Donating Salt - According to one's ability or 135 Kg.
    
    THE TIME TO DONATE

    Donations to the Gods should be offered in the early morning. To eliminate doshas, ailments in human donations should be offered in the afternoon. For deceased ancestor donations should be offered in the night or evening. Donations to the spirits should be done in the evening.
    
    One should donate on the following Tithis (dates)

    1. Shukla Poornima in Jyestha, Vaishakh month
    2. Dasham or Poornima day in Aashad month
    3. Krishna Ashtami in Shravana month
    4. Tritiya of Krishna Paksha in month of Bhadrapada
    5. Kartik Shukla Dwadeshi and Poornima
    6. Paush Shukla Ekadashi
    7. Mayh Shukla Tritiya and Saptami
    8. Phalguna Amavasya in Poornima
    9. Chaitra Krishna Panchami
    10. Chaitra Shukla Panchami
    11. Vaishakh Shukla Tritiya
    12. Kartik Shukla Saptami
    13. Margshish Shukla Navami
    14. Magh Shukla Trayodashi
    15. Phalgun Krishna Tritiya.

    One should donate during solar and lunar eclipse. If there is incidentally a solar eclipse on a Sunday and lunar eclipse on a Monday it creates a Chudamani Yoga. The donation done on these days reaps limitless benefits. One gets special benefits if one donates on days of Amavasya, Poornima, Sankranti, Vyatipat, Vaidhriti Yoga.

    • Donation done on the Poornima of the Vaishakh, Shravana, Kartik and Magh are considered auspicious and very noble.
    • The tithi of Somvati Amavasya is very rare, auspicious tithi even for the Gods.
    • On the day of Nirjala Ekadashi one should donate anything other then food.
    • On the day of Ramnavami and Janmashtami and the day after Janmashtami one should donate during time of 'Mand Utsav'.
    • By donating on the day of Akshaya Tritiye one gets limitless benefits, on the days of Amavasya on Monday. Saptami of Sunday, Chaturthi on Tuesday and the Ashtami on Wednesday are equally auspicious as a solar eclipse for donation/charity.
    • One should donate on both the Trayodashi days of Shravana month and also in the Bhadrapada Krishna Paksha, on Kartik Shukla Navami, Ekadashi, Makar Sanskranti and in Adhik maas.