Dharmadana, Dharmadāna, Dharma-dana: 9 definitions
Introduction:
Dharmadana means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, the history of ancient India, Marathi. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita SastraDharmadāna (धर्मदान) refers to “generosity of the Dharma” and represents one of the three kinds of generosity (dāna) according to the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter XX).—“The generosity of the Dharma (dharma-dāna), having as object the beauty of the Path (mārga), consists of instructing (uddeśa), teaching (upadeśa), explaining (bhāṣaṇa), discoursing (lapana), removing hesitations (vicikitsā-niḥsaraṇa), replying to questions (praśna-vyākaraṇa) and telling people about the five precepts (pañcaśīla): all these instructions given with the view of Buddhahood are called generosity of the Dharma”.
Dharmadāna (धर्मदान) according to chapter 36: “generosity of the Dharma (dharmadāna) is the fact of teaching others the twelve classes of texts preached by the Buddha (dvādaśāṅga-buddhavacana) with a pure mind and in view of merit (puṇya). Futhermore, generosity of the Dharma (dharmadāna) is also the fact of using magical power (ṛddhibala) so that people may find the Path”.
Source: academia.edu: A Study and Translation of the GaganagañjaparipṛcchāDharmadāna (धर्मदान) [=Dharmadānatā] refers to “giving the gift of religion”, according to the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā: the eighth chapter of the Mahāsaṃnipāta (a collection of Mahāyāna Buddhist Sūtras).—Accordingly, “How then, son of good family, does the Bodhisattva who has attained memory never forget? Son of good family, the Bodhisattva attains memory (dhāraṇī) by purifying his memory. What then is the purification of memory? Son of good family, there are thirty-two purifications of memory. What are the thirty-two? [...] (13) no secrecy of teachers concerning religion; (14) giving the gift of religion without a view to profit (nirāmiṣa-dharmadānatā); (15) hearing on the basis of the root of insight; (16) practicing fundamentally according to the dharma; [...]”.
Mahayana (महायान, mahāyāna) is a major branch of Buddhism focusing on the path of a Bodhisattva (spiritual aspirants/ enlightened beings). Extant literature is vast and primarely composed in the Sanskrit language. There are many sūtras of which some of the earliest are the various Prajñāpāramitā sūtras.
General definition (in Buddhism)
Source: Wisdom Library: Dharma-samgrahaDharmadāna (धर्मदान) or simply Dharma also refers to the “gift of the dharma” and represents one of the “three kinds of gifts” (dāna) as defined in the Dharma-saṃgraha (section 105). The Dharma-samgraha (Dharmasangraha) is an extensive glossary of Buddhist technical terms in Sanskrit (e.g., dharma-dāna). The work is attributed to Nagarjuna who lived around the 2nd century A.D.
India history and geography
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Indian Epigraphical GlossaryDharma-dāna.—(ML; SITI), a religious gift; a gift for religious merit; grant of tax-free land; same as deya-dharma. Note: dharma-dāna is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.
The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as mythology, zoology, royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.
Languages of India and abroad
Marathi-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionarydharmadāna (धर्मदान).—n (S) Giving of alms: also an alms-gift. Ex. ēka karitī dha0 || tṛṇāsamāna lēkhatī dhana ||.
Marathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryDharmadāna (धर्मदान).—a charitable gift (made without any self-interest.) पात्रेभ्यो दीयते नित्यमनपेक्ष्य प्रयोजनम् । केवलं धर्मबुद्ध्या यद् धर्मदानं प्रचक्षते (pātrebhyo dīyate nityamanapekṣya prayojanam | kevalaṃ dharmabuddhyā yad dharmadānaṃ pracakṣate) || Manusmṛti 3.262.
Derivable forms: dharmadānam (धर्मदानम्).
Dharmadāna is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms dharma and dāna (दान).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English DictionaryDharmadāna (धर्मदान):—[=dharma-dāna] [from dharma > dhara] n. a gift made from duty, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
[Sanskrit to German]
Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Dharma, Dana, Tarma, Tana.
Starts with: Dharmadanapaddhati, Dharmadanata.
Full-text: Dharmadanapaddhati, Sampravarana, Dana, Tridana, Deyadharma, Three Gifts, Three kinds of Gifts, Tyaga, Dharmadanata, Dharma.
Relevant text
Search found 5 books and stories containing Dharmadana, Dharma-dana, Dharma-dāna, Dharmadāna; (plurals include: Dharmadanas, danas, dānas, Dharmadānas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra (by Gelongma Karma Migme Chödrön)
Part 1 - Generosity of the Dharma < [Chapter XX - The Virtue of Generosity and Generosity of the Dharma]
V. Recollection of abandonment (tyāgānusmṛti) < [Part 2 - The Eight Recollections according to the Abhidharma]
V.2 Generosity of the Dharma (dharmadāna) < [V. Recollection of abandonment (tyāgānusmṛti)]
Impact of Vedic Culture on Society (by Kaushik Acharya)
1.D: Dāna in the Purāṇas < [Chapter 2]
The Skanda Purana (by G. V. Tagare)
Chapter 4 - Dialogue between Nārada and Arjuna < [Section 2 - Kaumārikā-khaṇḍa]
The Fo-Sho-Hing-Tsan-King (A Life of Buddha) (by Samuel Beal)
Varga 14. O-Wei-San-Pou-Ti (Abhisambodhi) < [Kiouen III]
Abhidharmakośa (by Leo M. Pruden)