Why are gifts given in the ashram? What is meant by daan, bhet, prasad and akshat?
People who come to the ashram contribute to it and the ashram returns that contribution in one form or another. It is part of the natural evolution of the ashram.
In the beginning we did not give gifts because we were in need. The ashram was being built and all the finances and resources were required, but now we have everything, so we want to return to people what they have given us in their faith and sincerity.
One basic principle we have always followed is that whatever you give is not for us but is held in trust. You give because of a feeling, yet we are only the postman. This is why there are no luxuries in the ashram.
Prasad, bhet, akshat and daan are different terms used for the act of giving. Daan means charity. Any giving by a householder is known as daan. Prasad means an offering of goodwill. Any giving that happens in an ashram or in a temple is known as prasad. This offering or present carries good wishes for your health, happiness, prosperity and peace.
Bhet means gift. It is given to people, not for their pleasure or enjoyment, but because of their need. One year in Rikhia, we gave a complete set of kitchen utensils to each family for cooking, storing, drinking and serving. This is known as bhet, a gift to alleviate suffering, to fulfil a need.
Akshat means a neverending gift. It refers to grains, and it is used more in relation to yajna, as in the yajna everything is offered to Devi, the Universal Mother. What you offer to Devi and then take back is akshat, a neverending gift, a continuous stream, just like a flowing river.
What you are being given back is a continuous flow of the grace of God. Therefore, what you receive during the yajna is akshat, as they are symbolic items. A shawl for the males, a sari for the females, a kilo of rice, a kilo of wheat, one hundred grams of barley, different yantras or images and deepaks were common akshat gifts given during the Rajasooya yajna.
These gifts of clothes, grains and devotional items will always remind you that divine grace is flowing to you continuously. That sentiment and feeling will stay with you through the gift of akshat.
This is the Indian tradition and at every opportunity, on every auspicious day, daan, bhet, prasad and akshat are given.
Ganga Darshan, Munger, 2 January 2005
From the book “On the Wings of the Swan Vol. VI”, pg.138-139, Sw. Niranjanananda Saraswati