Sun
Charity named in the text: a cow with its calf
BPHS names a cow with its calf for the Sun; Praśna Mārga (for transits) a kapilā cow.
When: —
Classical text · BPHS (Santhanam) 84.25
BPHS (Santhanam) 84.25
Charity: the planet's items on its day
Giving the planet's items (grain, cloth, metal) on its day to someone in need. As much as you can afford; tradition values the intention over the amount.
Giving a small item linked with the planet, within your means, to someone in need on its weekday.
The classical gifts (e.g. a cow with calf for the Sun) are in BPHS; today's small forms (fodder at a gaushala etc.) are tradition.
Classical text · BPHS (Santhanam) 84.25
BPHS (Santhanam) 84.25
Sun
Sun
Praśna Mārga: a kapilā cow (for transit)
When the Sun's transit is considered adverse, Praśna Mārga gives the gift of a kapilā (tawny) cow.
When: During the transit
Classical text · Praśna Mārga XXII.30 (Raman tr.)
Praśna Mārga XXII.30 (Raman tr.)
Sun
Today's small form
A few rupees for fodder at a gaushala, or wheat, jaggery and a small copper vessel for someone in need.
When: Sunday, daytime
Tradition
Do / don't
Do
- Give within your means, quietly.
Moon
Moon
Charity named in the text: a conch
Both BPHS and Praśna Mārga name a conch as the Moon's gift.
When: —
Classical text · BPHS (Santhanam) 84.25
BPHS (Santhanam) 84.25
Moon
Praśna Mārga: a conch (for transit)
When the Moon's transit is considered adverse, Praśna Mārga gives the gift of a conch.
When: During the transit
Classical text · Praśna Mārga XXII.30 (Raman tr.)
Praśna Mārga XXII.30 (Raman tr.)
Moon
Today's small form
Rice, milk, sugar or white cloth for someone in need; or a small conch to a temple.
When: Monday, or Purnima
Tradition
Do / don't
Do
- Give within your means, quietly.
Mars
Mars
Charity named in the text: a bullock
BPHS names a bullock for Mars; Praśna Mārga (for transits) a red bull.
When: —
Classical text · BPHS (Santhanam) 84.25
BPHS (Santhanam) 84.25
Mars
Praśna Mārga: a red bull (for transit)
When Mars's transit is considered adverse, Praśna Mārga gives the gift of a red bull.
When: During the transit
Classical text · Praśna Mārga XXII.30 (Raman tr.)
Praśna Mārga XXII.30 (Raman tr.)
Mars
Today's small form
A few rupees towards fodder for bullocks and cows at a gaushala; or masoor dal, jaggery and red cloth for someone in need.
When: Tuesday, daytime
Tradition
Do / don't
Do
- Give within your means, quietly.
Mercury
Mercury
Charity named in the texts: gold
Both BPHS (84.25) and Praśna Mārga name gold as Mercury's gift. This is information; don't go beyond your means.
When: Wednesday
Classical text · BPHS (Santhanam) 84.25
BPHS (Santhanam) 84.25
Mercury
Today's small form: moong, green vegetables, notebooks and pens
On Wednesday, give moong dal or green vegetables to someone in need, or notebooks and pens to a student.
When: Wednesday
Tradition
Do / don't
Do
- Whatever you give should be clean and useful
Don't
- Don't borrow to give, or give for show
Mercury
Feeding someone grain cooked in milk
BPHS lists grain (paddy) cooked in milk as Mercury's offering when feeding Brahmins. Today's form (tradition): feed kheer or milk-rice to someone in need.
When: Wednesday
Classical text · BPHS (Santhanam) 84.23–24
BPHS (Santhanam) 84.23–24
Jupiter
Jupiter
Charity named in the texts: robes (yellow silk)
BPHS (84.25) names robes as Jupiter's gift, and Praśna Mārga names yellow silk. This is information; don't go beyond your means.
When: Thursday
Classical text · BPHS (Santhanam) 84.25
BPHS (Santhanam) 84.25
Jupiter
Today's small form: chana dal, turmeric, yellow cloth, books
On Thursday, give chana dal and turmeric to someone in need or at a temple, or a book to a child.
When: Thursday
Tradition
Do / don't
Don't
- Don't borrow to give, or give for show
Jupiter
Feeding someone curd rice
BPHS lists curd and rice as Jupiter's offering when feeding Brahmins. Today's form (tradition): feed curd rice to someone in need.
When: Thursday
Classical text · BPHS (Santhanam) 84.23–24
BPHS (Santhanam) 84.23–24
Venus
Venus
Charity named in the texts: a horse, silver
BPHS (84.25) names a horse as Venus's gift, and Praśna Mārga names silver and a white horse. This is information; don't go beyond your means.
When: Friday
Classical text · Praśna Mārga XXII.30 (Raman tr.)
Praśna Mārga XXII.30 (Raman tr.)
Venus
Today's small form: rice, milk, mishri, white cloth
On Friday, give rice, milk or mishri to someone in need, or clean white cloth to a woman in need.
When: Friday
Tradition
Do / don't
Don't
- Don't borrow to give, or give for show
Venus
Feeding someone rice with ghee
BPHS lists rice with ghee as Venus's offering when feeding Brahmins. Today's form (tradition): feed ghee rice to someone in need.
When: Friday
Classical text · BPHS (Santhanam) 84.23–24
BPHS (Santhanam) 84.23–24
Saturn
Saturn
Charity named in the text: a black cow
BPHS names a black cow as Saturn's charity. It is a large gift of older times; no one today is bound to it.
When: —
Classical text · BPHS (Santhanam) 84.25
BPHS (Santhanam) 84.25
Saturn
Praśna Mārga too: a black cow
Praśna Mārga names a black cow when Saturn's transit is adverse.
When: In the context of transits
Classical text · Praśna Mārga XXII.30 (Raman tr.)
Praśna Mārga XXII.30 (Raman tr.)
Saturn
Today's small form
A little fodder or service at a gaushala; or black sesame, urad, mustard oil, a blanket or footwear for someone in need. The ₹0 form: an hour's service at a gaushala.
When: Saturday evening
Tradition
Do / don't
Do
- Only what is comfortable; give something useful
Don't
- Don't borrow to give charity
Rahu
Rahu
Charity named in the text: things of iron
BPHS names weapons made of iron as Rahu's charity. It is a gift of older times; no one today is bound to it.
When: —
Classical text · BPHS (Santhanam) 84.25
BPHS (Santhanam) 84.25
Rahu
Praśna Mārga: iron and a sheep
Praśna Mārga names iron and a sheep when Rahu's transit is adverse.
When: In the context of transits
Classical text · Praśna Mārga XXII.30 (Raman tr.)
Praśna Mārga XXII.30 (Raman tr.)
Rahu
Today's small form
Urad, a blanket, or a useful iron item (such as a tawa or bucket) for someone in need. The ₹0 form: an hour's help with someone's work.
When: Saturday
Tradition
Do / don't
Don't
- Don't borrow to give; no gifting of animals
Ketu
Ketu
Charity named in the text: a goat
BPHS names a goat as Ketu's charity. It is a gift of older times; no one today is bound to it.
When: —
Classical text · BPHS (Santhanam) 84.25
BPHS (Santhanam) 84.25
Ketu
Praśna Mārga: an elephant and a sheep
Praśna Mārga names an elephant and a sheep when Ketu's transit is adverse. These are gifts from the age of kings.
When: In the context of transits
Classical text · Praśna Mārga XXII.30 (Raman tr.)
Praśna Mārga XXII.30 (Raman tr.)
Ketu
Today's small form
A two-tone blanket, horse gram or satnaja (seven grains) for someone in need; or feed at an animal shelter. The ₹0 form: an hour's service at a temple or ashram.
When: Tuesday or Saturday
Tradition
Do / don't
Don't
- Don't borrow to give; no gifting of animals