Sahasranama position 298 of the 1,000 names

Danaya

दानाय

Dānāya

What Danaya means

Danaya is name 298 in the Kalabhairava Sahasranama, the 1,000-name devotional text to Kalabhairava. Salutations To The one who is the very embodiment of charity and selfless giving.

Also spelled

  • Dana
  • Source transliteration: DAANAAYA

Sanskrit names travel into English in several romanizations. This page keeps the common spelling, the IAST form, and the source transliteration together so the same name is discoverable under each spelling readers use.

Meaning and elaboration

Meaning: Salutations To The one who is the very embodiment of charity and selfless giving.

Elaboration

The name Dānāya is derived from the Sanskrit root “dā,” which means “to give,” and it literally translates to "to the giver" or "to the one who is charity."

The Embodiment of Charity In this aspect, Kalabhairava is venerated as the ultimate bestower, the very personification of selfless giving. This concept extends beyond merely material donations; it encompasses the giving of knowledge (Jnana Dana), protection (Abhaya Dana), and the ultimate gift of spiritual liberation (Moksha Dana). He is the source from which all blessings, sustenance, and spiritual boons flow.

Bestower of Fearlessness One of the most significant aspects of his "giving" is Abhaya Dana, the gift of fearlessness. As Bhairava, he is often terrifying in appearance, but this form serves to instill fear in evil and grant liberation from fear to his devotees. By surrendering to him, one receives the ultimate protection from all dangers, both worldly and spiritual, and is freed from the pervasive fear of mortality and suffering.

Provider of Sustenance and Fulfillment As the supreme giver, he provides everything necessary for the existence and well-being of all creatures. This includes not only material necessities but also the spiritual nourishment required for evolution. He fulfills the desires of his devotees and grants them prosperity, health, and wisdom, according to their karma and devotion.

The giver without expectation embodies the highest form of Yoga, where the giving itself is a spiritual act, refining the giver and connecting them to the divine source. Thus, Dānāya signifies the divine benevolence and unconditional generosity of Kalabhairava.

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Text and sources

The name list follows the Kalabhairava Sahasranama as compiled for this project. The English meaning and elaboration are interpretive notes for devotional study, not a translation of a single critical edition.

Read the editorial method and source notes →

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