Dharmaghaṭa

Dharmaghaṭa · dharma-ghaṭa, “the pot of dharma”

Grammar: masculine noun; a compound of dharma and ghaṭa (a pot).

Meaning: a pot of cool water given as dāna in the hot season.

In the scriptures: in the rule of the Prapā-dāna, the gift of drinking water, the Uttara Parva says that one without the means for a prapā should give daily to brāhmaṇas’ houses in the hot season a dharmaghaṭa, a pot full of cool water, with many kinds of cooked food, cloth, dakshiṇā and the like. The ghaṭa is called the form of Brahmā, Vishṇu and Śaṅkara. Reciting the mantra below, one gives it to a brāhmaṇa. One who gives it thus obtains the fruit of Prapā-dāna. One who cannot give even a dharmaghaṭa should tend the pīpala tree daily for the four months of the hot season (Uttara Parva, Chapters 172–173).

एष धर्मघटो दत्तो ब्रह्मविष्णुशिवात्मकः।
अस्य प्रदानात् सफला मम सन्तु मनोरथाः ॥

esha dharmaghaṭo datto brahmavishṇuśivātmakaḥ |
asya pradānāt saphalā mama santu manorathāḥ ||

This dharmaghaṭa, whose self is Brahmā, Vishṇu and Śiva, is given. By the giving of it may my wishes bear fruit.

Source: Bhavishya Purāṇa, Uttara Parva, Chapter 172

Related terms: Prapā

Sources

• Bhavishya Purāṇa, Uttara Parva, Chapters 172–173