Editing Alms (section)

==== Forms of ''dāna'' ====
Forms of almsgiving in Hinduism include:
# ''go dāna'', the donation of a cow<ref>Padma (1993), The Position of Women in Mediaeval Karnataka, Prasaranga, University of Mysore Press, page 164</ref>
# ''bhu dāna'' ({{lang|sa|भू दान}}), the donation of land
# ''vidya dāna'' or ''[[jñāna]] dāna'' ({{lang|sa|विद्या दान}}, {{lang|sa|ज्ञान दान}}), the giving of knowledge and skills
# ''aushadhā dāna'', the giving of care for the sick and diseased
# ''abhay dāna'', the giving of freedom from fear (such as asylum or protection for someone facing imminent injury)
# ''anna dāna'' ({{lang|sa|अन्ना दान}}), the giving of food to the poor, needy, and all visitors<ref>Abbe Dubois and Henry Beauchamp (2007), Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies, {{ISBN|978-1602063365}}, pages 223, 483-495</ref>

Between giving food and giving knowledge, Hindu texts suggest the gift of knowledge is superior.<ref>Maria Heim (2004), Theories of the Gift in South Asia: Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain Reflections, Routledge, {{ISBN|978-0415970303}}, pages xv-xxvi, 141-149 and Chapter 2</ref><ref>[http://www.chitrapurmath.net/sanskrit/subhashitas/Subhashita%206.%20The%20Gift%20of%20Knowledge..pdf The Gift of Knowledge] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150926034428/http://www.chitrapurmath.net/sanskrit/subhashitas/Subhashita%206.%20The%20Gift%20of%20Knowledge..pdf |date=2015-09-26 }} Chitrapur Matha, India</ref>