Gosahasra


Gosahasra or go-sahasra-dana is a ritual donation described in the ancient texts of India. It is one of the sixteen great gifts, and is frequently mentioned in the ancient inscriptions.

Scriptural authority

The Atharvaveda-parishishta, composed in the 1st millennium BCE, mentions gosahasra, along with hiranyagarbha and tulapurusha donations. These three donations are included among the sixteen great gifts in the later text Matsya Purana; the relevant section of the text appears to have been composed during 550-650 CE. The Matsya Purana states that several ancient kings performed the great gifts, and these three donations are most prominent among the great gifts recorded in historical inscriptions.
The Linga Purana also mentions the sixteen great gifts; according to R. C. Hazara, the relevant portion of the text was composed during c. 600-1000 CE, most probably after 800 CE. The great gifts are further detailed in the later digests devoted to the topic of charity, such as Ballala's Dana-sagara, and the Danakhanda section of Hemadri's Chaturvarga-chintamani.

Historical performers