Donor Categories & Benefits — KotiGanapati MahaYagnam

Every offering to the KotiGanapati MahaYagnam, of any size, is received as seva. There is no fixed amount and no minimum — whatever you wish to donate is the right amount. The categories below simply describe the forms an offering can take and the seva associated with each.

Ṛgveda 10.117.3 — the hymn in praise of liberality

स इद्भो॒जो यो गृ॒हवे॒ ददा॒त्यन्न॑कामाय॒ चर॑ते कृ॒शाय॑ ।
अर॑मस्मै भवति॒ याम॑हूता उ॒ताप॒रीषु॑ कृणुते॒ सखा॑यम् ॥

sa id bhojo yo gṛhave dadāty annakāmāya carate kṛśāya |
aram asmai bhavati yāmahūtā utāparīṣu kṛṇute sakhāyam ||

“He alone is the true giver who gives to one who comes seeking, to the wasted one who wanders in search of food. Help comes to him when he calls, and he makes a friend for the times to come.”

The Ṛgveda measures a gift by the need it meets, never by its size. Source: Ṛgveda 10.117.3

Four Principal Donor Levels

Rājata → Suvarṇa → Vajra → Mahāratna

The four principal levels of dāna, in ascending order.

The four principal donor levels — Rajata Data (Silver), Suvarna Data (Gold), Vajra Data (Diamond) and Maharatna Data (Supreme Jewel) — shown as four ascending steps

1

Rājata Dātā (रजतदाता)

Silver Donor

2

Suvarṇa Dātā (सुवर्णदाता)

Gold Donor

3

Vajra Dātā (वज्रदाता)

Diamond Donor

4

Mahāratna Dātā (महारत्नदाता)

Supreme Jewel Donor — the highest level

Nine Donor and Seva Categories

Ways to Serve

Alongside the four principal levels, nine seva categories describe the different forms an offering may take.

1

Sankalpa Sahāyaka (संकल्प सहायक)

Sankalpa Supporter

2

Gaṇapati Sevaka (गणपति सेवक)

Ganapati Sevak

3

Yajña Sahāyaka (यज्ञ सहायक)

Yagna Supporter

4

Rājata Poṣaka (रजत पोषक)

Silver Patron

5

Suvarṇa Poṣaka (सुवर्ण पोषक)

Golden Patron

6

Ratna Poṣaka (रत्न पोषक)

Precious-Gem Patron

7

Vajra Poṣaka (वज्र पोषक)

Diamond Patron

8

Dharma Rakṣaka (धर्म रक्षक)

Protector of Dharma

9

Loka Kalyāṇa Mahāpoṣaka (लोककल्याण महापोषक)

Supreme Patron of Universal Welfare

Donor Benefits · 1

Daily Yagna and Pūjā Sankalpam

Donors' names and gotras will be included in the daily Yagna and Pūjā Sankalpam according to their donor category.
The names and gotras of eligible family members may also be included.
Names and gotras will be included in the special monthly Sankaṭahara Chaturthi Yagna and Pūjā for one year.
Eligible donors will be included in the annual KotiGanapati MahaYagnam Sankalpam.

Donor Benefits · 2

Annadānam on a Family Occasion

Donors may sponsor Annadānam on a birthday, wedding anniversary, remembrance day or another special family occasion.
The donor's family may personally participate in serving Annadānam.
Annadānam may also be offered in honour of parents, ancestors or loved ones.
Donors may support daily Annadānam or Sankaṭahara Chaturthi Annadānam.

Donor Benefits · 3

Parents and Ancestral Remembrance Seva

The Hindu rites performed for departed family members and ancestors are known collectively as Pitṛ Kāryas, Apara Karmas, ancestral rites or memorial rites. These include:

Apara Kriyās — Rites performed during the first 10–13 days
Māsikam — Monthly ceremony, usually performed during the first year
Saṃvatsarikam / Varṣikam — First-year death-anniversary ceremony
Pratyābdikam / Annual Śrāddha — Annual ceremony on the departed person's death tithi
Taddinam — The common Telugu term for the annual death ceremony
Śrāddha — General term for ancestral rites performed with reverence
Tarpaṇam — Offering of water, sesame seeds and prayers to the ancestors
Piṇḍa Pradānam — Offering of sacred rice balls for the departed soul
Mahālaya Pakṣa / Pitṛ Pakṣa Śrāddha — Annual ancestral observances during Pitṛ Paksha

Subject to the donor category:

Annual collective prayers may be offered for departed ancestors during Pitṛ Paksha.
A special annual prayer may be offered in honour of the donor's living parents.
Eligible ancestral and memorial rites may be arranged according to family tradition and applicable guidelines.

These rites are performed at the Pitṛ Karmasthalam — a sacred, separately designated place set apart for this purpose.

Donor Benefits · 4

Forefathers' Names on a Sacred Copper Plate and Adopted Tree

Forefathers' names will be preserved in the KotiGanapati Foundation's official records.
Their names may be engraved on a sacred copper plate and preserved at the Foundation office.
Donors may adopt a tree in honour or memory of their parents, forefathers or loved ones.
A copper plate bearing the honoured names may be placed beside the adopted tree.
Donors may receive periodic photographs and growth updates of the adopted tree.

Donor Benefits · 5

Annual Seva-Impact Report

Donors will receive an annual report describing how their contributions supported the Foundation's activities.
The report may include details of Yagnas, Pūjās, Annadānam, Veda Pāṭhaśālā, tree planting and animal seva.
Updates may include photographs, participation details and completed seva activities.
This benefit promotes transparency and helps donors remain connected with the sacred mission.

Go-Dānam

Go-Dānam, Goshāla and Elephant Seva

Go-Dānam (गोदानम्) — the donation of a cow — is revered as one of the most sacred forms of dāna in Hindu tradition.
The KotiGanapati Foundation encourages every individual or family, according to their ability, to offer at least one Go-Dānam during their lifetime.
The donated cow will be protected and cared for in the Goshāla with proper food, shelter and veterinary care.
Go-Dānam may be offered in the donor's name, or in honour of parents, forefathers, family members or loved ones.
Donors may sponsor a cow's food, veterinary care or lifetime maintenance.
Donors may also sponsor an elephant's food, veterinary care and lifetime maintenance, wherever permitted.
All cow and elephant seva activities are undertaken in accordance with animal-welfare requirements, Foundation guidelines and applicable laws.

See Goshāla and Gau Seva and Gaja Seva at the Sacred Living Centre.

Yagnaśālā

Stay Benefits

According to the donor category, one of the following complimentary accommodation benefits may be provided.

One day every month, for one person, for twelve months
Three days every month, for one person, for twelve months
Three days every month, for up to two persons, for twelve months
Three days every month, for up to four persons, for twelve months
Nine days in one year, for up to two persons, limited to three days per visit
Eighteen days in one year, for up to two persons, limited to three days per visit
Thirty-six days in one year, for up to four persons, limited to nine days per visit

Eligible accommodation benefits may be transferred to the donor's extended family members, loved ones or close contacts, subject to advance booking and availability.

Annadānam & Prasādam

Food Offered as Worship

Sankaṭahara Chaturthi Annadānam Donor — Supports Annadānam on Sankaṭahara Chaturthi
Daily Annadānam Donor — Supports the daily sacred food service
Special-Occasion Annadānam Donor — Supports Annadānam on a birthday, anniversary, remembrance day or festival
Daily Special Prasādam Donor — Supports special prasādam offered daily
Festival Prasādam Donor — Supports special prasādam on selected festivals and auspicious days

Animal Seva

Care for All Beings

Donations may support:

Goshāla Seva — shelter, food, protection and care for cows
Dog Seva — rescue, shelter, food and medical care for abandoned dogs
Elephant Seva — care and service for elephants, if permitted by the government and applicable laws

Śukla Yajurveda 36.18

मित्रस्य मा चक्षुषा सर्वाणि भूतानि समीक्षन्ताम् ।
मित्रस्याहं चक्षुषा सर्वाणि भूतानि समीक्षे ॥

mitrasya mā cakṣuṣā sarvāṇi bhūtāni samīkṣantām |
mitrasyāhaṃ cakṣuṣā sarvāṇi bhūtāni samīkṣe ||

“May all beings look upon me with the eye of a friend; may I look upon all beings with the eye of a friend.”

All beings — sarvāṇi bhūtāni — without exception. Source: Śukla Yajurveda 36.18

Important Note

All benefits are subject to the donor category, availability, advance booking, Foundation guidelines and applicable religious and legal requirements. Spiritual activities are offered as acts of seva, prayer, participation and remembrance; no specific material or spiritual result is guaranteed.

Whatever You Wish to Donate

There is no fixed amount. Give what feels right to you — by UPI, by bank transfer, or by writing to us — and it will be received as seva.

Ways to Donate → Email Us

KotiGanapati Foundation · Reg. No. 49/Bk IV/2018 · PAN AADTK6233C · DARPAN ID VO/NGO: TS/2026/1035519