When we do our daily routine of home pooja. We often forget the ritual of giving Daanam . Without Daanam no pooja is deemed to be complete. Unless we render some thing as Daanam we can not hope to receive the material benefit from our Diety. To emphasis the ritual of Daanam there is a katha from Braham Purana.
Daanam or daan, is the most sought after in the hind tradition and the most important activity performed after pooja. In daanam, the individual can donate or give daan to anyone, no matter it is a priest, purohit or a common man who is in need.
Daan or Daanam can be done by any people or any kind and it depends on their will on what to donate in daanam. Elders of the family decide what do and how to do daanam according to hindu customs.
There was a sage called Maudgallya. He was very simple and a very great scholar. Such was his greatness that when he used to do daily pooja, Lord Vishnu himself accepted his pooja. He never asked any material benefit from Lord Vishnu. One day his wife(JABALI) requested him to ask Lord Vishnu that why they are so poor even after daily having darshan of Lord Vishnu.
Next day the sage asked Lord Vishnu about his poverty. Lord Vishnu said “oh! my son you prayed me daily but you never gave any thing in Daanam.
How can I bless you with worldly amenities without you giving Daanam. The sage said that I am so poor, I have nothing to donate. God said you have few corns of barley, you can donate that much.Then the sage said to whom “o my lord”. Lord Vishnu said you donate it to me.The sage did the same.After accepting few corns of barley Lord Vishnu blessed the sage with worldly wealth.