bhiksha
{{Short description|Sanskrit term for the act of seeking alms}}
Bhiksha ({{langx|sa|भिक्षा}}, bhikṣā; {{langx|pi|𑀪𑀺𑀓𑁆𑀔𑀸}}, bhikkhā) is a term used in Indic religions, such as Jainism, Buddhism and Hinduism, to refer to the act of alms or asking.{{Cite book|last=Monier-Williams|first=M.|title=A Sanskrit-English Dictionary|publisher=Bharatiya Granth Niketan|year=2007|isbn=978-81-89211-00-4|location=New Delhi|pages=756}} Commonly, it is also used to refer to food obtained by asking for alms.
Buddhism
{{main article|Piṇḍacāra}}
File:Ajaan Geoff Almsround.jpg on piṇḍacāra receiving piṇḍapāta]]
In Buddhism, bhiksha takes the form of the monastic almsround ({{langx|pi|𑀧𑀺𑀡𑁆𑀟𑀘𑀸𑀭}}, piṇḍacāra),{{cite web|title=Piṇḍacāra: Going on Almsround|url=https://www.nalanda.org.my/pindacara-going-on-alms-round/|website=Nāḷandā Buddhist Society|date=2012-08-29}} during which monks make themselves available to the laity to receive alms food ({{langx|pi|𑀧𑀺𑀡𑁆𑀟𑀧𑀸𑀢}}, piṇḍapāta).{{cite web|url=https://palelaibuddhisttemple.org/pindapata-in-detail|title=Piṇḍapāta in Detail|website=Pālēlāi Buddhist Temple}}
Buddhist monks are called bhikkhu (Pali) or bhikṣu (Sanskrit) while nuns are called bhikkhunī (Pali) or bhikṣunī (Sanskrit) which translates to 'almsman' and 'almswoman' respectively.{{Cite book |last=Harvey |first=Peter |title=An Introduction to Buddhism: Teachings, History and Practices |date=2013 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-0-521-67674-8 |edition=2. |location=Cambridge |pages=287}}
Hinduism
Bhiksha signifies a Hindu tradition of asking for alms with the purpose of self-effacement or ego-conquering. Other forms of giving and asking include dakshina (offering a gift to the guru) and dāna (an unreciprocated gift to someone in need).{{Cite journal|last=Venkatesan|first=Soumhya|date=2016|title=Giving and Taking without Reciprocity: Conversations in South India and the Anthropology of Ethics|journal=Social Analysis: The International Journal of Social and Cultural Practice|volume=60|issue=3|pages=36–56|doi=10.3167/sa.2016.600303|jstor=26404938|issn=0155-977X|url=https://pure.manchester.ac.uk/ws/files/59896758/Giving_and_taking_without_reciprocity_SV.pdf}}
Usually, bhiksha is the meal served to a sadhu sanyasi or monk when that person visits a devout Hindu household. Occasionally, bhiksha has also referred to donations of gold, cattle, and even land, given to Brahmanas in exchange for karmakanda. It is given by disciples to a guru as an offering as well.{{Citation needed|date=March 2025}}
Bhiksha is incorporated into religious rituals as well, a prominent one being the bhikshacharanam, which includes begging for alms. In such a ritual, after thread ceremony must beg for alms, stating, "{{lang|hi-Latn|bhavati bhiksham dehi}}".{{Cite book |last=Kannan |first=P. R. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9uxxEAAAQBAJ&dq=bhavati+bhiksham+dehi&pg=PT236 |title=Smritimuktaphalam: Varnashrama Dharma Kandam |date=2022-05-30 |publisher=Giri Trading Agency Private Limited |isbn=978-81-7950-871-8 |pages=236 |language=ar}}
The concept of a deity or being seeking bhiksha occurs in Hindu literature such as the Ramayana. In this epic, in order to lure Sita out of her hermitage, Ravana disguises himself as a Parivrajaka begging for alms. When she subsequently offers him bhiksha, he abducts her to Lanka upon his pushpaka vimana.{{Cite book |last=Chandra |first=Dinesh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GJCtCwAAQBAJ&dq=ravana+bhiksha&pg=PT122 |title=Hinduism: The Dawn of Civilization |date=2016-03-05 |publisher=Diamond Pocket Books Pvt Ltd |isbn=978-93-85975-43-1 |pages=122 |language=en}}