Patram PuShpam Phalam Toyam

पत्रं पुष्पं फलं तोयं
(A leaf, a flower, a fruit or a little water)

A leaf struck in the emptied cooking vessel of Draupadi satisfied the hunger of the Lord and consequently Sage Durvaasa and his thousand disciples.

A flower offered by the Elephant King brought Vishnu hurrying down to save it from the jaws of a crocodile.

A forest fruit, that too tasted first by Sabari, was eaten with relish by Raama.

Rantideva was a great daani - gave out everything to the needy. Once he went on a vrata, cutting down on his food and ultimately surviving on water only. He began reducing the quantity of water and finally came down to only one ghotu (gulp). One day when he was ready to dring that one single ghotu, a poor old Brahmin came and requested him for water. He readily gave the water. The Brahmin was God, come to test him. A sip of water offered by Rantideva brought him liberation granted by the satisfied Lord.

God does not expect money or jewellery from us. Simple and freely avaible items please Him more. We offer to God what we think pleases Him. We offer what we value more ourselves. We mistakenly believe that God waits for our daana - that He likes big temples and costly jewellery. Also, we like to see our names engraved on marble pillars. This is our ignorance and our ego. But philanthropy has no meaning in giving ostentatious items to God Who owns everything. God expects us to give to the needy - we can give directly. God sees and is happy. Why involve God just to get our names in God's Donor List? He is PoorNakaama - he will be pleased with anything you offer, or even nothing, provided you have Bhakti in your heart.

Note : There is more pleasure in giving than in receiving. If you feel no pleasure in giving , than you have given nothing even when you donate rs one crore ! You have not donated , you just boosted your ego.