Why do we add an extra rupee/dollar when gifting?

Although the practice might have originated for wedding ceremonies, anytime there is a monetary gift given, it is customary to add one additional note/coin. Rather than giving 20, 50, 100 or 500 as cash gift we generally opt for 21, 51, 101 or 501!

It comes from SANSKRITI: SHAGUN, meaning an auspicious good omen, or a blessing.

The number ONE represents:

• A seed, meant to grow the next fortune and bring even more prosperity. Let the money not stop with what the person gifts but increase. There is a finality with zero’s and it signifies the END while ‘one’ signifies the BEGINING. By giving $51 or $101 we are starting the recipient off to accumulate their next $50 or $100.

• A cash gift or check is given as a blessing to the receiver. Adding ‘one’ extra note / coin, to the rounded amount, makes the amount indivisible. It is believed that the good wishes, good luck, and blessings remain INDIVISIBLE and kind of an extra bonus of blessings 😊.

• Another interesting belief is the extra ‘one’ currency / coin is considered as a debt. As such the receiver is expected to come up again to return the same. Both the giver and receiver continue meeting making a stronger bond.

• Shunya / Zero is associated with Brahma Janm as is the Brahma Muhurta. It is generally believed that any work started in this hour apart from meditation/spiritual activity might not be fruitful. Adding ‘one’ to cash gifts or if gifts were in kind then adding a coin circumvents this!

Every number is associated with something sacred and has sacredness to it – One has its own significance! 

IMRC 2024 re-engaging with OUR SANSKRITI while celebrating the PRAGATI we have made to get all the SAMRIDDHI away from our origin!

FUNFACT: 

The number ‘0’ was invented in India by a Hindu astronomer and mathematician named Brahma Gupta. 

 Contributed By: Aditya Vikram Daga