Giving Dakshina to the priests is an act of generosity (dana) which is integral to all ceremonies. Through giving dakshina one is supporting the priests who in turn are the upholders and the teachers of the Dharma. It is upon the householders that the priests (purohits) and the monks (sanyasis) depend for their livelihood and ability to continue their work of teaching and promoting the values of Sanatana Dharma. Householders should express their heartfelt love of the Dharma and appreciation of the work of the priests through giving generously according to their financial means.
The Shastra recommends a sliding scale of Dakshina as a guideline, based upon the price of a cow. In Australia the average price of a cow is $500. At every Yajña cow (or it's monetary equivalent) should be given (godāna) but a poor person should offer only 1/5 of the price of a cow, a person of middle income should offer 3/5 and the higher income should offer the entire price of the cow.
Based upon the combined income of the husband and wife the following is the baseline for Australia:
Low income household $00.00 — $40,000 = $100 dakshina
Middle income household $40,000 — $80,000 = $300 dakshina
High income household $80,000 + = $500 dakshina
1. Now there are four kinds of dakshina to the priests; gold (money), cow, cloth and horse. (S.B.4:3:4)
2. Let there be no bargaining for the sacrificial fee, for by bargaining the priests are deprived of their place in heaven. (S.B. 9: 5;2;16.)
3. No oblation (homa) should be offered without dakshina. (S.B. 9;1;3;7)
4. One who offers a yajña without giving dakshina to the priests obtains sinful reactions. (S.B 1;2;3;4)
5. By means of dakshina given to the priests the sacrifice becomes successful; for this reason gifts are made to the priests. (S.B.2:2;2;2.)
6. As great as the yajña is, as large as its extent is; by so many dakshinas does the yájamāna invigorate the yajña. (It means that the yájamāna should give as much as he can afford.) (S.B.2:2;2;3.)
7. Such is the measure of the priest's fees, but the yájamāna may give more, according to the depth of his conviction. (S.B. 2:2;2;5.)
8. A priest must not accept a dakshina which has been refused by another priest; nor should the yájamāna offer it (the refused dakshina) to anyone else; nor should he keep it; let him give it to some wretched kinsman, this is the law concerning a refused dakshina. (S.B.3:5;1;25.)