Alms or almsgiving exists in a number of religions. In general, it involves giving materially to another as an act of religious virtue. In Hindu and Islam, alms are given as charity to benefit the poor. In Buddhism, alms are given by lay people to monks to nurture laic virtue, merit and blessings and to ensure monastic continuity. The word comes from Old English ælmesse, ælmes, from Late Latin eleemosyna, from Greek eleEmosynE pity, alms, from eleEmOnmerciful, from eleos pity.

In Hindu Bhiksha (alms) is a devotional offering, usually food, presented at a temple or to a swami or a religious Brahmin who in turn provides a religious service (karmkand) or instruction. According to vasishta samhitha; Through Alms giving to poor obtains all his desires, (Even) longevity, (and he is born again as) a student of the Veda, possessed of beauty, He who abstains from injuring (sentient beings) obtains heaven, By entering a fire the world of Brahman (is gained), By (a vow of) silence (he obtains) happiness. He who expends his hoard (in gifts) becomes free from disease, a giver of water (becomes) rich by (the fulfillment of) all his desires, a giver of food (will have) beautiful eyes and a good memory, He who gives a promise to protect (somebody) from all dangers (becomes) wise, (To bestow gifts) for the use of cows (is equal to) bathing at all sacred places, By giving a couch and a seat (the giver becomes) master of a harem, By giving an umbrella (the giver) obtains a house, He who gives a House to a poor family obtains a town, he who gives a pair of Shoes obtains a vehicle, Now they quote also (the following verses): Whatever sin a man distressed for livelihood commits, (from that) he is purified by giving land, (be it) even a bull's hide, He who gives to a guest or a poor man a vessel filled with water for sipping, will obtain after death complete freedom from thirst and be born again as a drinker of Soma. If a gift of one thousand oxen fit to draw a carriage (has been bestowed) according to the rule on a perfectly worthy man, that is equal to giving a maiden, they declare that Cows-Domestic animals-, Land -Land for agriculture and Land for House- , and Learning are the three most excellent gifts. For to give learning is (to bestow) the greatest of all gifts, and it surpasses those (other gifts), a learned man who, free from envy, follows this rule of conduct which procures endless rewards, and which through final liberation frees him from transmigration, or who, full of faith, pure, and subduing his senses, remembers or even hears it, will, freed from all sin, be exalted in the highest heaven, he who gives Clothes to a poor man in the 6th day of every lunar month- (day of Ardhra star in the indian astrological month)- obtains Sacred World, hinduism is the only religion in this world had told its followers to give a percentage of their land to poor families. Whatever sin a man distressed for livelihood commits, (from that) he is purified by giving land, (be it) even a bull's hide, says by hindu religious text vasishta samhitha - it also says 'They declare that Cows-Domestic animals-, Land -Land for agriculture and Land for House and Learning are the three most excellent gifts. For to give learning is (to bestow) the greatest of all gifts, and it surpasses those (other gifts), inspired from hinduism, Acharya Vinoba Bhave started The Bhoodan Movement or Land Gift Movement in 1951 was a voluntary land reform movement in India. As an experiment in voluntary social justice, Bhoodan has attracted admiration throughout the world. There is little question that it created a social atmosphere in India that presaged land reform legislation activity throughout the country. It also had a tangible effect on the lives of many people - over 5 million acres (20,000 km²) were donated.

In Buddhism, alms or almsgiving is the respect given by a lay Buddhist to a Buddhist monk. The monk will then pray for the giver's family or requested others. It is not charity as presumed by Western interpreters. It is closer to a symbolic connection to the spiritual and to show humbleness and respect in the presence of normal society. The visible presence of monks is a stabilizing influence. The act of alms giving assists in connecting the human to the monk and what he represents. As the Buddha has stated: Householders & the homeless [monastics], in mutual dependence, both reach the true Dhamma. In Theravada Buddhism, many monks go on a daily alms round to collect food. This is often perceived as giving the laypeople the opportunity to make merit Money should not be accepted by a Buddhist monk, although nowadays not many monks keep to this rule (the exception being the monks of the Thai Forest Tradition and other Theravada traditions which focus on vinaya and meditation practice . In countries that follow Mahayana Buddhism, it has been impractical for monks to go on a daily alms round. In China, Korea and Japan, monasteries were situated in remote mountain areas where it could take days to reach the nearest town, thus making the daily alms round impossible. In the Himalayan countries, the large number of bikshus would have made an alms round a heavy burden on families. Competition with other religions for support also made daily almsrounds difficult and even dangerous; the first monks in the Shilla dynasty of Korea were said to be beaten due to the Buddhist minority at the time. In Buddhism, both almsgiving and, more generally, "giving" are called dāna Such giving is one of the three elements of the path of practice as formulated by the Buddha for laypeople. This path of practice for laypeople is: dāna, sīla, bhāvanā. Generosity is also expressed towards other sentient beings as both a cause for merit and to aid the receiver of the gift. It is accepted that although the three jewels of refuge are the basis of the greatest merit, by seeing other sentient beings as having Buddhanature and making offerings towards the aspirational Buddha to be wihtin them is of equal benefit. Generosity towards other sentient beings is greatly emphasised in Mahayana as one of the perfections (paramita) as shown in Lama Tsong Khapa's 'The Abbreviated Points of the Graded Path’: Total willingness to give is the wish-granting gem for fulfilling the hopes of wandering beings. It is the sharpest weapon to sever the knot of stinginess, It leads to bodhisattva conduct that enhances self-confidence and courage, and is the basis for universal proclamation of your fame and repute, Realizing this, the wise rely, in a healthy manner, on the outstanding path, Of (being ever-willing) to offer completely their bodies, possessions, and positive potentials, The ever-vigilant lama has practiced like that, If you too would seek liberation, Please cultivate yourself in the same way. In Buddhism, giving of alms, is the beginning of one's journey to Nirvana (Pali: nibbana). In practice, one can give anything with or without thought for Nibbana. This would lead to faith (Pali: saddha), one key power (Pali: bala) that one should generate within oneself for the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha. According to the Pali canon: Of all gifts [alms], the gift of Dhamma is the highest. In Islamic scriptural rules on alms are quite reminiscent of the biblical instructions: If you give alms openly, it is well; but if you do it secretly and give to the poor, that is better. - (Qur-an 2:271a). In Islam, zakat, or the giving of alms, is the third of the five pillars of Islam. Various rules attach to the practice, but in general terms, it is obligatory to give away 2.5% of ones savings and business revenue, as well as 5-10% of ones harvest, to the poor. The recipients include the destitute, the working poor, those who are unable to pay off their own debts, stranded travelers, and others who need assistance, with the general principle of zakaah always being that the rich should pay it to the poor.

Whereas the principle of almsgiving in Christianity is not a legal concept as in Islam, giving to the poor is regarded as one of the highest duties for any Christian. The offertory is the traditional moment in every Roman Catholic Mass, when alms are collected. In all Christian forms of worship, a collection is made of "tithes and offerings" given for the support of the church and for the relief of the poor, as a central act of Christian worship. In addition, private acts of charity, considered virtuous only if not done for others to admire, are a Christian duty. Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' in front of others, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. - (Matthew 6:1)

In the Jewish tradition, charity represented by tzedakah, justice, and the poor are entitled to charity as a matter of right rather than benevolence. Contemporary charity is regarded as a continuation of the Biblical Maaser Ani, or poor-tithe, as well as Biblical practices including permitting the poor to glean the corners of a field, harvest during the samity (Sabbatical year), and other practices. Voluntary charity, along with prayer and repentance, is regarded as ameliorating the consequences of bad acts.

Overall we have conclude that at present some people are cheating to other and some people taking these as a profession and specially in India here is most of people are under this profession. Here the people with out own physical labour choose this profession for their daily life, as a result they are cheating double like they neglect their duty and other cheat to others. So we have request to the donor that they donate to see the condition of the life of life of the human and help them for the self depend not on begging manner. At present several types beggars receive as profession like oil beggars, road beggars, banjara beggars, especially beggars only begging to foreigners for more money, beggar in the statue in bulk cart, temple beggar etc. We are trying since 2007 to stop this system and request the kind hearted not lost the future of beggars and advice them to physical labour. Because physical labour keep health fit and make long live.