WHAT ARE THE ACTIVITIES TO BE DONE ON AKSHAYA TRUTIYA DAY?

According to dharma SAstras, the following are  the sacred activities to be done on Akshaya TrutIya day which is considered very auspicious:-
1.Taking bath in holy rivers
2.Japa
3.Homa (AupAsanam)
4.Vedic recitation
5.Pitru tarpaNam
6.DAnam

yasyAm snAnam japo homah svAdhyAyah pitrutarpaNam ।
dAnam ca kriyate kincit tat sarvam syAdihAkshayam ॥
जय जय श्रीराधे 

WHAT ARE THE EIGHT MEANS OF ATTAINING SALVATION (ASHTOPAYAS) ?

The eight meas of attaining salvation (Ashtopayas) are as follows:-

1. Yajna
2. Danam
3. Vedadhyayanam
4. Tapas
5. Dama
6. Satyam
7. Rjusila
8. Mardava

जय जय श्रीराधे 

VEDIC CANONS OF PHILANTHROPY -- DANAM

As per TaittirIya Upanishad i-11, the canons of Philanthropy ( DAnam) are as follows:

1.Give with faith ( SraddhaYA deyam)
2.Do not give without faith. (aSraddhayA adeyam)
3.Give in plenty (SriyA deyam)
4.Give with modesty (hriyA deyam)
5.Give with sympathy ( bhiyA deyam)
6.Give with knowledge (samvidA deyam).

जयजय श्रीराधे

KANYA DANA MANTRAM

According to Smrtiratnam, the following mantra is to be recited at the time of performing kanyA dAnam during vivAha :

kanyAm lakshaNa samyuktAm kanakAbharaNairyutAm!

dAsyami vishNave tubhyam brahmaloka jigIshayA !!

Desiring to reach the abode of Brahma, I give as kanyA DAnam  the bride with good features and decked with golden ornaments to you (a deserving groom) who is VishNu svarUpa .