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== देवऋणम् || Deva Rna ==

== देवऋणम् || Deva Rna ==

Deva Rna refers to obligation towards the Supreme who is the Creator. Therefore, Deva Rna is to be discharged by worshipping the Supreme in various forms and performing Yajnas. It was prescribed with the objective of discharging gratitude of an individual for bringing him to life as a human being, providing with him all the physical and intellectual capacities and also providing Nature for his benefit. However, no particular deity was specified and no particular form of worship was prescribed. It was left to the choice of the individual to worship the Supreme in whatever form he pleased. It is due to this reason that, in Bharata, limitless names of the Supreme and varied modes of worship came into existence depending upon individual preference. There was no persuasion or force. As a result, individuals began to worship the Supreme in the manner it pleased them. This type of worship came to be known as "Worship of Ishtadevata" ie. the form of the Supreme as per one's liking. Apart from this, plants, animals and even inanimate objects were regarded as manifestation of the Supreme and people began to worship them according to their own liking. The basis of worship of the Supreme in whatever manner one pleases in is again the expression of the sense of gratitude. Apart from this such worship develops a sense of respectful-fear towards the Supreme in the individual. This constitutes an internal check against causing injury to other individuals and also to other living beings, in the belief that it would amount to inflicting injury on the Supreme Being himself.

Deva Rna refers to obligation towards the Supreme Being who is the Creator. Therefore, Deva Rna is to be discharged by worshipping the Supreme Being in various ways and performing Yajnas. It was prescribed with the objective of discharging gratitude of an individual for bringing him to life as a human being, providing with him all the physical and intellectual capacities and also providing Nature for his benefit. However, no particular deity was specified and no particular form of worship was prescribed. It was left to the choice of the individual to worship the Supreme Being in whatever form he pleased. It is due to this reason that, in Bharata, limitless names of the Supreme Being and varied modes of worship came into existence depending upon individual preference. There was no persuasion or force. As a result, individuals began to worship the Supreme in the manner it pleased them. This type of worship came to be known as "Worship of Ishtadevata" ie. the form of the Supreme as per one's liking. Apart from this, plants, animals and even inanimate objects were regarded as manifestation of the Supreme and people began to worship them according to their own liking. The basis of worship of the Supreme in whatever manner one pleases in is again the expression of the sense of gratitude. Apart from this, such worship also develops a sense of respectful-fear towards the Supreme in the individual. This constitutes an internal check against causing injury to other individuals and also to other living beings, in the belief that it would amount to inflicting injury on the Supreme Being himself.

Anyone who is not conversant with the total freedom given to individuals to worship the Supreme in any form thinks that the people in this country believe that there are crores of deities. But actually, every one in this land believes that the Supreme Being is one irrespective of the innumerable names by which he is worshipped on different occasions and for different purposes. This broad outlook is found incorporated in the following verse. It says,<blockquote>यं शैवा: समुपासते शिव इति ब्रह्मेति वेदान्तिनो बौद्धा बुद्ध इति प्रमाणपटव: कर्तेति नैय्यायिका: |</blockquote><blockquote>अर्हन्नित्यथ जैनशासनरता: कर्मेति मीमांसिका: सौऽयं नो विदधातु वाञ्छितफलं त्रैलोक्यनाथो हरि: ||</blockquote><blockquote>''yaṁ śaivā: samupāsate śiva iti brahmeti vedāntino bauddhā buddha iti pramāṇapaṭava: karteti naiyyāyikā: |''</blockquote><blockquote>''arhannityatha jainaśāsanaratā: karmeti mīmāṁsikā: sau'yaṁ no vidadhātu vāñchitaphalaṁ trailokyanātho hari: ||''</blockquote>Meaning: May the Lord of the universe, whom the Shaivas call and worship as Shiva, the Vedantins as Brahman, the bauddhas as Buddha, the Naiyyayikas as Karta, the Jainas as Arhat and the mimamsakas worship as 'Karma' fulfill the desires of all.

Anyone who is not conversant with the total freedom given to individuals to worship the Supreme in any form thinks that the people in this country believe that there are crores of deities. But actually, every one in this land believes that the Supreme Being is one irrespective of the innumerable names by which he is worshipped on different occasions and for different purposes. This broad outlook is found incorporated in the following verse. It says,<blockquote>यं शैवा: समुपासते शिव इति ब्रह्मेति वेदान्तिनो बौद्धा बुद्ध इति प्रमाणपटव: कर्तेति नैय्यायिका: |</blockquote><blockquote>अर्हन्नित्यथ जैनशासनरता: कर्मेति मीमांसिका: सौऽयं नो विदधातु वाञ्छितफलं त्रैलोक्यनाथो हरि: ||</blockquote><blockquote>''yaṁ śaivā: samupāsate śiva iti brahmeti vedāntino bauddhā buddha iti pramāṇapaṭava: karteti naiyyāyikā: |''</blockquote><blockquote>''arhannityatha jainaśāsanaratā: karmeti mīmāṁsikā: sau'yaṁ no vidadhātu vāñchitaphalaṁ trailokyanātho hari: ||''</blockquote>Meaning: May the Lord of the universe, whom the Shaivas call and worship as Shiva, the Vedantins as Brahman, the Bauddhas as Buddha, the Naiyyayikas as Karta, the Jainas as Arhat and the mimamsakas worship as 'Karma' fulfill the desires of all.

This verse refers to different modes of worship of the Supreme by different names, by persons belonging to different philosophical schools founded in this land. It declares that despite the fact that the Supreme is apparently worshipped by innumerable names and the belief that there are crores of deities, the Supreme Being is one. That is the firm belief of all in this land. The fact that people worship the Supreme by giving innumerable names to Him only establishes that there is perfect and absolute religious freedom and democracy in this country and no one is compelled to worship the Supreme in any particular manner. Religious indoctrination or dictatorship has been a taboo in this land, in view of the fact that our society is 'Dharma'-based society that thrives of mutual respect.  

This verse refers to different modes of worship of the Supreme by different names, by persons belonging to different philosophical schools founded in this land. It declares that despite the fact that the Supreme Being is apparently worshipped by innumerable names and the belief that there are crores of deities, the firm belief of all in this land is that the Supreme Being is one. The fact that people worship the Supreme by giving innumerable names to Him only establishes that there is perfect and absolute religious freedom in this country and no one is compelled to worship the Supreme in any single particular manner. Religious indoctrination or dictatorship has been a taboo in this land, in view of the fact that our society is 'Dharma'-based society that thrives of mutual respect.  

For this reason, Dharma regards worshipping the Supreme as fulfillment of Deva Rna. Therefore, a follower of Dharma, is ready and willing to pray to the Supreme and has least opposition to any form of worship or place of worship. Such is the breadth and width of the vision of Dharma. That is why, a preeminent position was accorded to Dharma which in the course of history came to be called as Hindu Dharma or Hinduism. In this regard, the following excerpts from the book "Dialogues with the Guru", a record of dialogue between a Christain and Jagadguru Sri. Chandrashekhar Bharati, the 33rd Shankaracharya of Sringeri is enlightening. It says,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              <blockquote>''Hinduism is the name which has now been given to our system, but its real name has always been Sanatana Dharma or the Eternal Law. It does not date from a particular point of time or begin from a particular founder. Being eternal, it is also universal. It knows no territorial jurisdiction. All beings born and to be born belong to it. (p.l)''</blockquote>Thus irrespective of the religion to which an individual belongs, he is governed by "Dharma" and is entitled to practice any religion of his choice. Therefore it would also be right to call' dharma ' Manava Dharma. It is a code of right conduct to be obeyed by all human beings irrespective of their religions, in order to enable them to live in harmony not only with fellow human beings but also with plant and animal life.

For this reason, Dharma regards worshipping the Supreme as fulfillment of Deva Rna. Therefore, a follower of Dharma, is ready and willing to pray to the Supreme and has least opposition to the form of worship or place of worship. Such is the breadth and width of the vision of Dharma. That is why, a pre-eminent position was accorded to Dharma which in the course of history came to be called as Hindu Dharma or Hinduism. In this regard, the following excerpt from the book "Dialogues with the Guru", a record of dialogue with Jagadguru Sri. Chandrashekhara Bharati, the 33rd Shankaracharya of Sringeri is enlightening. It says,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              <blockquote>''Hinduism is the name which has now been given to our system, but its real name has always been Sanatana Dharma or the Eternal Law. It does not date from a particular point of time or begin from a particular founder. Being eternal, it is also universal. It knows no territorial jurisdiction. All beings born and to be born belong to it.''</blockquote>Thus, every individual is governed by Dharma. It is a code of right conduct to be obeyed by all human beings, in order to enable them to live in harmony not only with fellow human beings but also with plant and animal life.

== पितृऋणम् || Pitru Rna ==

== पितृऋणम् || Pitru Rna ==