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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 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.  

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 a '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 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.

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 ==

<nowiki>:</nowiki> Obligation was towards one's parents:

Pitru Rna or the idea of discharging the pious obligation towards parents is one of the most cherished values of Dharma. Ancestral worship is a part of this pious obligation but not the whole. The Vedas directed every individual to treat his mother and father as Devatas. This concept itself is so inspiring. For, as far as the child born is concerned, not only it gets birth from its parents but it is also looked after by its father and mother. The child gets its early nourishment and care from its parents. It is the parents who secure education for the child. Again this concept of worshipping the father and the mother as equal to the Supreme also flows from the basic value of Gratitude. As one gets birth from the Parents and one gets education from the parents and they shape the life of the children, it was regarded as the duty of the children to worship the father and the mother as equal to the Supreme and to look after them in old age. It is this value which has sustained the moral character of the individual and also it is this sense of gratitude, which makes him serve not only the parents but also the brothers and sisters and other dependents who all belong to the same family. It is therefore laid down that it is the duty of every individual to discharge the pious obligation towards parents.

 

The Second Pious obligation was towards one's parents (Pitruruna). Ancestral worship was a part of this pious obligation but not the whole. The Vedas directed every individual to treat his mother and father as gods. This concept itself is so inspiring for, as far as the child born is concerned not only it gets birth from its parents but it is also looked after by its father and mother. The child gets its early nourishment and care from its parents. It is the parents who secure education for the child. Thus, apart from the belief or no belief in the existence of God, the fact remains that the father and the mother are everything for the child. Even on the basis that the God is there, and it is God alone who is looking after the child, he is doing so only through the parents and therefore as far as the child is concerned, the father and the mother are visible manifestation of the invisible God. Again this concept of worshipping the father and the mother as equal to God also flows from the basic value of Gratitude. As one gets birth from the Parents and one gets education from the parents and they shape the life of the children, it was regarded as the duty of the children to worship the father and the mother as equal to God and to look after them in old age. It is this value which has sustained the moral character of the individual and also it is this sense of gratitude, which makes him serve not only the parents but also the brothers and sisters and other dependents who all belong to the same family. It is therefore laid down that it is the duty of every individual to discharge the pious obligation towards parents.

As part of the pious obligation towards parents, it was the duty of every individual to rear and bring up children in the family tradition and to educate them and impart moral character to them by securing them proper education through teachers and make them good human beings and make them an asset to society. In fact the desire to maintain family reputation without doing anything which is derogatory to that reputation has been an important factor in inculcating honesty and character in many individuals. It is again by the discharge of this pious obligation, that peaceful and moral family life was sought to be established.

As part of the pious obligation towards parents, it was the duty of every individual to rear and bring up children in the family tradition and to educate them and impart moral character to them by securing them proper education through teachers and make them good human beings and make them an asset to society. In fact the desire to maintain family reputation without doing anything which is derogatory to that reputation has been an important factor in inculcating honesty and character in many individuals. It is again by the discharge of this pious obligation, that peaceful and moral family life was sought to be established.

In fact the obligation towards parents was also the basis for the concept of the inseparable relationship between husband and wife. It is needless to state that, the husband and the wife cannot discharge the obligation to the parents by merely having children. The children have to be protected against the moral and material abandonment. They were also to be educated in a proper manner and after they come of age, they were also to be inducted into family life. Thus, it was the duty of the husband and the wife to look after their children until they were fully educated and their marriages were performed. In fact, even with all the quality of selfishness, which is the contribution of modern civilization, this duty is being performed in an exemplary manner even now in this country. The discharge of this obligation is impossible unless the husband and the wife remain unitedly through out their life subordinating their personal interests or inconveniences to the well being of their children. If after getting children the parents get divorced and take new spouses one can imagine what the fate of or adverse effect on the children would be. In fact we are seeing such situations and it is alarming and heart rending, The parents so separated will be unable to discharge the pious obligation. Therefore, the idea of discharging of the pious obligation towards parents is also one of the most cherished values of Dharma and this alone provides a valid answer to various innumerable problems arising out of the separation of parents.

In fact the obligation towards parents was also the basis for the concept of the inseparable relationship between husband and wife. It is needless to state that, the husband and the wife cannot discharge the obligation to the parents by merely having children. The children have to be protected against the moral and material abandonment. They were also to be educated in a proper manner and after they come of age, they were also to be inducted into family life. Thus, it was the duty of the husband and the wife to look after their children until they were fully educated and their marriages were performed. In fact, this duty is being performed in an exemplary manner even now in this country.

== ऋषिऋणम् || Rishi Rna ==

== ऋषिऋणम् || Rishi Rna ==