Sri Bharatamata

Ashtottaram 90

 

90) OṀ RUṆA VIMOCHAKA BHŪMYAINAMAH:

           OṀ (AUM) -RU-ṆA- VI-MO-CHA-KA- BHOO- MYAI- NA-- MA- HA

 

         (Ruṇam: means-Debt; Vimochanam: means-free, liberation)

 

 

 

 

Every human being-according to Hinduism-is said to be born under three ruṇas or debts. The idea of ruṇaṫraya, the three debts under which every human being is born, has been hinted at, even in the Ṛigveda. However it is more explicit in the later Vedic literature like the Ṫaiṫṫirīya Saṃhiṫa- and the Śaṫapatha Brāhmaṇa. These three ruṇas are: deva -ruṇa (debt to gods); pitru- ruṇa (debt to the manes, forefathers) and rushi -ruṇa (debt to the sages).

 

The first is repaid by the performance of yajnās or Vedic sacrifices; the second by begetting sons and doing śrāddhās or obsequial ceremonies, and the third by svādhyāya (study of the Vedas) and tapas (practicing austerities).

 

Deva -ruṇa may be repaid by worship of gods like Sūrya, Prajāpaṫi and Indra, is the usual daily sacrifice offered in a consecrated fire; fasting and other types of austerities also, if one is unable to perform yajnās. Since they give us rain, crops and prosperity they have to be satiated through these oblations.

 

Pitru-ruṇa (by Pitruyajna or sacrifice to the manes, forefathers) consists in offering rice balls (called pinḍa) and water (arghya). By this offering they are satisfied and bless their descendants who are performing this sacrifice.

 

Rushi-ruṇa (debt to the sages), also called Rushiyajna or Brahmayajna ('Brahma' meaning the Vedas) is sacrifice to the rushis or the sages. Since they have the knowledge of the Vedas to mankind, it is the householder's duty to recite the Vedas and also teach them to his children and disciples. This it'self is the yajna by which they are pleased.

 

Sometimes two more ruṇas are added, as follows: brāhmaṇa -ruṇa (repaid by giving gifts to brāhmaṇas) since they perform many religious rites for us); ātma -ruṇa (debt to the jīvātman, repaid by taking care of the body-mind-sense complex properly). The Mahābhārata (Āḋiparva) mentions an interesting aspect of debt, ānṛśamsya (not being cruel to other living beings- narayajna and bhūtayajna), since we can live here only by the goodwill of others. These are actually feeding the hungry human beings that may visit the house as also the domestic and other animals. By performing these daily sacrifices, the householder is actually repaying his debts to the divine beings and the society, from whom he has received help and sustenance. They also help him offsetting the sin he commits (unknowingly and unwillingly) while using these implements in his house like the pestle and mortar, domestic fire, grinding stone, etc., wherein violence is perpetrated on life through the killing of ants, worms and so on.

The only nation on the planet reminds us about the above debts is 'Ruṇa Vimochaka Bhūmi'.