Introduction
According to Dharmasastras, the obligations or debts that every Hindu has towards gods, towards parents, towards seers and towards fellow human beings are called Rinas.
Hindu social system believes that after coming into this world each and every individual undertakes certain obligations. These begin with parents who bring up the children from their childhood, after facing all the difficulties. Then the obligation is towards the teachers and saints, etc., who guide the course of life of a child for the future. Thereafter come the gods and goddesses, who are supposed to have given birth to the child and who will receive him after his death. These obligations are technically called Rinas.
Types of Rinas
These Rinas in Hindu philosophy are known as:
- i.) Pitri Rina (obligations towards parents),
- ii.) Rishi Rina (obligations towards the teachers and saints)
- (iii). Deva Rina (obligations towards the gods and goddesses)
- (iv). Manusha Rina (obligations towards guests)
It is enjoined upon all the Hindus that throughout their life they should try to discharge these obligations and while doing something they should try to forget these duties. The obligations can best be discharged by studying Vedas, by begetting children in accordance with the provisions of Dharma and also by performing duties as a Grihastha, i.e., by remaining in the Grihastha Ashrama.
Pitri Rina
Pitri Rina can be discharged by way of having children because they alone will continue the race otherwise the race or family will come to an end. It is also in the discharge of Pitri Rina that it is enjoined upon all the Hindus that they should treat the children very nicely and extend their guidance, love and affection to them. The children are equally expected not to forget that the parents suffer for them when they are not capable of holding themselves.
Rishi Rina
Similarly, each and every individual is required to always remember of his teachers and saints are makers and unmakers of his life and can mould future course of his action in the way they like. It is, therefore, very essential that all respect should be shown to Rishis and Teachers.
Deva Rina
Similarly, respect should be shown to gods and goddesses who will receive them at the end of his life. It is suggested that if Vedas are studied properly. Dev Rina can be discharged by having performing and giving sacrifices as provided in the Dharma.
Present Relevance
- Although the concept of Rina and Rebirth has been greatly modified due to above mentioned factors and forces, yet it is an important social base in India. These value systems have got diluted to a great extent in cities and metropolitan-areas of the country. However, it is a prevalent way of life in rural India.
- In our country, parents in general are served by their children in old age. However in some states, people do not take care of their parents in times of need. Consequently states like Himachal and Kerala have enacted ‘Parents Bill’ which forces children to take care of their parents in their old age. However Rina and Rebirth are guided principle in India at large
Conclusion
According to P. H. Prabhu, “It is opined that the man who fails to carry out any of these obligations due in him during the first three Ashramas is not entitled even to try to attain Moksha, and Manu says that he who seeks Moksha without fulfilling his duties in the first three Ashramas will sink low………..”