Hindu scriptures say that every human being is born owing five important debts: debt to God, debt to Ancestors, debt to Humankind, debt to Guests, debt to Animals and plants (or debt to Nature) and they must repay those karmic debts during their lifetime.
- Debt to the God for their blessings: paid by rituals and offerings.
- Debt to Ancestors and teachers: paid by supporting them, having children of one's own and passing along knowledge.
- Debt to Guests: repaid by treating them as if they were gods visiting one's home.
- Debt to Mankind (manushyarun): Mutual co-operation and serving others can help to repay this debt to mankind- such as giving money, clothes, shelter and land, to poor people, giving food and water to hungry people and helping orphans-or any other help that is appropriate.
The fifth debt to the cosmic elements and everything that arises out of them (bhutrun) means debt to Nature — a person is indebted to plants, trees, birds, animals and nature (called Bhuta Rin) — repaid by offering good will, food, water, or any other help that is appropriate.
Repaying these five debts, called pancha-maha-yajna, is compulsory in Hinduism. By these five yajna the worshipper places himself in correct relations with God, ancestors, spirits, men, the organic creation, nature and himself.
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