Temples to Get Rid Of Debts

The term debt is something usually related only to finance. It typically indicates the money borrowed or a loan taken, that needs to be repaid to those who extended it. So, for getting rid of debts, what one needs is money. And it naturally looks odd when temples come into the picture, here, as against cash! 

Does this mean that there is much more to the term 'debt' than what meets the eye? So, is it not merely monetary by nature, but has far deeper connotations? 

Let us try to find out!

Debt

Debt is a sort of monetary obligation, and typically refers to the money that a person owes to another. Though this is what the general understanding of the term is, debt is something that is far broader and deeper in its import. As per scriptures, it is the debt that remains even as the prime reason for anyone to take birth in this world. So, it looks like it has nothing to do with money or any give and take!

Then what is a debt, in its real sense?    

According to our scriptures, someone who is born in this world comes here, carrying three types of debts with him or her, 3 types of debts. These are the Deva Runa, the debt towards the Gods, Rishi Runa, the debt towards the sages, and Pitru Runa, the debt to the forefathers.  

In other words, we all remain indebted to the divine, the saints, and our ancestors, and owe them a lot. And it is not only our duty to clear these debts. It also remains as the essential requirement that can prevent us from taking our next births and thus help us to free ourselves from this never-ending cycle of birth and death.   

When these are the issues concerning our debts that need to be paid back, where else can we look for solutions, other than, from the divine?

Temples for Debt Relief

Generally, temples are built for various Gods and Goddesses. Some of these are also well-known as the sacred locations that can provide answers to some of the people's specific concerns. And a few such temples are meant for debt relief. Here, let us try to learn something about these unique abodes of the divine. 

The most famous of these is perhaps the Runa Vimochana Lingeshwarar Temple, Thirucherai, near Kumbakonam, in Tamil Nadu. 'Runa Vimochana' literally means 'the one who can get rid of the debts', while Lingeshwara is Shiva. Hence, this temple is also known as Kadan Nivartheeswarar Koil in Tamil, which carries the same meaning. So, it can even be said that this Lord has stationed himself here only for the purpose of relieving people of their debts! The main deity of this Shiva temple is Sara Parameshwara, who is housed here along with Gnanavalli, his divine consort.   

Here, 'Runa Vimochana Lingeshwara' is installed as a Shiva Lingam in a separate shrine. It s believed that sage Markandeya installed this image ere and prayed to him for bringing prosperity and welfare to the people there. As the Lord obliged the sage and removed the problems of the people and blessed them with plenty, he came to be known as Runa Vimochana Lingeshwara. There is a belief that he can remove all liabilities, financial or otherwise, and bestow people with a life of fulfillment.  

Here, special poojas are conducted for Runa Vimochana Lingeshwara on Mondays, the days meant for Shiva worship. Also, Rudra, Lord Shiva's fierce aspect, has 11 forms; hence, the number 11 also assumes significance in offering prayers to Shiva. Therefore, special poojas for debt relief are conducted for this Lingeshwara on 11 consecutive Mondays. People in need can take part in these worships, which are done in the form of Archanas, the light, and sound rituals, pray to the almighty for debt relief and welfare, receive divine blessings, and get their wishes fulfilled.

But it may not be possible for all to visit this temple continuously for 11 Mondays and participate in this pooja in person. For this, necessary arrangements are put in place here. Thanks to these, devotees can register in advance, provide the basic details about themselves and family members like names, birth star, Gotram, the lineage, etc., thus take part in these worships in absentia and get benefitted from them.

    
After these 11 Monday-worships, people can visit the temple on a Monday and perform an abhishekam, the holy bath to the Lord. He is said to be very fond of abhishekam, and hence, this worship remains as the culminating ritual. Also, 11 materials as prescribed in the sacred Shiva Agamas are used in the abhishekam, while Dharidriya Dhahana Shiva Stotram is chanted. As the name suggests, this hymn is capable of destroying poverty by God's grace and, when recited with faith, can get rid of devotees' debts. Just before this hydration ritual, the priests will be distributing flowers to the devotees, and taking them back soon, during the ceremonial worship. This symbolizes that the Lord is pleased with his devotees' worship and is clearing them of all types of their debts. 

Subsequently, devotees offer prayers to the idols of Goddess Mahalakshmi and Jyeshta Devi in the temple. It is said that these divinities can ensure that people remain debt-free throughout their lives.In this regard, people can also visit the famous Thyagaraja Swami Temple at Thiruvarur, Tamil Nadu, and pray to the Runa Vimochana Lingeshwara idol there.  This can also help them to overcome their debt problems.

Wrin Muktheshwar Temple in Maharashtra is another abode of Lord Shiva, where the Lord can be worshipped as Wrin Muktheshwar, the one who can free people of their debts. This is located in the Mandata Parvat island formed by the confluence of two rivers, about 2 kilometers from the famous Omkareshwar temple in the Western Ghats. It is a practice for devotees to offer a kg of Arhhar pulse to the deity here, whereas they believe that he can remove their debts in the form of their past sins.

What Divine Blessings Can Do 

Praying to the debt-clearing deities in these temples with faith and devotion can help devotees repay their loans and debts. This can also remove the effects of their past sins, cure diseases and restore health, bless them with affluence, peace, and joy, and lead them towards salvation.