Runanubandha part 1: Soulmates, Karmic Ties and Concept of Rinanubandhan in Vedic Astrology

Concept_of_Runanubandha_Rinanubandhan

 

Written, Compiled and Researched

by Rocky Jamwal | Re-edited : January 2024 

Table of Contents

• 0.1 Introduction
• 1 Understanding Runanubandha, Karma, and Karmic Connections
  • 1.1 Understanding Karma
  • 1.2 Exploring Runanubandha
  • 1.3 The Significance of Karmic Connections
  • 1.4 Understanding Runanubandha from Mahabharata 
    • 1.4.1 Behind the Scenes: Figuring Out What the Story Is Trying to Say
    • 1.4.2
  • 1.5 Law of Karama and Runanubandhan as per Bhagwad  Geeta
    • 1.5.1 The Relationship Between Runanubandha and Vedic Scriptures in Padma Purana
      • • 1.5.1.0.1 “Runanubhanda Rupena Pashu Patni Suta Aalaya Runakshaye Kshyayaanthi Tatra Parivedana.”
    • 1.5.2 The Hypothesis behind Runanubandha
    • 1.5.3 Does the Really True Soul Mate Exist? : The Seed of Karmic Lessons
    • 1.5.4 Does Astrology Have an Answer? The Investigation
    • 1.5.5 What are soul mates? Are they different from karmic relations?
    • 1.5.6 The deeper meaning of “Runanubandha” ?
    • 1.5.7 Sri Sri Ravishankar’s view on the concept of Rnanubandhan
    • 1.5.8 The True Definition: Runanubandha
    • 1.5.9 What Sadguru has to say about Runanubandha
    • 1.5.10 Resolving Karmic Debts
    • 1.5.11 The Path to Liberation
    • 1.5.12 Conclusion

Introduction

Become familiar with the idea of karma and the relationship it has with runanubandha. Discover how our actions and intentions impact the experiences we have now and will have in the future. Examine the relevance of karmic ties and the ways in which they impact the relationships we have and the situations we find ourselves in. Explore the ways in which gaining an awareness of karma might enable us to make decisions that are conscious and so build a life that is more satisfying and meaningful.

First and foremost, it is essential that you have a solid understanding of the concepts of karama and karmic ties, as well as the ways in which these are connected to the debts of the past. Clearly, this demonstrates the cause for those seeds and how they are connected to previous incarnations. As will be shown in the following paragraphs, karmic deeds are neither a punishment nor a reward; rather, they are only a means of gaining insight into oneself and the unmet desires that continue to return from previous births in the cosmic cycle.

Understanding Runanubandha, Karma, and Karmic Connections

Karma is a notion that has its origins firmly ingrained in a wide variety of philosophical and spiritual institutions. It is the conviction that our deeds, intentions, and ideas all have repercussions that have an effect on the experiences we have as well as those we will have in the future. Every every action that we perform leaves an energy imprint that has an effect not only on our own lives but also on the lives of others around us, according to this concept.
The idea of runanubandha is one facet of karma that is often disregarded by people. Our karmic ties or debts with other people are referred to as runanubandha, which is a phrase that originates from the Sanskrit language. It is the concept that we are connected to other people as a result of the repercussions of our acts in the past, and that these ties have a substantial part in determining the situations that we are now facing.

Understanding Karma

The concept of karma is often characterized as a circle of cause and consequence. Every action that we perform will have a corresponding result, according to the rule of action and reaction, which states that they are inextricably linked. In addition to our physical and mental well-being, our relationships, and the circumstances of our lives, these repercussions may present themselves in a variety of different ways.

Keeping in mind that karma is not just about punishment or reward is an essential point to keep in mind. The system in question is not one of divine judgment; rather, it is a natural rule that functions in an unbiased manner. We are not subject to the influence of an outside force; rather, the outcomes of our activities are the direct result of the decisions that we exercise.

Samskaras are impressions or imprints that are created on our awareness as a result of our actions, intentions, and thoughts. These samskaras build throughout time and have an effect on the experiences that we will have in the future. Actions and intentions that are good lead to positive results, while actions and intentions that are bad lead to negative consequences.

Exploring Runanubandha

Through its emphasis on the interconnection of all creatures, Runanubandha develops the idea of karma and expands upon its definition. Essentially, it implies that we are connected to other people via a complex network of karmic relationships. These connections are developed by our encounters and relationships with other people, both in this incarnation and in prior lifetimes.

The concept of runanubandha suggests that every individual we come into contact with has a karmic tie to us. These associations may be either favorable or negative, depending on the nature of the activities that we have taken in the past. As an instance, we could have good connections with those who have assisted us in the past, whereas negative connections may exist with others whom we have caused damage to.

These karmic ties have an impact on the situations and relationships we are now experiencing. These things have the potential to influence the people we bring into our lives, the lessons we need to learn, and the difficulties we have to overcome. Insights into the patterns and dynamics of our interactions may be gained via the process of comprehending and accepting these connections.

The Significance of Karmic Connections

One of the most transformational experiences we may have is when we become aware of and comprehend our karmic ties. It enables us to accept responsibility for the acts we have taken and the results those actions have produced. It is possible for us to get a more profound comprehension of both ourselves and the relationships we have if we acknowledge these connections.

In addition, taking the time to acknowledge our karmic links may assist us in breaking away from destructive behaviors and cycles. It gives us the ability to think things through and make decisions that are in line with our goals and ideals. Through the cultivation of good acts, intentions, and ideas, we have the ability to realize a life that is more harmonious and meaningful.

It is essential to approach the idea of karmic links with an open mind and heart in order to get the best results. In spite of the fact that it may be tempting to place blame or seek retribution, the fundamental meaning of karma rests in the process of human development and change. We are able to break away from the cycle of bad karma and create a world that is more positive and loving if we concentrate on our own acts and intentions.

In conclusion, knowledge of karma and the notion of runanubandha, which is closely tied to it, provides significant insights into the interwoven nature of our lives. It is possible for us to gain the ability to make conscious decisions and to build a life that is more satisfying and meaningful if we have an understanding of the karmic ties we have with other people and the repercussions of our actions.

Story Begins :  Mahabharata , Bhisma, Arjuna and Runanubandhan

Oh,  Pandavas !  The actions that we have taken in the past have resulted in everything. The seeds of plants will never germinate if they are not planted.

In a similar vein, actions that were carried out in the past, whether they were good or terrible, have the potential to bring about positive or negative outcomes in the present. One may acquire huge fortune in the present without exerting any effort if they have made charitable contributions in the past.
Tapas that were prepared in the past bring about joys in the present.

Through the performance of service to elders and gurus in previous lifetimes, one is able to acquire knowledge and intellect without having to formally study under any guru. If a person is able to observe non-violence in their previous life, then they will continue to live for a significant amount of time in their current existence.

Because of this, sadhus, also known as saints, constantly practice nonviolence, donate to charitable causes, respect gurus, and serve elders and visitors, among other things. Then and only then will they be able to take pleasure in the next death. To put it another way, it is all about carrying out good or bad karmas in the past in order to achieve a positive or negative outcome in the present.

(Mahabharta,  Bhishma Parva,chapters 43 – 124)

Behind the Scenes: Figuring Out What the Story Is Trying to Say

Its the Karama that become the reason of this birth, after accumulating new karamas it leads to the basis of your next birth. After the death, soul of a person gathers all accumulated karamas from current one like a reservoir in that person’s mind. Later Divinity or God as per the divine Karmic law takes a handful of those Karmas and further it leads to a new karmic seed in the form of body.

So if a person has done good Karmas with those individual people, he/she might gets a good godly body in heavens first and then further they takes birth in a same learned, Religious and dutiful families, forms Close association with those family members in as a brother, sister, mother or father as a part of Karmic Rina, those having done good karama with that soul, during this whole process they enjoys relations with them.

If he/she has done bad karmas in past life then that person’s soul further goes to lower wombs of birds and animals.After moving through those lower Varnas, exhausting bad karmic seeds Soul further takes birth in those families having bad pending karmic deeds with them to further clear off debts in the form of karmic relations.This way process of Birth and death in the karmic relations keep going on unless and until karmas neutralises into zero.

( Source : https://gita-blog.blogspot.com/2013/07/our-present-life-is-result-of-our-deeds.html)

Law of Karama and Runanubandhan as per Bhagwad  Geeta

Below are verses of Bhagwat Gita further justifies the Laws of Karama and connection with the Runanubandhan Theory:

“sariram yad avapnoti yac chapy utkramatishvarah grhitvaitani samyati vayur gandhan ivasayat”

(Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Fifteen verse 8)

 

“Sri Krishna said:O Arjuna, As the wind carries away odours from their seat, even so the Jivatma (soul), the lord of the body, snatching these (the mind & the senses) from the body, which it casts off, migrates into the body, which it acquires.

“yada sattve pravrddhe tu pralayam yati deha-bhrt
tadottama-vidam lokan amalan pratipadyate”

(Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Fourteen verse 14)

“Sri Krishna said: O Arjuna, When one dies in the mode of goodness, he attains to the pure higher planets of the great sages.”

“rajasi pralayam gatva karma-sangisu jayate
tatha pralinas tamasi mudha-yonisu jayate”

(Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Fourteen verse 15)

“Sri Krishna said:  O Arjuna, When one dies in the mode of passion, he takes birth among those engaged in fruit producing activities (i.e. as a man or woman on earth); and when one dies in the mode of ignorance, he takes birth in the bird & animal kingdom.”

“If you want to know the answer to ‘Who am I?’, then you will have to go to a Gnani purush [the enlightened one]. The Gnani Purush will give you Knowledge of your real Self [Who Am I] in the presence of the egoism. Thereafter your accounts (karmic) will be settled [& things will start falling in place].If the ‘effect’ is experienced, [karmic] bondage is created. If one experiences the ‘effects’ alone by himself, the [karmic] bondage will not be sticky. If he involves another person in it, the karmic bondage will be sticky.”  

The Relationship Between Runanubandha and Vedic Scriptures in Padma Purana

An explanation taken from the Padma Puran

There is a notion that posits the presence of karmic relationships between persons. This idea is known as runanubandha, which is also known as the cycle of indebtedness. According to this theory, every single human being is linked to other people by means of a complex network of debts and responsibilities that have been accumulated over the course of several incarnations.

The consequences of these relationships may be either favorable or harmful, and they have an impact on the way our lives unfold.

Runanubandha is a notion that is extensively treated in the Padma Purana, which is one of the eighteen Mahapuranas. This ancient literature places a strong emphasis on the significance of comprehending and resolving these karmic debts in order to achieve spiritual emancipation attained.

Vedic scriptures, including the Vedas, Upanishads, and Puranas, serve as a guiding light for individuals seeking spiritual wisdom and enlightenment. These ancient texts contain profound insights into the nature of existence, the purpose of life, and the interconnectedness of all beings.

Within the Vedic scriptures, the concept of Runanubandha is intricately woven into the fabric of karma and rebirth. It is through these texts that we gain a deeper understanding of the intricate workings of the universe and the role of our actions in shaping our destiny.

Quote from Padma Puran : 

“Runanubhanda Rupena Pashu Patni Suta Aalaya Runakshaye Kshyayaanthi Tatra Parivedana.”

Meaning: Every Relations are the result of previous birth bondage. Once the debt is annihilated there is no relationship and hence end of suffering in this Samsara.

The Hypothesis behind Runanubandha

When we are tied by karmic links that have lasted for many years, it is not simple to comprehend what these relationships are or why we continue to adhere to them from the time we were children. We engage, share, love, and react to a large number of individuals in a manner that is unique to each of us. One of the most effective methods for comprehending karmic bonds is to just be quiet, comprehend them, and pose a multitude of inquiries to one’s own soul.

In layman language, a karmic relationship is a deep-rooted karmic action-based romantic bond that is formed with someone with whom you feel connected always and somehow you think you are made for, and most probably it might belong to your soul group categories in order to repent, heal past life lessons, and ease the pain a soul has been going through for many years.

The category of karmic connections is the kind of relationship that seems to be a soulmate-like tie, which is something that no one seeks in a direct manner, but in the end, everyone will obtain it in the karmic cycle of this life. In addition to being difficult to comprehend and emotionally draining, these relationships may sometimes manifest themselves in the form of verbal and physical aggression, and most crucially, they are characterized by a dominating and manipulative nature from the beginning.

There is no way to escape such karmic bindings until and until the soul has been able to acquire a profound understanding of his karmic teachings. In the meanwhile, they continue to go through a cosmic cycle for years in order to comprehend one another.

Those are awaiting them from this birth system. The only way to mend and comprehend a karmic connection is for one or both of the parties involved to make an effort to comprehend the spiritual foundations of the relationship and to make the choice to break free from the karmic cycle and develop their spirituality. In order to put a stop to a karmic connection, one must improve their strength and broaden their perspective, as well as develop their spirituality and think more deeply about life. When any of the individuals involved in the karmic relationship make the decision to entirely disengage from the connection, whether it be physically or spiritually, the relationship will come to an end.

In order to get a complete understanding of a karmic connection and to cure it, you need to devote a significant amount of time to self-realization or evaluation. Before you decide to go on to the next relationship, you need first look inside yourself to completely grasp the process of the whole connection, which includes the lessons that the relationship has taught you that you need to learn.

Similar Article : Decoding Astrological Mystery of Past Life Astrology and Past Life Regression : Past, Present, and Beyond – Part 1

Decoding Astrological Mystery of Past Life Astrology and Past Life Regression : Past, Present, and Beyond – Part 1

Does the Really True Soul Mate Exist? : The Seed of Karmic Lessons

The deeper meaning of “Runanubandha” ?

We take birth in a family, we meet friends, we meet parents, we meet many partners, we indulge with them, we create further karmas, and finally, after doing many sins and karmic actions, we fall in a good relationship, or either we feel like marriage is a burden to us, we feel that parents are not listening to us, and we leave our parents and close friends circle and live in isolation to repent those sufferings; the question is, why is it so??. We carry certain karmas and exhaust some of them, and those that we left behind we brought away with us for the next incarnation. This is a concept that is quite plain to understand. What are your thoughts on the fact that this karmic cycle contains a profound mystery?

According to Sri Sri Ravishanakr ji’s explanation of the law of Rnanubandhan, we shall encounter a variety of people during our life. These individuals may take the shape of a mother, a father, siblings, sisters, a spouse, children, and so on. Only because of the unpaid obligations from previous lifetimes that we carry with us, we are able to give birth to a family. According to the mathematical explanation, at the same time that we are establishing accounts, we are also debiting and crediting all of those karmas with those accounts. Because of our indulgence in them, we have accumulated a large number of karmic debts with all of the people with whom we contact. Each and every one of our karmic obligations, also known as Rina, ultimately results in some kind of bondage or attachment, also known as bandhan, with the others with whom we engage in interactions. What it says about karmas, according to the principles of the Bhagavad Geeta, is that all of these karmic attachments will attempt to drag us into the wheel of life, or you might say the karmic or cosmic cycle, again and again, until and until we exhaust them. This is what it says about karmas if we examine thoroughly.

What Sadguru has to say about Runanubandha

Resolving Karmic Debts

The Padma Purana provides insights into how to resolve our karmic debts and liberate ourselves from the cycle of Runanubandha. It emphasizes the importance of self-reflection, selflessness, and acts of compassion.

By engaging in selfless actions and cultivating a mindset of forgiveness and understanding, we can gradually dissolve our karmic debts and alleviate the burdens they impose. The scriptures encourage us to let go of resentment, seek reconciliation, and strive for spiritual growth.

The Path to Liberation

The ultimate goal of understanding Runanubandha and resolving our karmic debts is to attain liberation or Moksha. The Vedic scriptures teach that by breaking free from the cycle of birth and death, one can merge with the divine and achieve eternal bliss.

Through self-realization and spiritual practices such as meditation, yoga, and selfless service, individuals can transcend the limitations of their karmic debts and realize their true nature as divine beings.

Conclusion

Runanubandha is a concept that is addressed in the Padma Purana and other Vedic traditions. It provides significant insights into the interconnection of all creatures as well as the role that karma plays in molding our existence.

By gaining a knowledge of our karmic obligations and working to resolve them, we may create the road for our own spiritual development and freedom. In order to break free from the cycle of Runanubandha and achieve spiritual emancipation, let us take the lessons of the Vedic texts to heart and make it our goal to develop compassion, forgiveness, and selflessness in our daily lives.

In the next section, for the purpose of gaining an understanding of the astrological notion of rinanubandha, we shall examine several sample charts.

Stay connected for more articles on Past Karma, Rinanubandha & Karmic connections 

Part 2:  Rinanubandhan Part 2: Understanding Marriage, Karmic Bonds, and Soulmate Relations Astrologically

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Rocky Jamwal