TWELVE KINDS OF SONS
For perpetuating the family-line and offering panda (a ball or lump of boiled rice) to the dead ancestors at obsequies ceremonies or Shraddha and - a son is necessary According to Hindu belief a man is born with three debts- rina trayaee i.e. Devarina, ‘debts to the deities’ , Rishirina ‘debts to the Rishis, the seers, sages and Pitririna, ‘debt to the ‘dead ancestors; The first of these can be discharged by performing Yajna, i.e. sacrifices, worship and prayers to gods and charities. The second is discharged by study and teaching and the third by procreating children to perpetuate the family line. Among the children a son was considered necessary. Manu, Yajnavalkya, Devala etc. who are main lawgivers have recognized as many as twelve kinds of sons. 1.Aurasa : Literally one produced by the breast i.e. fathered by husband in his duly married wife. 2.Putrikaputra : Putrika in the traditional Hindu Law books ha been used as a technical word for a girl who has no brother. In the absence...