Brahmacharya

Template:Short description {{#invoke:other uses|otheruses}} Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use Indian English Template:Italic title Template:Hinduism small Template:Jainism Template:Sidebar with collapsible lists Brahmacharya (Template:IPAc-en; Sanskrit: Template:IAST Devanagari: ब्रह्मचर्य) is the concept within Indian religions that literally means "conduct consistent with Brahman" or "on the path of Brahman".<ref name="James Lochtefeld pp. 120" /> Brahmacharya, a discipline of controlling the senses, is seen as a way to liberation. Though sexual restraint is a part of brahmacharya, brahmacharya encompasses all striving toward a passionless state.<ref name=":2" />

In one context, brahmacharya is the first of four ashrama (age-based stages) of a human life. The brahmacharya (bachelor student) stage of life – from childhood up to twenty-five years of age – was focused on education and included the practice of celibacy.<ref name="rks" /> In this context, it connotes chastity during the student stage of life for the purposes of learning from a guru (teacher), and during later stages of life for the purposes of attaining spiritual liberation or moksha.<ref>Georg Feuerstein, The Encyclopedia of Yoga and Tantra, Shambhala Publications, Template:ISBN, 2011, pg 76, Quote – "Brahmacharya essentially stands for the ideal of chastity"</ref><ref>W.J. Johnson (2009), "The chaste and celibate state of a student of the Veda", Oxford Dictionary of Hinduism, Oxford University Press, Template:ISBN, pg 62</ref>

In the Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist monastic traditions, brahmacharya implies, among other things, the mandatory renunciation of sex and marriage.<ref>Carl Olson (2007), Celibacy and Religious Traditions, Oxford University Press, Template:ISBN, page 227-233</ref> It is considered necessary for a monk's spiritual practice.<ref>DR Pattanaik (1998), The Holy Refusal, MELUS, Vol. 23, No. 2, 113–127</ref>

EtymologyEdit

The word Template:Transliteration stems from two Sanskrit roots:

Template:Transliteration (Devanagari: {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}) meaning one's own Self in non-dual schools or a distinct entity in dualistic schools, ultimate unchanging reality, absolute consciousness, much discussed in the Upanishads.<ref>Template:Multiref2</ref>
Template:Transliteration ({{#invoke:Lang|lang}}), which means activity, behaviour, conduct.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Hence, Template:Transliteration roughly means "to stay true to one's Self or one own Template:Transliteration" or "on the path of Template:Transliterationn".<ref name="James Lochtefeld pp. 120" />

In ancient and medieval era Indian texts, the term Template:Transliteration is a concept with a more complex meaning, indicating a lifestyle conducive to the pursuit of sacred knowledge and spiritual liberation.<ref name=mkha>Template:Cite book</ref> Template:Transliteration is a means, not an end. It usually includes cleanliness, Template:Transliteration, simple living, studies, meditation, and voluntary restraints on certain foods (eating only Sattvic food), intoxicants, and on sexual behavior (both sex and masturbation, in some schools of thought).<ref name=mkha />

One who practices brahmacarya is known as a brahmacārī or brahmacārinī. Various Template:Transliteration ({{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, Template:Translation) and Template:Transliteration ({{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, Template:Translation) of Hinduism also call their initiates by these terms.<ref name=":0">Template:Multiref2</ref><ref name=":1">Template:Cite book</ref>

In HinduismEdit

Brahmacharya represents the highest level of self-control, an intense mental and spiritual discipline of controlling the senses to attain liberation. It encompasses renouncing desires for temporary worldly pleasures to focus one's self toward religious goals.<ref name=":2">Template:Cite book</ref>

In the VedasEdit

The Vedas discuss Template:Transliteration, both in the context of lifestyle and as a stage of one's life. Rig Veda, for example, in Mandala 10, Sukta 136, mentions knowledge seekers as those Template:Transliteration (long-haired) and with soil-colored clothes (yellow, orange, saffron) engaged in the affairs of Template:Transliteration (mind, meditation).<ref>Template:Multiref2</ref> Rig Veda, however, refers to these people as Template:Transliteration and Template:Transliteration. The Atharva Veda, completed by about Template:BCE, has more explicit discussion of Template:Transliteration, in Book XI, Chapter 5.<ref name="atharvaveda">Template:Multiref2</ref> This chapter of Atharva Veda describes Template:Transliteration as that which leads to one's second birth (mind, Self-awareness), with Hymn 11.5.3 painting a symbolic picture that when a teacher accepts a Template:Transliteration, the student becomes his embryo.<ref name="atharvaveda" />

The concept and practice of Template:Transliteration is found extensively among the older strata of the Mukhya Upanishads in Hinduism. The Template:BCE text Chandogya Upanishad describes, in Book 8, activities and lifestyle that is Template:Transliteration:<ref name="sscu">Template:Multiref2</ref>

Template:Quote

A hymn in another early Upanishad, the Mundaka Upanishad in Book 3, Chapter 1, similarly states,

Template:Quote

The Vedas and early Upanishadic texts of Hinduism in their discussion of Template:Transliteration, make no mention of the age of the student at the start of Template:Transliteration,<ref>Some recent Upanishads do see for example Naradaparivrajaka Upanishad mentioned below</ref> nor any restraint on sexual activity. However, there is a clear general consensus in both specific and various Upanishads (such as the Shandilya Upanishad) as well as Hindu Template:Transliteration (such as the Manusmriti) that the male "student", referred to as the "Template:Transliteration" should abstain from the "release of semen." This rule may or may not apply to the guru. The verses 11.5.4.16 and 11.5.4.17 of the Satpatha Brahamana present two different viewpoints on the sexual activity, of the guru during the Template:Transliteration, i.e., the teacher of the "student Template:Transliteration", one against and one as a choice.<ref name="julius">Template:Cite book</ref> Similarly, in verse 11.5.4.18, the Satapatha Brahmana presents contrasting viewpoints on an eating restraint (regarding honey) for the Template:Transliteration student.<ref name="julius" />

As a virtueEdit

Template:Transliteration is traditionally regarded as one of the five Template:Transliteration in Yoga, as declared in verse 2.30 of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> It is a form of self-restraint regarded as a virtue, and an observance recommended in a manner that depends on an individual's context. For a married practitioner, it means marital fidelity (not cheating on one's spouse); for a single person, it means celibacy.<ref>Template:Multiref2</ref> Patanjali in verse 2.38<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> states that the virtue of brahmacharya leads to the profit of Template:Transliteration ({{#invoke:Lang|lang}}).<ref name="svb">Template:Cite book</ref> This Sanskrit word, Template:Transliteration, has been variously translated as virility and, by Vyasa, as strength and capacity. Vyasa explains that this virtue promotes other good qualities.<ref name="svb" />

The Shandilya Upanishad includes Template:Transliteration as one of ten Template:Transliteration in Chapter 1, defining it as "refraining from sexual intercourse in all places and in all states in mind, speech, or body"<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> while Linga Purana in chapter 1.8 states that in case of householders, indulgence in sexual intercourse with their own wives and abstention from it with other women mentally, physically and verbally should be understood as brahmacharya as well.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Other ancient and medieval era texts of Hinduism describe the fruits of this virtue differently. For example, Pada Chandrika, Raja Marttanda, Sutrartha Bodhini, Mani Prabha, and Yoga Sudhakara each state that Template:Transliteration must be understood as the voluntary restraint of power.<ref name=svb /> Chandogya Upanishad in verses of chapter 8.5 extols Template:Transliteration as a sacrament and sacrifice which, once perfected, leads to realization of the Self ([[Ātman (Hinduism)|Template:Transliteration]]), and thereafter becomes the habit of experiencing the Self in others and everything.<ref name=svb /><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Tattva Vaisharadi and Yoga Sarasangraha assert that Template:Transliteration leads to an increase in Template:Transliteration (power of knowledge) and Template:Transliteration (power of action).<ref name=svb />

The great epic Mahabharata describes the objective of Template:Transliteration as knowledge of Brahman (Book Five, Udyoga Parva, the Book of Effort).<ref name=kmg /> Template:Transliteration leads one to union with the Supreme Self (Chapter 43). By subduing desire, the practice of self-restraint enables the student to learn, pay attention in thought, word, and deed to the Template:Transliteration (teacher), and discover the truth embodied in the Vedas and Upanishads. According to the epic, the practice of studying and learning requires the "aid of time," as well as personal effort, ability, discussion, and practice, all of which are helped by virtue of Template:Transliteration.<ref name=kmg /> A Template:Transliteration should do useful work, and the earnings he obtains should be given away as Template:Transliteration ("fee," "gift of thanks") to the guru. The epic declares that Template:Transliteration is one of twelve virtues, an essential part of Template:Transliteration in yoga and the path of perfecting perseverance and the pursuit of knowledge.<ref name=kmg>Template:Cite book</ref>

In JainismEdit

File:In-jain.png

Green colour in the Jain flag stands for Template:Transliteration Template:Sfn

Template:Transliteration is one of the five major vows prescribed for the Template:Transliteration (layman) and for ascetics in Jainism. For those Jains who adopt the path of monks, celibacy in action, words, and thoughts is expected. For lay Jains who are married, the virtue of Template:Transliteration requires remaining sexually faithful to one's chosen partner.<ref name=pshah /> For lay Jains who are unmarried, chaste living requires Jains to avoid sex before marriage.<ref>Template:Citation</ref> Template:Transliteration (Supreme Celibacy) is one of the ten excellencies of a Jain monk.Template:Sfn Template:Transliteration is mentioned as one of the Template:Transliteration (ten virtues) in ancient Jain texts like Tattvartha Sutra, Sarvārthasiddhi and Puruşārthasiddhyupāya.Template:Sfn

Among Sramanic traditionsEdit

Among the Sramanic traditions (Buddhism, Jainism, Ājīvika, and Charvaka schoolsTemplate:Citation needed), Template:Transliteration is the term used for a self-imposed practice of celibacy that is generally considered a prerequisite for spiritual practice. The fourth of the five great vows of Jain monks, for example, is the vow of celibacy, which in this case means total abstinence from the sensual pleasure of all five senses, including the avoidance of sexual thoughts and desires.<ref name=pshah>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite book Template:Verify source</ref> The yogin who is firmly grounded in the virtue of Template:Transliteration is said to gain great vitality.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

As Asrama stage of lifeEdit

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}}

Template:Transliteration in Hinduism literally means "conduct consistent with Brahman" or "on the path of Brahman".<ref name="James Lochtefeld pp. 120" />

Historically Template:Transliteration referred to a stage of life (Template:Transliteration) within the Vedic ashram system. Ancient Hindu culture divided the human lifespan into four stages: Template:Transliteration, Template:Transliteration, Template:Transliteration, and Template:Transliteration. Template:Transliteration occupies the first 20–25 years of life, roughly corresponding to adolescence.<ref>Manusmriti suggests the Template:Transliteration be about 25 years, one-fourth of the normal life of a human being he estimates to be 100 years. See: Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Upon the child's Template:Transliteration,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> the young person would begin a life of study in the Gurukula (the household of the Guru) dedicated to learning all aspects of Template:Transliteration that is the "principles of righteous living". Template:Transliteration comprised personal responsibilities towards himself, family, society, humanity, and God which included the environment, earth, and nature. This educational period started when the child was five to eight years old and lasted until the age of 14 to 20 years.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> During this stage of life, the traditional vedic sciences and various Template:Transliteration<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> are studied along with the religious texts contained within the Vedas and Upanishads.<ref>Template:Multiref2</ref> This stage of life was characterized by the practice of celibacy. The purpose of brahmacharya in this stage is to get rid of passions, which interfere with learning.<ref name=":2" />

During this stage of life, the chastity is for the purposes of learning from a guru (teacher), and during later stages of life, it is for the purposes of attaining spiritual liberation. (Sanskrit: Template:Transliteration).<ref>Template:Multiref2</ref>

Brahmacharya for girls

The Vedas and Upanishads do not restrict the student stage of life to males.<ref name=sjain>Template:Cite book</ref> Atharva Veda, for example, states<ref name=sjain /><ref name=atharvaveda2 />

Template:Quote

No age restrictions

Gonda<ref name=jangonda>Template:Cite book</ref> states that there were no age restrictions for the start of Template:Transliteration in ancient India. Not only young men, but older people resorted to the student stage of life, and sought teachers who were authoritative in certain subjects.<ref name=jangonda /> The Chandogya Upanishad, in Section 5.11, describes "wealthy and learned householders" becoming Template:Transliteration (students) with Rishi Kaikeya, to gain knowledge about Atman (inner Self) and Brahman (Ultimate Reality).<ref>Template:Multiref2</ref>