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Brahmacharya (/ˌbrɑːməˈtʃɑːrjə/;Sanskrit:brahmacaryaDevanagari:ब्रह्मचर्य) is the concept withinIndian religions that literally means "conduct consistent withBrahman" or "on the path ofBrahman".[1] 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.[2]
In one context,brahmacharya is the first of fourashrama (age-based stages) of a human life. Thebrahmacharya (bachelor student) stage of life – from childhood up to twenty-five years of age – was focused on education and included the practice ofcelibacy.[3] In this context, it connoteschastity during the student stage of life for the purposes of learning from aguru (teacher), and during later stages of life for the purposes of attaining spiritual liberation ormoksha.[4][5]
In the Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist monastic traditions,brahmacharya implies, among other things, the mandatory renunciation of sex and marriage.[6] It is considered necessary for a monk's spiritual practice.[7]
The wordbrahmacharya stems from two Sanskrit roots:
Hence,brahmacharya roughly means "to stay true to one's Self or one ownAtma" or "on the path ofBrahman".[1]
In ancient and medieval era Indian texts, the termbrahmacharya is a concept with a more complex meaning, indicating a lifestyle conducive to the pursuit of sacred knowledge and spiritual liberation.[10]Brahmacharya is a means, not an end. It usually includes cleanliness,ahimsa, simple living, studies, meditation, and voluntary restraints on certain foods (eating onlySattvic food), intoxicants, and on sexual behavior (both sex and masturbation, in some schools of thought).[10]
One who practicesbrahmacarya is known as abrahmacārī orbrahmacārinī. Variousashrams (आश्रम,transl. hermitage) andmathas (मठ,transl. college of ascetics) of Hinduism also call their initiates by these terms.[11][12]
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.[2]
The Vedas discussbrahmacharya, 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 thosekesin (long-haired) and with soil-colored clothes (yellow, orange, saffron) engaged in the affairs ofmananat (mind, meditation).[13]Rig Veda, however, refers to these people asMuni andVati. TheAtharva Veda, completed by about 1000 BCE, has more explicit discussion ofbrahmacharya, in Book XI, Chapter 5.[14] This chapter ofAtharva Veda describesbrahmacharya 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 abrahmacārī, the student becomes his embryo.[14]
The concept and practice ofbrahmacharya is found extensively among the older strata of theMukhya Upanishads in Hinduism. The 8th-century BCE textChandogya Upanishad describes, in Book 8, activities and lifestyle that isbrahmacharya:[15]
Now what people callyajña (sacrifice) is reallybrahmacharya, for only by means ofbrahmacharya does the knower attain that world (of Brahman). And what people callIshta (worship) is reallybrahmacharya, for only worshipping by means ofbrahmacharya does one attain the Atman (the liberated Self). Now, what people call theSattrayana (sacrificial session) is reallybrahmacharya, for only by means ofbrahmacharya does one obtain one's salvation fromSat (Being). And what people call theMauna (vow of silence) is reallybrahmacharya for only throughbrahmacharya does one understand the Atman and then meditate. Now, what people call aAnasakayana (vow of fasting) is reallybrahmacharya, for this Atman never perishes which one attains by means ofbrahmacharya. And what people call theAranyayana (life of a hermit) is reallybrahmacharya, for the world ofBrahman belongs to those who by means ofbrahmacharya attain the seas Ara and Nya in the world of Brahman. For them there is freedom in all the worlds.
A hymn in another early Upanishad, theMundaka Upanishad in Book 3, Chapter 1, similarly states,
सत्येन लभ्यस्तपसा ह्येष आत्मा सम्यग्ज्ञानेन ब्रह्मचर्येण नित्यम् ।
Through continuous pursuit ofsatya (truthfulness),tapas (perseverance, austerity),samyagjñāna (correct knowledge), andbrahmacarya, one attainsAtman (the Self).
— Mundaka Upanishad, III.1.5[17]
The Vedas and early Upanishadic texts of Hinduism in their discussion ofbrahmacharya, make no mention of the age of the student at the start ofbrahmacharya,[18] 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 Hindusmritis (such as the Manusmriti) that the male "student", referred to as the "Brahmachari[n]" 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 theSatpatha Brahamana present two different viewpoints on the sexual activity, of the guru during theBrahmacharya ashrama, i.e., the teacher of the "studentBrahmachari[n]", one against and one as a choice.[19] Similarly, in verse 11.5.4.18, the Satapatha Brahmana presents contrasting viewpoints on an eating restraint (regarding honey) for thebrahmacārī student.[19]
Brahmacharya is traditionally regarded as one of the fiveyamas inYoga, as declared in verse 2.30 of Patanjali'sYoga Sutras.[20] 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.[21] Patanjali in verse 2.38[22] states that the virtue of brahmacharya leads to the profit ofvirya (वीर्य).[23] This Sanskrit word,virya, has been variously translated as virility and, byVyasa, as strength and capacity. Vyasa explains that this virtue promotes other good qualities.[23]
The ShandilyaUpanishad includesbrahmacharya as one of tenyamas in Chapter 1, defining it as "refraining from sexual intercourse in all places and in all states in mind, speech, or body"[24] whileLinga 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.[25][26]
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 thatbrahmacharya must be understood as the voluntary restraint of power.[23]Chandogya Upanishad in verses of chapter 8.5 extolsbrahmacharya as a sacrament and sacrifice which, once perfected, leads to realization of the Self (Atman), and thereafter becomes the habit of experiencing the Self in others and everything.[23][27] Tattva Vaisharadi and Yoga Sarasangraha assert thatbrahmacharya leads to an increase injñana-shakti (power of knowledge) andkriya-shakti (power of action).[23]
The great epicMahabharata describes the objective ofbrahmacharya as knowledge ofBrahman (Book Five,Udyoga Parva, the Book of Effort).[28]Brahmacharya 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 inthought, word, and deed to theguru (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 ofbrahmacharya.[28] Abrahmachāri should do useful work, and the earnings he obtains should be given away asdakshina ("fee," "gift of thanks") to the guru. The epic declares thatbrahmacharya is one of twelve virtues, an essential part ofangas inyoga and the path of perfecting perseverance and the pursuit of knowledge.[28]

Brahmacharya is one of thefive vows prescribed for theśrāvakā (layman) and for ascetics inJainism. 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 ofbrahmacharya requires remaining sexually faithful to one's chosen partner.[30] For lay Jains who are unmarried, chaste living requires Jains to avoid sex before marriage.[31]Uttam brahmacharya (Supreme Celibacy) is one of the ten excellencies of aJain monk.[32]Brahmacharya is mentioned as one of thedasdharma (ten virtues) in ancient Jain texts likeTattvartha Sutra,Sarvārthasiddhi andPuruşārthasiddhyupāya.[33]
Among theSramanic traditions (Buddhism,Jainism,Ājīvika, andCharvaka schools[citation needed]),brahmacharya is the term used for a self-imposed practice of celibacy that is generally considered a prerequisite forspiritual practice. The fourth of the five great vows ofJain 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.[30][34] Theyogin who is firmly grounded in the virtue ofbrahmacharya is said to gain great vitality.[35]
Brahmacharya in Hinduism literally means "conduct consistent withBrahman" or "on the path of Brahman".[1]
Historicallybrahmacharya referred to a stage of life (asrama) within theVedic ashram system. AncientHindu culture divided the human lifespan into four stages:brahmacharya,grihastha,vanaprastha, andsannyasa.Brahamacarya asrama occupies the first 20–25 years of life, roughly corresponding to adolescence.[36][37] Upon the child'supanayanam,[38] the young person would begin a life of study in theGurukula (the household of theGuru) dedicated to learning all aspects ofdharma that is the "principles of righteous living".Dharma 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.[39] During this stage of life, the traditionalvedic sciences and varioussastras[40] are studied along with the religious texts contained within theVedas andUpanishads.[41] This stage of life was characterized by the practice ofcelibacy. The purpose ofbrahmacharya in this stage is to get rid of passions, which interfere with learning.[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:moksha).[42]
The Vedas and Upanishads do not restrict the student stage of life to males.[43]Atharva Veda, for example, states[43][44]
ब्रह्मचर्येण कन्या युवानं विन्दते पतिम्
A youthfulKanya (कन्या, girl) who graduates frombrahmacarya, obtains a suitable husband.
— Atharva Veda, 11.5.18[44]
Gonda[45] states that there were no age restrictions for the start ofbrahmacharya 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.[45] TheChandogya Upanishad, in Section 5.11, describes "wealthy and learned householders" becomingbrahmacārīs (students) with Rishi Kaikeya, to gain knowledge about Atman (inner Self) and Brahman (Ultimate Reality).[46]
ब्रह्मचारीष्णंश् चरति रोदसी उभे तस्मिन् देवाः संमनसो भवन्ति / स दाधार पृथिवीं दिवं च स आचार्यं तपसा पिपर्ति //ब्रह्मचारिणं पितरो देवजनाः पृथग् देवा अनुसंयन्ति सर्वे / गन्धर्वा एनम् अन्व् आयन् त्रयस्त्रिंशत् त्रिशताः षट्सहस्राः सर्वान्त् स देवांस् तपसा पिपर्ति // आचार्य उपनयमानोब्रह्मचारिणं कृणुते गर्भम् अन्तः / तं रात्रीस् तिस्र उदरे बिभर्ति तं जातं द्रष्टुम् अभिसंयन्ति देवाः
अहिंसासत्यास्तेय ब्रह्मचर्यापरिग्रहाः यमाः
The fourth vow – brahmacharya – means for laypersons, marital fidelity, and pre-marital celibacy; for ascetics, it means absolute celibacy; John Cort explains, "Brahmacharya involves having sex only with one's spouse, as well as the avoidance of ardent gazing or lewd gestures..." — Quoted by Long,ibid, page 101
ब्रह्मचर्य प्रतिष्ठायां वीर्यलाभः
Brahmacharya essentially stands for the ideal of chastity
The Atharva Veda confirms... a brahmacārinī has better prospects of marriage than a girl who is uneducated" "The Vedic period.... girls, like boys, are also expected to go through the brahmacharya...
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.