Brahmacharya
Literally Brahmacharya means following the path of Lord Brahma. Brahmacharya is way of life Brahma. Hindu scriptures say that Brahma never married and he lived in the state of celibacy practicing continence. Both the techer and students follow the principle of Brahmacharya. And for those who wish to study Vedas the practice of Brahmacharya is compulsory and it is enforced by his Guru or Acharya, his teacher. But a Guru’s Brahmacharya is self-imposed and voluntary. By studying Vedas one would perform his duty to discharge his Rishi Rina, the eternal debt towards the Sages.
The Acharya do not marry as long as he continues to be in the profession of a teacher. But once he choses to enter into Grihastha Ashrama he can marry and beget children in order to discharge his eternal debt towards his ancestors, the Pitru rina.
(The following text is an extract from Chapter 19 titled ‘ Brahmacharya, the practice of continence in my Book, ” A Tribute to the Ancient world of India “.
Acharya and Brahmachari
Let us have a look at the following sloka from Atharvana veda,
आचार्यॊ ब्रह्मचारी ब्रह्मचारी प्रजापतिः|प्रजापतिर्वि राजति विराडिन्द्रॊ भवद वशी
AcAryO brahmacArI brahmacArI prajApatiH
prajApatirvi rAjati virADindrO Bavad vaSI
( SlOka 3152 , sUkta-5, kaaMDa 11,Atharvana veda )
“A Brahmachari (Pupil) by strictly observing the norms of continence would become Acharya (Professor), then Acharya becomes Prajapati (Elected head of the community), Prajapati who follows Brahmacharya would shine in the Court of Indra.”
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Let us look at another sloka by the way,
ब्रह्मचर्यॆण कन्या युवानं विन्दतॆ पतिम
अनड्वान ब्रह्मचर्यॆणाश्वॊ घासं जिगीर्षति
brahmacharyENa kanyA yuvAnaM vindatE patim
anaDvAn brahmacharyENASvO GAsaM jigIrShati
(SlOka 3154 , sUkta-5, kaaMDa 11)
“By following continence a dame / girl would get a husband of her choosing. And Oxen would run like horses by following continence, even though oxen eat dry hay.”
The above sloka explains two different faculties that are gained by those who observe continence. First hymn says that by practicing pre-marital Brahmacharya a girl would get a husband of her choosing.
This example conveys a message that by controlling one’s own mind to sacrifice some of his natural/instinctive interests one could be able to get the blessings of Gods and get one’s wishes fulfilled. And the second sloka tells that a castrated Ox gains physical strength which enables Ox to run like a horse. Even though, both, a girl and an ox, gained by practicing continence reasons for the result are different.
An Ox is forced to follow continence by castration, whereas a girl’s practice of continence is intentional through her self restraint.
This story tells us that Self Restraint would be successful when one has the capacity to control his senses in avoiding earthly and material pleasures. This is the breaking point to acquire divine powers.
AND one who uses his divine powers for the welfare of others matures to become Brahma.
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