#Thread on Period of Celibacy during student life (Brahmacharya Ashram) for both boys & girls, as per Vedic principles, in Ancient India 👇
Disclaimer: The Age of marriages in this thread were applicable during ancient days when the society was governed by Vedic principles, and the complying smritis.I don’t endorse early marriages as per the ages mentioned in the thread in present times. This is only for learning.
Let’s first know the maximum and minimum periods of Brahmacharya.
As per Manusmiriti 3.1 :
" A student should observe Brahmacharya and study the Vedas with their subsidiary subjects for 9, 18, 36 years, or until they are completely mastered".
As per Manusmiriti 3.1 :
" A student should observe Brahmacharya and study the Vedas with their subsidiary subjects for 9, 18, 36 years, or until they are completely mastered".
Considering that a student joins Gurukul at the age of 8 years, and
-if studies Vedas and their subsidiaries for 36 years (presuming he devotes 12 years for each of the three Vedas), he will graduate at the age of 44.
-if studies for 18 years, he will graduate at the age of 26.
-if studies Vedas and their subsidiaries for 36 years (presuming he devotes 12 years for each of the three Vedas), he will graduate at the age of 44.
-if studies for 18 years, he will graduate at the age of 26.
-if studies for 9 years (especially meant for girls who would like to marry early) , she will graduate at the age of 17.
Brahmacharya is of three grades:-
1. The lowest - "Man, who is composed of a body - formed out the elements derived form foods and drinks - and a soul that resides in the body, is verily a Yajna...
1. The lowest - "Man, who is composed of a body - formed out the elements derived form foods and drinks - and a soul that resides in the body, is verily a Yajna...
.. He should be endowed with the most excellent qualities; and in order to accomplish gain , longevity, strength (physical and mental), and the like qualities, the shortest period for which a student should observe is 24 years,...
.. just as there are 24 letters in the Gayatri metre (Chhanda). He should, during this period, keep perfect control over his passions and devote himself to the acquisition of the knowledge of the Vedaas and of culture, etc. ..
.. By virtue of this Brahmacharya, vital forces, called Vasus, are fully developed and mature. These help to produce noblest qualities in his body, manas and the soul. Should anyone advise a Brahmachaari to marry or ..
.. have sensual enjoyment before the age of 25, let the Brahmachaari answer him thus: "Look my dear fellow! If my vital forces, mental faculties and physical organs were not fully developed and strong, I should not be able to observe...
.. Brahmacharya of the next grade (which lasts till one is 44 years old), as the observance of the lowest grade helps one to keep Brahmacharya of the intermediate grade. Am I a fool like you that I should ruin my body, my vital forces,..
.. my mental faculties and even my soul - which, if properly looked after, endow one with a noble nature and produce sterling qualities and help one to perform great deeds, - waste my precious life, deprive myself of the fourfold fruit of..
..human life, destroy my Brahmacharya which is the main spring of all Ashramas or Orders, the best of all good works and the source of all that is good and noble in life,..
.. and consequently sink to the lowest depths of misery and degradation?" CHHAANDOYYA Upanishad 3: 16.
2. The intermediate - He, that observes Brahmacharya, upto 44 years, - there are 44 letters in Trishtup Chhanda (metre) - by virtue of this Brahamacharya attains to that degree of pranas or vital forces called Rudras...
.. In other words, he becomes a terror to the wicked and an asylum for the good. No rascal dare practise his rascality before him. Should anyone advise such a Brahmachaari to abandon his life of Brahmacharya, marry and enjoy himself, ..
.. let him answer such a man, thus:- "The happiness that results form the observance of Brahmacharya of a higher degree, cannot even be dreamt of by one who has not led a life of Brahmacharya and even sensuous pleasures, are more keenly..
.. enjoyed by the former than by the latter. Since it is a Brahmachaari alone, who attains to success in worldly affairs, enjoys perfect unsensous and spiritual happiness, I will never destroy my Brahmacharya -
.. the source of the highest happiness . On the other hand, by virtue of thorough observance of this Brahmacharya become learned, virtuous, strong in body and mind and enjoy and longevity and perfect happiness...
.. I will never listen to the advice of such senseless creatures as you are, marry early, and briing ruin on myself and my family."
3. The highest - He that remains a Brahmachaari, till he is 48 years of age, - there are 48 letters in the Jagati Chhanda (metre) - by virtue of this highest kind of Brahmacharya acquires perfect knowledge, perfect physical strength,..
.. perfect wisdom, perfect development of good qualities, nature and characteristics, shines like the sun, enlightening all, and is enabled to master all kinds of knowledge.
.. Should anyone tempt such a Brahmachaari to destroy His Brahmacharya - which is really the highest virtue - let him answer thus: O you, foolish wretch! Get away from me. I will never destroy this Brahmacharya of the highest order...
.. May the Supreme Spirit, through His grace, help me to keep this holy vow so that I may be able to enlighten such fools as you and teach you and particularly your children, and thereby help you all to lead happy lives."
Law of celibacy before marriage for men & women as per Vedic principles:-
In case of man , he should remain celibate (Brahmachari) for 25, 30, 36, 40, 44 and 48 years of age while a woman should do so only for 16, 17, 18, 20 or 24 years, respectively.
In case of man , he should remain celibate (Brahmachari) for 25, 30, 36, 40, 44 and 48 years of age while a woman should do so only for 16, 17, 18, 20 or 24 years, respectively.
.. considering the child bearing capacities & biological constraints pertaining to the same without any external intervention like in modern reproduction techniques.
However, this rule applies only to those people who intend to marry and raise a family but those who intend not to do so (both men and women), are welcome to remain celibates till death, if they can.
TTAITREYA UPNISHAD 7: 9. says about the following rules to be observed both by pupils and teachers during celibacy period as a Brahmachari :-
“Let them conduct themselves properly, and study and teach, be truthful in word, deed, and thought and..
“Let them conduct themselves properly, and study and teach, be truthful in word, deed, and thought and..
.. study and teach, be indifferent to joy or sorrow, worldly applause or censure, walk in the path of righteousness, and study and teach (the Vedaas and the other true sciences), keep their senses under perfect control, and study and..
.. teach, restrain their minds from evil pursuits (such as the practice of injustice), and study and teach, learn the properties of heat, light , electricity, and other natural forces, and study and teach, perform Homa daily, and study and..
.. teach, serve atithis, and study and teach, fulfil their duties and obligations towards other men, and study and teach, protect their subjects and children, and study and teach, preserve and prefect the reproductive element,..
.. and study and teach, protect and educate their children and pupils, and study and teach."
Post completion of Brahmacharya ashram, as per Manusmiriti 3:2:-
“Let a student (boy or girl) who has not violated his vows of Brahmachaarya(student-life), and has conducted himself, righteously according to the advice of his preceptor,..
“Let a student (boy or girl) who has not violated his vows of Brahmachaarya(student-life), and has conducted himself, righteously according to the advice of his preceptor,..
.... enter married life after he has studied with their subsidiary sciences, the four Vedaas, three Vedas, two Vedas, or one Veda only."
According to Manusmiriti 3:3, "Let him, who has faithfully discharged his duties towards his preceptor and received from his father, - natural or spiritual (i.e., the teacher), the gift of the knowledge of the Veda, sit on an elegant bed,..
.. decked with a garland of flowers; and let his father (natural or spiritual) honor him with the present of a cow."
A female student possessed of the aforesaid qualification should also be honored in the same way by her father.
A female student possessed of the aforesaid qualification should also be honored in the same way by her father.
Finally, in accordance to Manusmiriti 3:4, “Let a twice-born man (Braahman, Kshatriya, and Vaishya by means of quality and not birth alone) after having obtained the consent of his teacher and taken the bath...
.. prescribed for the ceremony of Return Home from the seminary), return home and espouse a maid, of his own Class, endowed with excellent qualities."
.. And in case of women, after duly studying Vedas and associated subjects, as clearly directed in ATHARVA VEDA 11, 14:3, 18, :-
"Just as boys acquire sound knowledge and culture by the practice of Brahmacharya and then marry girls of their own choice,...
"Just as boys acquire sound knowledge and culture by the practice of Brahmacharya and then marry girls of their own choice,...
... who are young, well educated, loving & of like temperament, should girl practice Brahmacharya study the Veda & other sciences & thereby perfect her knowledge, refine her character, give her hand to a man of her own choice, who is young, learned & loving."
Source & credit :
1)Satyarth Prakash by Swami DAYANANDA SARASWATI Udeypur, 1939 Vikram, Bhadarpud Shukula Paksh (A.D. 1882).
2)Relevant Upanishads and Manusmiriti verses.
1)Satyarth Prakash by Swami DAYANANDA SARASWATI Udeypur, 1939 Vikram, Bhadarpud Shukula Paksh (A.D. 1882).
2)Relevant Upanishads and Manusmiriti verses.
