Sunday, March 15, 2009

Brahmacharya ( Celibacy)

Your website  is divine, beautiful, informative and Excellent.

Article by M.P. Bhattathiri, Retired Chief Technical Examiner , to The Govt. 
of Kerala. Humble request that it may be published in your website and 
magazine after editing if necessary

Brahmacharya ( Celibacy)

Lord Ayyappa says "Brahmacharya or spotless chastity is the best of all penances; a
 celibate 
of such spotless chastity is not a human being, but a god indeed... To
 the 
celibate who conserves the semen with great efforts, what is there 
unattainable in this world ? By the power of the composure of the
 semen, one 
will become just like Myself."

- Sri Sankaracharya
 
The importance of Brahmacharya is clearly explained in Yejurveda. In
 this 
modern life very few only understand this and practice it. All Vedas
 and 
other scriptures of Hinduism lay great emphasis regarding Brahmacharya.
 In 
vedic period a student is also known as Brahmachari. By preserving the 
energy, strength and vitality of mind and various organs one can lead a
 
happy, energetic and healthy life. The mind will be clear and brain
 will 
superb for a Brhmachari. It enhances the strength, life span and health
 
since it is the mine of all virtues .Brahmacharya is the dam of all 
pleasures of life and only learned people keep it and their power and
 life 
increases and all sickness is destroyed. It is easy to preach and to 
practice is very difficult. One should try to be always in the company
 of 
noble people and control their senses as far as possible to get the
 actual 
reward of human life. A man is known by the company he keeps. If one
 always 
move in the company of good, learned and noble ones there is no doubt
 that 
he can be one among them one day. Company is contagious and man changes
 his 
colors accordingly sooner or later. He cannot remain unaffected for
 long 
best company means not only noble people but also good books written by
 
great scholars, Sages, Saints, Prophets, Rishis, and Munis. These
 contain 
vast treasures of wealth and will make one so rich that the worldly
 riches 
would appear very insignificant. One of the verses in YajurVeda state
 that 
taught people who are actually endowed with divine powers should do two
 
things in this world. One is that they should propagate the teachings
 of 
Brahmacharya and control of senses so that people may become strong and
 
healthy leading a full vigorous life. Next thing is by education and 
practice thereof, they should teach one and all how to develop their
 inner 
strength and power so that people may enjoy their blissful life fully
 in all 
respects. In another verse it is stated that such people who abandon
 the 
company of bad people and give up all bad evil habits and keep away
 from 
immoral life increasing their vitality beget good children, they
 strength 
and glorify their race and their country.
Brahmacharya will give the power to face and solve any problems as a
 boat 
can ferry people through turbulent waters of the sea. A Brahmachari
 will be 
liked and respected in all the societies and meetings. In one verse it
 is 
explained that the age of a boy begins at twenty-sixth year and for a
 girl 
it is seventeen and up to this period they should practice Brahmacharya
 at 
any cost and can get married. Those who get education following the
 rules of 
Brahmacharya, they shine like sun are quick in all what they do, like a
 hawk 
and become the hallmark of respect, enjoying their life skipping like a
 
deer.
In the student life it would be better to preserve their vital fluid
 which 
is the life thread, so that they can utilize their energy and strength
 for 
their education and learning. In vedic period student is imparted with
 all 
the knowledge right from the Earth to the sun and in this way all
 divinity 
reside in his body and such students in future will assets to their
 country 
and world. They will have harmony of the head, heart and hand in such a
 way 
which will be beneficial to the society as a whole. It has been truly
 said 
that if our hearts are strong, our heads are right in vain. A person
 without 
education is beast and a person without Dharma is like a beast.
Education and knowledge are like two eyes of a person which enable him
 to 
see things correctly and assess his own position. The purpose of
 education 
is to make man what he ought to be.
 
According to Vedas education on arts and material science is not enough
 and 
because major portion of achieving perfection can be achieved by
 studying 
spiritual science. The aim of life and education is that we may live a
 new 
life in the realm of self and the creation, with harmony and happiness
 and 
will become virtuous. Every second of the life should be fully utilized
 so 
that there is no room left for idling. It may be noted that ?An idle
 mind is 
a devil?s workshop.? Of course relaxation and enjoyment should be there
 
along with study to keep one fit and fresh and ready to face any
 challenges 
of life.
If proper education is not given to children parents become enemies
 since 
they get isolated in society. Teachers should take utmost care for 
understanding to develop good character and affection along with
 studies. 
They should be taught that all women are like mother, sister or
 daughter 
according to their age and they should be protected whenever necessary.
In Vedas it is also stated that
Not to earn wealth at the cost of others pain and suffering
It is not good to be fatigue self too much both physically and
 mentally.
Hard-work is the keystone to virtuous earning with the sweat of one?s
 own 
brow, not by lottery, speculation and gambling.
Don?t do anything undesirable and harmful to the society
Acquire knowledge which can?t be stolen away by thieves than material 
wealth.
A great scholar of ancient India Sri Pathanjali's in his teachings
 explains 
the importance of Brahmacharya and it is studied by foreign scholars
 and one 
such famous scholar
Dr. Louis an eminent physician opined that most precious atoms of the
 blood
enter into the composition of semen (in his book Chastity) . So
 preservation
of semen by practicing continence helps the better development of brain
 ,
body, and mind .Dr. Nicholas says that the best blood in the body goes
 to
form the elements of reproduction in both the sexes .So if anybody
 waste
semen he is loosing the best part of the blood and he becomes weak 
physically and
intellegently. If preserved he becomes strong, intellectual, heroic and
 
powerful.
Brahmacharya can be practiced by married people also. Chastity and
 fidelity 
are the foundation on which a strong and happy marital relationship
 stands 
and should be understood by husband and wife. In Srimad Bhagavatham a
 holy 
book of Hinduism it is clearly mentioned that practice of brahmacharya
 is 
also one of the important duties in married life and it is waived only
 for 
the purpose of procreation, austerity, purity, contentment and
 friendliness 
towards all. (11.18.43)
Ancient Rishi of India Pathanjali also says in his Yogasutra
that CONTNENCE IS LIFE AND INCOTINENCE IS EQUAL TO DEATH.
LORD SHIVA in the Jnanasamkalani Tantra says that " The wise do not
 regard 
the
ordinary forms of asceticism as real asceticism. Continence is the
 highest
asceticism. He who is a continent is equal to God.
So especially youth in whom the future of our country rests, should
 practice
celibacy as far as possible to lead the country and countrymen to have
 a 
prosperous future.
Living examples are Sri A.B Vajpayee, President A.P.J.Kalam and Mata 
Amritananda may Devi.

Ref .Hindu.org, Rig Vedia, Yajur Veda, Bhagavad Gita, Yogasutra, 
Upanishaths, Tantra Texts, Srimad Bhagavatham
 

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