Brahmacharya

Brahmacharya (/ˌbrɑːməˈtʃɑːrjə/; Devanagari: ब्रह्मचर्य) is a concept within Indian religions that literally
means "conduct consistent with Brahman" or "on the path of Brahman".[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 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.[3] 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 (Sanskrit: moksha).[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] Western notions of the religious life as practiced in monastic settings mirror these
characteristics.

Etymology
The word brahmacharya stems from two Sanskrit roots:

1. Brahman (Devanagari: ब्रह्म) 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.[8]
2. carya (चर्य), which means activity, behaviour, conduct.[9]
Hence, brahmacharya roughly means "to stay true to one's Self or one own Atma" or "on the path of
Brahman".[1]

In ancient and medieval era Indian texts, the term brahmacharya 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 only Sattvic food), intoxicants, and on sexual
behavior (both sex and masturbation, in some schools of thought).[10]

One who practices brahmacarya is known as a brahmacārī or brahmacārinī. Various ashrams (आश्रम,
transl. hermitage) and mathas (मठ, transl. college of ascetics) of Hinduism also call their initiates by these
terms.[11][12]

In Hinduism
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]

In the Vedas
The Vedas discuss brahmacharya, 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 kesin (long-haired) and with
soil-colored clothes (yellow, orange, saffron) engaged in the affairs of mananat (mind, meditation).[13]
Rig Veda, however, refers to these people as Muni and Vati. The Atharva Veda, completed by about
1000 BCE, has more explicit discussion of brahmacharya, in Book XI, Chapter 5.[14] This chapter of
Atharva Veda describes brahmacharya 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 brahmacārī, the student
becomes his embryo.[14]

The concept and practice of brahmacharya is found extensively among the older strata of the Mukhya
Upanishads in Hinduism. The 8th-century BCE text Chandogya Upanishad describes, in Book 8,
activities and lifestyle that is brahmacharya:[15]

Now what people call yajña (sacrifice) is really brahmacharya, for only by means of
brahmacharya does the knower attain that world (of Brahman). And what people call Ishta
(worship) is really brahmacharya, for only worshipping by means of brahmacharya does one
attain the Atman (the liberated Self). Now, what people call the Sattrayana (sacrificial session)
is really brahmacharya, for only by means of brahmacharya does one obtain one's salvation
from Sat (Being). And what people call the Mauna (vow of silence) is really brahmacharya for
only through brahmacharya does one understand the Atman and then meditate. Now, what
people call a Anasakayana (vow of fasting) is really brahmacharya, for this Atman never
perishes which one attains by means of brahmacharya. And what people call the Aranyayana
(life of a hermit) is really brahmacharya, for the world of Brahman belongs to those who by
means of brahmacharya attain the seas Ara and Nya in the world of Brahman. For them there is
freedom in all the worlds.

— Chandogya Upanishad, VIII.5.1 – VIII.5.4[15][16]

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

सत्येन लभ्यस्तपसा ह्येष आत्मा सम्यग्ज्ञानेन ब्रह्मचर्येण नित्यम् ।

Through continuous pursuit of satya (truthfulness), tapas (perseverance, austerity),

samyagjñāna (correct knowledge), and brahmacarya, one attains Atman (the Self).

— Mundaka Upanishad, III.1.5[17]

The Vedas and early Upanishadic texts of Hinduism in their discussion of brahmacharya, make no
mention of the age of the student at the start of brahmacharya,[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 Hindu smritis (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 the Satpatha Brahamana present two different
viewpoints on the sexual activity, of the guru during the Brahmacharya ashrama, i.e., the teacher of the
"student Brahmachari[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 the
brahmacārī student.[19]

As a virtue
Brahmacharya is traditionally regarded as one of the five yamas in Yoga, as declared in verse 2.30 of
Patanjali's Yoga 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 of virya (वीर्य).[23] This Sanskrit word,
virya, has been variously translated as virility and, by Vyasa, as strength and capacity. Vyasa explains that
this virtue promotes other good qualities.[23]

The Shandilya Upanishad includes brahmacharya as one of ten yamas in Chapter 1, defining it as
"refraining from sexual intercourse in all places and in all states in mind, speech, or body"[24] 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.[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 that brahmacharya must be understood as the voluntary restraint of power.[23] Chandogya
Upanishad in verses of chapter 8.5 extols brahmacharya 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 that brahmacharya
leads to an increase in jñana-shakti (power of knowledge) and kriya-shakti (power of action).[23]

The great epic Mahabharata describes the objective of brahmacharya as knowledge of Brahman (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
in thought, word, and deed to the guru (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
brahmacharya.[28] A brahmachāri should do useful work, and the earnings he obtains should be given
away as dakshina ("fee," "gift of thanks") to the guru. The epic declares that brahmacharya is one of
twelve virtues, an essential part of angas in yoga and the path of perfecting perseverance and the pursuit
of knowledge.[28]

In Jainism
Brahmacharya is one of the five major vows prescribed for the śrāvakā (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 brahmacharya 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 a Jain monk.[32] Brahmacharya is mentioned as
one of the das dharma (ten virtues) in ancient Jain texts like
Tattvartha Sutra, Sarvārthasiddhi and Puruşārthasiddhyupāya.[33]

Green colour in the Jain flag stands

Among Sramanic traditions for brahmacharya[29]

Among the Sramanic traditions (Buddhism, Jainism, Ājīvika, and

Charvaka schools), brahmacharya 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.[30][34] The yogin who is firmly
grounded in the virtue of brahmacharya is said to gain great vitality.[35]

As Asrama stage of life

Brahmacharya in Hinduism literally means "conduct consistent with Brahman" or "on the path of
Brahman".[1]

Historically brahmacharya referred to a stage of life (asrama) within the Vedic ashram system. Ancient
Hindu culture divided the human lifespan into four stages: brahmacharya, grihastha, vanaprastha, and
sannyasa. Brahamacarya asrama occupies the first 20–25 years of life, roughly corresponding to
adolescence.[36][37] Upon the child's upanayanam,[38] the young person would begin a life of study in the
Gurukula (the household of the Guru) dedicated to learning all aspects of dharma 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
traditional vedic sciences and various sastras[40] are studied along with the religious texts contained
within the Vedas and Upanishads.[41] 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.[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]

Brahmacharya for girls

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 youthful Kanya (कन्या, girl) who graduates from brahmacarya, obtains a suitable husband.

—Atharva Veda, 11.5.18[44]

No age restrictions

Gonda[45] states that there were no age restrictions for the start of brahmacharya 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] The Chandogya Upanishad, in Section 5.11, describes "wealthy and
learned householders" becoming brahmacārīs (students) with Rishi Kaikeya, to gain knowledge about
Atman (inner Self) and Brahman (Ultimate Reality).[46]

See also
Asceticism – Lifestyle of frugality and abstinence
Atma Shatkam – 8th-century Hindu text
Fi sabilillah – Arabic expression meaning "in the cause of Allah"
Kiddush Hashem – Sanctification of the Name, precept of Judaism
Monk – Member of a monastic religious order
Yamas – Ethical rules in Hinduism and Yoga
Yoga Sutras of Patanjali – Early Yoga text in Sanskrit from ancient India by Patanjali

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"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 उपनयमानो ब्रह्मचारिणं कृ णुते गर्भम् अन्तः / तं रात्रीस् तिस्र उदरे बिभर्ति तं
जातं द्रष्टुम् अभिसंयन्ति देवाः"
For English translation: Sources of Indian Tradition. Translated by Hay, Stephen N.; De
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15. Translation: Chandogya Upanishad. Translated by Swahananda, S. Vedanta Press. 2010.

Book VIII, Chapter 5, verse 1–4. ISBN 978-8171203307.
Original: अथ यद्यज्ञ इत्याचक्षते ब्रह्मचर्यमेव तद्ब्रह्मचर्येण | ह्येव यो ज्ञाता तं विन्दतेऽथ यदिष्टमित्याचक्षते | ब्रह्मचर्यमेव
तद्ब्रह्मचर्येण ह्येवेष्ट्वात्मानमनुविन्दते ॥ १ ॥ अथ यत्सत्त्रायणमित्याचक्षते ब्रह्मचर्यमेव तद्ब्रह्मचर्येण | ह्येव सत
आत्मनस्त्राणं विन्दतेऽथ यन्मौनमित्याचक्षते | ब्रह्मचर्यमेव तब्ब्रह्मचर्येण ह्येवात्मानमनुविद्य मनुते ' ॥ २ ॥ अथ
यदनाशकायनमित्याचक्षते ब्रह्मचर्यमेव तदेष | ह्यात्मा न नश्यति यं ब्रह्मचर्येणानुविन्दतेऽथ | यदरण्यायनमित्याचक्षते
ब्रह्मचर्यमेव तदरश्च ह वै | ण्यश्चार्णवौ ब्रह्मलोके तृतीयस्यामितो दिवि तदैरं | मदीयँ सरस्तदश्वत्थः सोमसवनस्तदपराजिता |
पूर्ब्रह्मणः प्रभुविमितँ हिरण्मयम् ॥ ३ ॥ तद्य एवैतवरं च ण्यं चार्णवौ ब्रह्मलोके | ब्रह्मचर्येणानुविन्दन्ति तेषामेवैष
ब्रह्मलोकस्तेषाँ | सर्वेषु लोके षु कामचारो भवति ॥ ४ ॥

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33. Vijay K. Jain 2012, pp. 145–147.
34. Kolb, Robert W., ed. (2008). Encyclopedia of Business Ethics and Society. SAGE.
pp. 1207–1208. ISBN 978-1-4129-1652-3.
35. Feuerstein, Georg (2000). The Shambhala Encyclopedia of Yoga (https://archive.org/details/
shambhalaencyclo0000feue). Shambhala. p. 61. ISBN 978-1-57062-555-8.
36. Manusmriti suggests the Brahmacarya ashrama be about 25 years, one-fourth of the normal
life of a human being he estimates to be 100 years. See: Sharma, Rajendra K. (2004).
Indian Society, Institutions and Change. Atlantic Publishers & Dist. p. 28. ISBN 978-81-
7156-665-5.
37. Veylanswami, Bodhinatha (2007). What Is Hinduism?. Himalayan Academy Publications.
p. 372. ISBN 978-1-934145-00-5.
38. Vivekjivandas, Sadhu (2011). Hinduism: An Introduction. Ahmedabad: Swaminarayan
Aksharpith. p. 113. ISBN 978-81-7526-434-2.
39. Rocher, Ludo (2003). "The Dharmaśāstas". In Flood, Gavin (ed.). The Blackwell Companion
to Hinduism. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell. p. 103. ISBN 0-631-21535-2.
40. Kramrisch, Stella (July–September 1958). "Traditions of the Indian Craftsman". The Journal
of American Folklore—Traditional India: Structure and Change. 71 (281): 224–230.
41. Parker, Samuel (1987). "Artistic practice and education in India: A historical overview".
Journal of Aesthetic Education. 21 (4): 123–141. doi:10.2307/3332836 (https://doi.org/10.23
07%2F3332836). JSTOR 3332836 (https://www.jstor.org/stable/3332836).
Misra, R.N. (2011). "Silpis in Ancient India: Beyond their Ascribed Locus in Ancient Society".
Social Scientist. 39 (7/8): 43–54.
42. Feuerstein, Georg (2011). The Encyclopedia of Yoga and Tantra. Shambhala Publications.
p. 76. ISBN 978-1590308790. "Brahmacharya essentially stands for the ideal of chastity"
Johnson, W. J. (12 February 2009). "brahmacarya". A Dictionary of Hinduism. Oxford
University Press. p. 62 (https://archive.org/details/dictionaryofhind0000john/page/62/mode/1
up). ISBN 978-0-19-861025-0.
43. Jain, S. (2003). "The Right to Family Planning". In Maguire, Daniel C. (ed.). Sacred Rights:
The Case for Contraception and Abortion in World Religions. Oxford University Press on
Demand. p. 134. ISBN 978-0-19-516001-7. "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..."
44. For source in Sanskrit: Atharva Veda (https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%85%E0%A
4%A5%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%A
6%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A1%E
0%A4%82_%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%A7/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%95%E0%A
5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D_%E0%A5%A6%E0%A5%AD)
Wikisource, Hymns 11.5[7].1 – 11.5[7].26
For English translation: Hay, Stephen N.; De Bary, Theodore (1988). Sources of Indian
Tradition. Motilal Banarsidass. pp. 18–19. ISBN 978-81-208-0467-8.

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285. OCLC 817902 (https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/817902).
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pp. 143–144. ISBN 978-0-19-512435-4.
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Pure Self, With Hindi and English Translation (https://books.google.com/books?id=4iyUu4Fc
2-YC), Vikalp Printers, ISBN 978-81-903639-4-5, " This article incorporates text from this
source, which is in the public domain."

Further reading
Haich, Elisabeth (1982). Sexual Energy and Yoga. Aurora Press. ISBN 978-0-943358-03-1.
Narayananda, Swami (2001) [1945]. The Way to Peace, Power and Long Life. Denmark:
N.U. Yoga Trust.
Narayananda, Swami (2001) [1960]. Brahmacharya, Its Necessity and Practice for Boys and
Girls. Denmark: N.U. Yoga Trust.
Olson, Carl (2008). Celibacy and Religious Traditions. OUP USA. ISBN 978-0-19-530632-3.
Sovatsky, Stuart (1999). Eros, Consciousness and Kundalini: Tantric Celibacy and the
Mysteries of Eros. Rochester, Ver.: Inner Traditions.

External links
Brahmacharya (online book on Brahmacharya by Panyas Shri Chandrashekhar Vijayji) (htt
p://www.yugpradhan.com/en/book/brahmacharya)
Brahmacharya 90 Days Challenge App (https://brahmacharya.app/)
Brahmacharya Ki Mahima PDF (Hindi) (https://archive.org/details/BrahmacharyaKiMahima)
Brahmacharya Ki Shakti By Swami Rama Tirtha PDF (Hindi) (https://archive.org/details/Brah
macharyaKiShaktiBySwamiRamaTirtha)
Nakedness, Nonviolence, and Brahmacharya: Gandhi's Experiments in Celibate Sexuality
(https://www.jstor.org/stable/3704634) Vinay Lal (2000), Journal of the History of Sexuality,
Vol. 9, No. 1/2, pp. 105–136
Seminal Truth: A Modern Science of Male Celibacy in North India (https://www.jstor.org/stabl
e/649567) Joseph S. Alter, Medical Anthropology Quarterly, New Series, Vol. 11, No. 3
(Sep., 1997), pp. 275–298
Ritual, knowledge, and being: initiation and Veda study in ancient India (https://www.jstor.or
g/stable/3270127), Brian Smith (1986), Numen, 33(1): 65–89.
Renunciation in the Religious Traditions of South Asia (https://www.jstor.org/stable/2801900)
Richard Burghart (1983), Man, 18(4): 635–653.
Brahmacharya – Celibacy and Fidelity (https://web.archive.org/web/20130630071725/http://
ebooks.gutenberg.us/himalayanacademy/sacredhinduliterature/lws/lws_ch-10.html)
Himalayan Academy, Gutenberg Archives
The Role of Celibacy in the Spiritual Life (http://www.sivanandadlshq.org/download/celibacy.
htm) An interview with Swami Chidananda
Practice of Brahmacharya (http://dlshq.org/download/practice-of-brahmacharya) by Swami
Sivananda
The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda Chapters 5, 6 and 7 discuss Vivekananda's
views on Brahmacharya

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