Brahmacharya: Encyclopedia II - Brahmacharya - Usage

Brahmacharya - Usage

This word in one common usuage generally denotes a particular phase of life (first 20-25 years of Life). Ancient Hindu culture divides the life in 100 year life span. This is the stage when the young child leads a student life, (ideally in the Gurukula - the household of the Guru). This stage of life is preceded by the Upanayanam of the child, during which ceremony, he is considered to be born again. It is the first in the four phases of a man, namely, Brahmacharya, Grihastha, Vanaprastha, and finally Sanyasa, as prescribed by Manusmriti for the Dhwija castes, in the Hindu system of life. The practise of brahmacharya among other things requires one to be celibate.

The word, Brahmacharya, is also used for the vow of celibacy that a Hindu sanyasi or renounced monk may take at any age when he has understood that living for material/sensual pleasures will never bring the perfect happiness that he (his soul) desires. Thus his life becomes centered on surrender to Guru and God with the firm hope of God realization and the perfect Divine Happiness we all desire.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Usage", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki