(Uttama Brahmacarya Dharma)
'The ills of life are
cured, if you root out lust from your heart.'
Brahmacarya is a word with a very wide scope. It means maintaining
sexual purity by assuming the strict aspect of celibacy. (Brahma)
means soul, which is chaste, enlightened, eternal and blissful. To become
fully engrossed in soul is Brahmacarya - celibacy.
The opposite of (Brahma) is
(Abraham) - sexuality. It is of several forms -match-making (bringing
about marriages as a hobby), unnatural gratification, indulging in
voluptuous speech, and visiting immoral married and unmarried women, are
all different forms of Unchastity or sexuality.
The vow of chastity is an ornament
of a man and a woman both; it is a garland woven by auspicious virtues and
is a gateway to heaven. Chastity is the most precious jewel of a lady.
"The impenetrable fence which protects a woman is her virtue of celibacy;
no other fence can safeguard her as well." Indeed, chastity thy name is
woman.
Observance of chastity keeps the
body healthy and free from sickness; and it develops the mind i.e.,
sharpens the intelligence. All people honor a chaste man in this world and
such a man become entitled to enter heaven or attain salvation.
Non-observance of chastity makes one suffer many types of miseries in this
world; also, he or she is destined to go to hell in the next births. An
unchaste person always lives awe-stricken lest his/her immoral deeds
should come to limelight, and on being caught red-handed he/she has to
suffer great humiliation and undergo different types of punishments. In
truth, 'Too much indulgence in sexual pleasures brings physical as well as
spiritual ruin.'
The root of self-restraint or
abstention from sensual pleasures is good conduct; and both self-restraint
and good conduct are dependent on chastity. The persons who realize the
need and glory of celibacy in human life come to know the significance of
self-restraint and good conduct very well. The capability of sustaining
the life force in the body is celibacy. It alone generates vitality,
radiance and luster in the body. The American saint Thoray has said,
"Chastity is the flower of life tree; genius, purity and velour are its
numerous fruits." Self-restraint is attained only through good conduct and
chastity.
A monk came to take meals at the
house of a Seth. After taking meals the holy saint dwelt upon the
significance of chastity in his sermon. On hearing the importance and
glory of celibacy, Jin Datt, the son of the Seth, took the vow to
observe celibacy during the bright fortnight (Shukla Paksha) of
every month. On the other hand, Jin Datta, the daughter of the Seth
of Ujjain City, had taken a vow to observe celibacy during the dark
fortnight (Krishna Paksha) of every month. Ignorant of each other's
pledges, as the chance would have it, Jin Datt and Jin Datta were tied in
wedlock. The wedding ceremonies were performed on the 13th day of the
bright fortnight (Shukla Paksha). Thereafter, Jin Datt returned
home with his newly wedded bride.
On the first night when all wedding
ceremonies were over Jin Datta fully adorned with proper make-up entered
her bedroom in the grand palatial building. During sweet conversation Jin
Datt disclosed to her, "My darling! I have taken a vow of observing
celibacy during the bright fortnight of every month. Therefore, we shall
be able to celebrate the honeymoon night only after four days, not before
that. Don't get worried and restless. It's a matter of only three or four
days." In reply to the loving words of her husband, Jin Datta said, "My
lord! What a strange contradiction! I have also taken a pledge to observe
celibacy during the dark fortnight. So you enter into another wedlock and
marry any other damsel. I shall now get initiated as a female ascetic and
try for my spiritual uplift."
At this Jin Datt said to her, "My
dear! When you are so eager for your spiritual uplift despite being a
lady, why should I get indulged in the mud and mire of sensuous pleasures,
being a man. We both shall observe the vow of life-long celibacy while
living under one and the same roof in our home. But this decision should
not leak out." Thus, taking a firm pledge of celibacy, which is
as difficult to observe as walking on a sharp edged sword, they both began
to live together happily and peacefully practicing rigorous celibacy.
Once a princess suffered from
leprosy. All treatments to cure her failed. One day the princess chanced
to see a monk. After paying homage to the monk with full reverence, the
princess asked the holy sage to tell her a remedy to get rid of her
incurable malady. The compassionate sage spoke, "My daughter! A happy
newly wedded couple named Jin Datt and Jin Datta, who have been practicing
the rigorous vow of celibacy for long, lives in your city. If you shower
over your body water purified by the touch of their hands, you can get rid
of your disease."
Soon after, in order to act on the
advice of the saint, the princess went to Jin Datt's house. All the
members of Jin Datt's family were taken aback on hearing the words of the
princess. As soon as water touched with the hands of Jin Datt and Jin
Datta was poured over the princess, her skin disease was cured in no time.
Flowers rained from the sky at this miracle. Ultimately, the happy couple
Jin Datt and his wife Jin Datta got initiated to Jain monkshood. This
example shows without doubt that only practicing the vow of celibacy
attains self-restraint and good conduct.
Shuchi bhumigatam toyim,
shuchirnari pativrta
Shuchirdharmpro raja, brahmchari
sada shuchi
I.e., The underground water is
pure. A wife loyal to her husband is chaste. A king dedicated to religion
is always just and merciful; above all a celibate's life is sacred
forever.
Supreme chastity is the last of the
ten universal virtues. Just as when a temple is built, a golden canopy is
installed on the cupola at its peak; likewise the virtue of celibacy is at
the pinnacle of the ten supreme virtues. Stating celibacy as the true
nature of the soul, the Acharyas have said:
"Brahmans atmni charti iti
brahmcharya"
I.e., One who always remains
engrossed in his holy soul only; one who practices celibacy free from
transgression; in truth, he alone is a celibate. A monk who avoids
company, jokes and foul bodily play with mean persons, renounces ten kind
of 'Abraham' -sexual indulgence.
