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== Brahmacharya in Yoga (योगे ब्रह्मचर्यम्) ==

== Brahmacharya in Yoga (योगे ब्रह्मचर्यम्) ==

The meaning of the term Brahmacharya is staying on the path of Brahman by controlling Chitta which may lead to the realization of Brahman. It is mentioned as celibacy in English, but that is just one part of Brahmacharya. There are multiple interpretations by wise people of this Yama.

The meaning of the term Brahmacharya is staying on the path of Brahman by controlling Chitta ([[Manas (मनः)|manas]] or mind) which may lead to the realization of Brahman. It is included under the 5 types of yama in yogashastram. There are multiple interpretations by wise people of this Yama.

== Scriptural Occurances: ==

== Scriptural Occurrences: ==

1.    In Atharva Veda, Shaunaka Samhita, Kanda - 11, Sukta - 7, Verse - 18<ref name=":1">Dr G. S. Sharma, Atharvaveda(2015), New Delhi, Sanskrit Sahitya Prakashan, page 609</ref> , we find the reference to Brahmacharya.<blockquote>ब्रह्मचर्येण कन्या युवानं विन्दते पतिम् ....|  ''brahmacaryeṇa kanyā yuvānaṁ vindate patim.... |''</blockquote>Meaning  A youthful ''Kanya'' (कन्या, girl) who graduates from Brahmacharya, obtains a suitable husband.  

1.    In Atharva Veda, Shaunaka Samhita, Kanda - 11, Sukta - 7, Verse - 18<ref name=":1">Dr G. S. Sharma, Atharvaveda(2015), New Delhi, Sanskrit Sahitya Prakashan, page 609</ref> , we find the reference to Brahmacharya.<blockquote>ब्रह्मचर्येण कन्या युवानं विन्दते पतिम् ....|  ''brahmacaryeṇa kanyā yuvānaṁ vindate patim.... |''</blockquote>Meaning  A youthful ''Kanya'' (कन्या, girl) who graduates from Brahmacharya, obtains a suitable husband.  

2.   Patanjal Yoga Sutras 2.29<ref name=":2">Patanjal Yoga Sutras (2.29) (2.30)- [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A8 link]</ref> enlists Yama as one of the limbs of Ashtanga Yoga as below. <blockquote>यमनियमासनप्राणायामप्रत्याहारधारणाध्यानसमाधयोऽष्टावङ्गानि ।। २.२९ ।।    ''yamaniyamāsanaprāṇāyāmapratyāhāradhāraṇādhyānasamādhayo'ṣṭāvaṅgāni ।। 2.29 ।।''</blockquote>Meaning: The 8 limbs of yoga are Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayam, Pratyahar, Dharna, Dhyana, Samadhi.  

2.   Patanjal Yoga Sutras 2.29<ref name=":2">Patanjal Yoga Sutras (2.29) (2.30)- [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A8 link]</ref> enlists Yama as one of the limbs of Ashtanga Yoga as below. <blockquote>यमनियमासनप्राणायामप्रत्याहारधारणाध्यानसमाधयोऽष्टावङ्गानि ।। २.२९ ।।    ''yamaniyamāsanaprāṇāyāmapratyāhāradhāraṇādhyānasamādhayo'ṣṭāvaṅgāni ।। 2.29 ।।''</blockquote>Meaning: The 8 limbs of yoga are Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayam, Pratyahar, Dharna, Dhyana, Samadhi.  

 

Further Patanjali mentions the 5 Yamas in Sutra 2.30<ref name=":2" /><blockquote>अहिंसासत्यास्तेयब्रह्मचर्यापरिग्रहा यमाः ।। २.३० ।।    ''ahiṁsāsatyāsteyabrahmacaryāparigrahā yamāḥ ।। 2.30 ।।''</blockquote>Meaning: The five Yama as per Patanjali are Ahimsa, Satya, Asteya, Brahmacharya and Aparigraha.As per other texts the number may vary.  

3. Further Patanjali mentions the 5 Yamas in Sutra 2.30<ref name=":2" /><blockquote>अहिंसासत्यास्तेयब्रह्मचर्यापरिग्रहा यमाः ।। २.३० ।।    ''ahiṁsāsatyāsteyabrahmacaryāparigrahā yamāḥ ।। 2.30 ।।''</blockquote>Meaning: The five Yama as per Patanjali are Ahimsa, Satya, Asteya, Brahmacharya and Aparigraha.As per other texts the number may vary.  

5.   Hatha Yoga Pradipika by Swatmaram<ref>Swami Muktibodhananda, Hatha Yoga Pradipika,(2013),  Munger (Bihar), Yoga Publications Trust, Pg. 56 Chap. 1 verse 16.</ref> also mentions Brahmacharya as below. <blockquote>अहिंसा सत्यमस्तेयं बरह्मछर्यं कष्हमा धॄतिः | दयार्जवं मिताहारः शौछं छैव यमा दश || १७ ||

5.   Hatha Yoga Pradipika by Swatmaram<ref>Swami Muktibodhananda, Hatha Yoga Pradipika,(2013),  Munger (Bihar), Yoga Publications Trust, Pg. 56 Chap. 1 verse 16.</ref> also mentions Brahmacharya as below. <blockquote>अहिंसा सत्यमस्तेयं बरह्मछर्यं कष्हमा धॄतिः | दयार्जवं मिताहारः शौछं छैव यमा दश || १७ ||

''ahiṁsā satyamasteyaṁ barahmacharyaṁ kaṣhamā dhr̥̄tiḥ |'' ''dayārjavaṁ mitāhāraḥ śauchaṁ chaiva yamā daśa || 17 ||''</blockquote>Meaning: “Non-violence, truth, non-stealing''',''' continence (being absorbed in a pure state of consciousness), forgiveness, endurance, compassion, humility, moderate diet and cleanliness are the ten rules of conduct (Yama). (ii)”.

''ahiṁsā satyamasteyaṁ barahmacharyaṁ kaṣhamā dhr̥̄tiḥ |'' ''dayārjavaṁ mitāhāraḥ śauchaṁ chaiva yamā daśa || 17 ||''</blockquote>Meaning: “Non-violence, truth, non-stealing''',''' continence (being absorbed in a pure state of consciousness), forgiveness, endurance, compassion, humility, moderate diet and cleanliness are the ten rules of conduct (Yama). (ii)”.

Brahmacharya is a virtue that a person is expected to bear. It is a Yama that a person can follow. Below are reasons for it.  

Brahmacharya is a virtue that a person is expected to bear. It is a Yama that a person can follow. Below are reasons for it.  

=== a.   Swami Sivananda in Practice of Brahmacharya<ref>Swami Sivananda, [https://www.dlshq.org/download/practice-of-brahmacharya/ Practice of Brahmacharya],(1997), World Wide Web, A DIVINE LIFE SOCIETY PUBLICATION</ref>  says on page 24, ===

=== a.   Practice of Brahmacharya ===

<blockquote>“Brahmacharya is absolute freedom from sexual desires and thoughts. A real Brahmachari will not feel any difference in touching a woman, a piece of paper or a block of wood. Brahmacharya is meant for both men and women. Bhishma, Hanuman, Lakshman, Mira Bai, Sulabha and Gargi were all established in Brahmacharya. Mere control of the animal passion will not constitute Brahmacharya. This is incomplete Brahmacharya. You must control all the organs—the ears that want to hear lustful stories, the lustful eye that wants to see objects that excite passion, the tongue that wants to taste exciting things and the skin that wants to touch exciting objects” </blockquote>

<blockquote>“Brahmacharya is absolute freedom from sexual desires and thoughts. A real Brahmachari will not feel any difference in touching a woman, a piece of paper or a block of wood. Brahmacharya is meant for both men and women. Bhishma, Hanuman, Lakshman, Mira Bai, Sulabha and Gargi were all established in Brahmacharya. Mere control of the animal passion will not constitute Brahmacharya. This is incomplete Brahmacharya. You must control all the organs—the ears that want to hear lustful stories, the lustful eye that wants to see objects that excite passion, the tongue that wants to taste exciting things and the skin that wants to touch exciting objects” Swami Sivananda in Practice of Brahmacharya<ref>Swami Sivananda, [https://www.dlshq.org/download/practice-of-brahmacharya/ Practice of Brahmacharya],(1997),  Page 24,World Wide Web, A DIVINE LIFE SOCIETY PUBLICATION.</ref>  says on page 24, </blockquote>

=== b. Osho in "Talks on Zen" <ref name=":0">Osho, Zen:The Path of Paradox, Vol. 1, Talks on Zen, (1977), Pune, Osho.com (Audio Discourse)</ref> gives the below reason in chapter 8. ===

=== b. Osho in "Talks on Zen" <ref name=":0">Osho, Zen:The Path of Paradox, Vol. 1, Talks on Zen, (1977), Pune, Osho.com (Audio Discourse)</ref> gives the below reason in chapter 8. ===

Brahmacharya is the fourth dimension of your being. Three dimensions are available to everybody. When all three dimensions function in tune, in step, in a dance, then the fourth arises as a fragrance. The fourth is a song that arises out of these three dancing together, embracing each other, melting, merging, into each other. Then arises the fourth. The fourth is the beyond, the transcendental. “</blockquote>

Brahmacharya is the fourth dimension of your being. Three dimensions are available to everybody. When all three dimensions function in tune, in step, in a dance, then the fourth arises as a fragrance. The fourth is a song that arises out of these three dancing together, embracing each other, melting, merging, into each other. Then arises the fourth. The fourth is the beyond, the transcendental. “</blockquote>

=== d. Osho in discourse Yoga The Alpha & Omega Vol 05 - Discourse 7<ref>[https://oshoworld.com/yoga-the-alpha-omega-vol-05-01-10/ Osho, Yoga: A New Direction, Discourse : Yoga The Alpha & Omega Vol 05 - Discourse 7 (1975)] </ref> gives the below reason in the topic The Alchemy of Being: Brahmacharya says, ===

=== d. Osho in discourse Yoga The Alpha & Omega Vol 05 - Discourse 7<ref>[https://oshoworld.com/yoga-the-alpha-omega-vol-05-01-10/ Osho, Yoga: A New Direction, Discourse : Yoga The Alpha & Omega Vol 05 - Discourse 7 (1975)] </ref> gives the below reason in the topic The Alchemy of Being: Brahmacharya says, ===