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| *Bhagavata Purana (Skanda 7 Adhyaya 12 - ब्रह्मचर्यवानप्रस्थाश्रमयोर्धर्माः) | | *Bhagavata Purana (Skanda 7 Adhyaya 12 - ब्रह्मचर्यवानप्रस्थाश्रमयोर्धर्माः) |
| *Manusmrti | | *Manusmrti |
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| + | The Agni Purana states that after investiture of the sacred thread, the preceptor should instruct his pupil first with cleanliness and then with codes of conduct, the worship of fire and the worship of twilight.<ref name=":10">[https://archive.org/details/AgniPuranaUnabridgedEnglishMotilal/page/n443/mode/2up?view=theater The Agni Purana (Part 2)], Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Private Limited.</ref> |
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| + | उपनीय गुरुः शिष्यं सिक्षयेच्छौचमादितः । आचारमग्निकार्यं च सन्ध्योपासनमेव च ॥१५३.१३<ref name=":11">Agni Purana, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%AB%E0%A5%A9 Adhyaya 153]</ref> |
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| According to the Bhagavata Purana, a brahmachari should dwell in the house of his preceptor. He should be self-controlled and comply with what is agreeable to the preceptor. He should behave humbly like a servant, and entertain very strong affection to his teacher.<ref name=":3">Ganesh Vasudeo Tagare, The Bhagavata Purana (Part III), Ancient Indian Tradition & Mythology (Volume 9), Edited by J.L.Shastri, New Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, [https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.150116/page/n99 P.no.968-969].</ref><blockquote>ब्रह्मचारी गुरुकुले वसन् दान्तो गुरोर्हितम् । आचरन् दासवन्नीचो गुरौ सुदृढसौहृदः ॥ १॥<ref name=":4">Bhagavata Purana, Skandha 7, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%AD/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%A8 Adhyaya 12].</ref> | | According to the Bhagavata Purana, a brahmachari should dwell in the house of his preceptor. He should be self-controlled and comply with what is agreeable to the preceptor. He should behave humbly like a servant, and entertain very strong affection to his teacher.<ref name=":3">Ganesh Vasudeo Tagare, The Bhagavata Purana (Part III), Ancient Indian Tradition & Mythology (Volume 9), Edited by J.L.Shastri, New Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, [https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.150116/page/n99 P.no.968-969].</ref><blockquote>ब्रह्मचारी गुरुकुले वसन् दान्तो गुरोर्हितम् । आचरन् दासवन्नीचो गुरौ सुदृढसौहृदः ॥ १॥<ref name=":4">Bhagavata Purana, Skandha 7, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%AD/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%A8 Adhyaya 12].</ref> |
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| स्नानं अब्दैवतैर्मन्त्रैर्मार्जनं प्राणसंयमः । सूर्यस्य चाप्युपस्थानं गायत्र्याः प्रत्यहं जपः । । १.२२ । ।<ref name=":9">Yajnavalkya Smriti, Achara Adhyaya, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%9C%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%9E%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%86%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D Brahmachari Prakarana]</ref> | | स्नानं अब्दैवतैर्मन्त्रैर्मार्जनं प्राणसंयमः । सूर्यस्य चाप्युपस्थानं गायत्र्याः प्रत्यहं जपः । । १.२२ । ।<ref name=":9">Yajnavalkya Smriti, Achara Adhyaya, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%9C%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%9E%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%86%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D Brahmachari Prakarana]</ref> |
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| + | According to the Agni Purana, Offering to fire should be made in the morning and in the evening. However, (One should) not (offer) impure things or with separated hands.<ref name=":10" /> |
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| + | सायं प्रातश्च जुहुयान्नामेध्यं व्यस्तहस्तकं ।१५३.१५<ref name=":11" /> |
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| === वेशभूषा ॥ Attire === | | === वेशभूषा ॥ Attire === |
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| ''mekhalājinavāsāṁsi jaṭādaṇḍakamaṇḍalūn । bibhr̥yādupavītaṁ ca darbhapāṇiryathoditam ॥ 4॥''</blockquote>Meaning: With his hair braided, he should wear a mekhala (a girdle of munja grass), the deer-skin and (two pieces of) cloth, the yajnopavita (sacred thread) and carry with him a staff, a kamandalu (water-pot of gourd) and a handful of darbha grass as prescribed (in the Shastras).<ref name=":3" /> | | ''mekhalājinavāsāṁsi jaṭādaṇḍakamaṇḍalūn । bibhr̥yādupavītaṁ ca darbhapāṇiryathoditam ॥ 4॥''</blockquote>Meaning: With his hair braided, he should wear a mekhala (a girdle of munja grass), the deer-skin and (two pieces of) cloth, the yajnopavita (sacred thread) and carry with him a staff, a kamandalu (water-pot of gourd) and a handful of darbha grass as prescribed (in the Shastras).<ref name=":3" /> |
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| + | According to the Agni Purana, |
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| + | The maunjya (the girdle to be worn after the Upanayana) is known to be (made) of munja (grass) or bark. The hides of deer, tiger or goat (should be worn) by those in the student life. The sticks are said to be from the parna (palasha), pippala (fig) and bilva tree. They should be (long enough to reach) upto the hair, forehead and face respectively (for the three classes). All the sticks should be having the barks and should not be having bends or be burnt ones. The sacred tliread (should be made of) cotton, silk or wool respectively (for the three classes).<ref name=":10" /> |
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| + | मुञ्जानां वल्कलानान्तु क्रमान्मौज्ज्याः प्रकीर्तिताः ॥१५३.८ |
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| + | मार्गवैयाध्रवास्तानि चर्माणि व्रतचारिणां । पर्णपिप्पलविल्वानां क्रमाद्दण्डाः प्रकीर्तिताः ॥१५३.९ |
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| + | केशदेशललाटास्यतुल्याः प्रोक्ताः क्रमेण तु । अवक्राः सत्वचः सर्वे नाविप्लुष्टास्तु दण्डकाः ॥१५३.१० |
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| + | वासोपवीते कार्पासक्षौमोर्णानां यथाक्रमं ।१५३.११<ref name=":11" /> |
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| The Manusmrti mentions that when these ie. his girdle, skin which serves as his upper garment, his staff, his sacrificial thread and his waterpot become damaged, he must throw into the water and take others reciting mantras.<ref name=":8" /> | | The Manusmrti mentions that when these ie. his girdle, skin which serves as his upper garment, his staff, his sacrificial thread and his waterpot become damaged, he must throw into the water and take others reciting mantras.<ref name=":8" /> |
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| दण्डाजिनोपवीतानि मेखलां चैव धारयेत् ।<ref name=":9" /> | | दण्डाजिनोपवीतानि मेखलां चैव धारयेत् ।<ref name=":9" /> |
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− | He should also keep the staff, the skin, he sacred thread and the girdle.<ref name=":8" /> | + | The same is iterated by the Agni Purana as well (Adhyaya 153, verse 16).<ref name=":10" /> |
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| + | He should also keep the staff, the skin, the sacred thread and the girdle.<ref name=":8" /> |
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| And according to the shastras, a brahmana student should carry a staff of Palasha tree, a kshatriya of Bilva tree and a Vaishya of the Audumbara (Indian fig) tree.<ref name=":3" /> | | And according to the shastras, a brahmana student should carry a staff of Palasha tree, a kshatriya of Bilva tree and a Vaishya of the Audumbara (Indian fig) tree.<ref name=":3" /> |
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| Let him first beg food of his mother, or of his sister, or of his own maternal aunt, or of some other female, who will not disgrace him by a refusal.<ref name=":8" /> | | Let him first beg food of his mother, or of his sister, or of his own maternal aunt, or of some other female, who will not disgrace him by a refusal.<ref name=":8" /> |
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| + | The Agni Purana also mentions that one should seek food first at such a place where one would be certain about getting food.<ref name=":10" /> |
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| + | प्रथमं तत्र भ्हिक्षेत यत्र भिक्षा ध्रुवं भवेत् ।१५३.१२<ref name=":11" /> |
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| == निषिद्धाचरणम् ॥ Forbidden activities == | | == निषिद्धाचरणम् ॥ Forbidden activities == |
− | According to the Bhagavata Purana, those who have taken the vow of brahmacharya (celibacy) should avoid the use of collyrium, unguents, massage of the body, dealings with women, painting or viewing pictures of women, meat, spirituous liquor (in the case of those who are permitted to drink, honey in the case of brahmanas), garlands, sandal pigment and ornaments.<ref name=":5" /><blockquote>अञ्जनाभ्यञ्जनोन्मर्दस्त्र्यवलेखामिषं मधु । स्रग्गन्धलेपालङ्कारांस्त्यजेयुर्ये धृतव्रताः ॥ १२॥<ref name=":4" />
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− | ''añjanābhyañjanonmardastryavalekhāmiṣaṁ madhu । sraggandhalepālaṅkārāṁstyajeyurye dhr̥tavratāḥ ॥ 12॥''</blockquote> | + | According to the Bhagavata Purana, those who have taken the vow of brahmacharya (celibacy) should avoid the use of collyrium, unguents, massage of the body, dealings with women, painting or viewing pictures of women, meat, spirituous liquor (in the case of those who are permitted to drink, honey in the case of brahmanas), garlands, sandal pigment and ornaments.<ref name=":5" /> |
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| + | अञ्जनाभ्यञ्जनोन्मर्दस्त्र्यवलेखामिषं मधु । स्रग्गन्धलेपालङ्कारांस्त्यजेयुर्ये धृतव्रताः ॥ १२॥<ref name=":4" /> |
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| + | ''añjanābhyañjanonmardastryavalekhāmiṣaṁ madhu । sraggandhalepālaṅkārāṁstyajeyurye dhr̥tavratāḥ ॥ 12॥'' |
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| + | The Agni Purana states that one should abstain from (drinking) intoxicants, (eating) flesh, singing and dancing with men. (One should also eschew) violence, spreading scandal about others and especially speaking unpleasant words.<ref name=":10" /> |
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| + | मधु मांस जनैः सार्धं गीतं नृत्यञ्च वै त्यजेत् ॥१५३.१५ |
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| + | हिंसाम्परापवादं च अश्लीलं च विशेषतः ।१५३.१६<ref name=":11" /> |
| == The Period of Studentship == | | == The Period of Studentship == |
| The Yajnavalkya Smrti says, | | The Yajnavalkya Smrti says, |
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| <blockquote>दत्त्वा वरमनुज्ञातो गुरोः कामं यदीश्वरः । गृहं वनं वा प्रविशेत्प्रव्रजेत्तत्र वा वसेत् ॥ १४॥<ref name=":4" /> | | <blockquote>दत्त्वा वरमनुज्ञातो गुरोः कामं यदीश्वरः । गृहं वनं वा प्रविशेत्प्रव्रजेत्तत्र वा वसेत् ॥ १४॥<ref name=":4" /> |
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− | ''dattvā varamanujñāto guroḥ kāmaṁ yadīśvaraḥ । gr̥haṁ vanaṁ vā praviśetpravrajettatra vā vaset ॥ 14॥''</blockquote>While, the guru also gives his the final instructions to the student through a convocation address at the conclusion of their studentship before sending him home. One such address as recorded in the Taittiriya Upanishad is summarised as follows: <blockquote>“''Speak the truth. Do your duty. Never swerve from the study of the Veda. Do not cut off the line of progeny (after giving the preceptor the fee he desires). Never swerve away from truth. Never swerve from duty. Never neglect your welfare. Never neglect your prosperity. Never neglect the study and the teaching of the Vedas.''</blockquote><blockquote>''Never swerve from the duties to the deities and the forefathers. Regard your mother as a deity. (Matrdevo Bhava). Regard your father as a deity (Pitrdevo Bhava). Regard your teacher as a deity (Acharyadevo Bhava). Regard your guest as deity (Atithidevo Bhava). Let only those actions that are free from blemishes be done and not others. Only those that are good acts to us should be performed by you and not others.''</blockquote><blockquote>''You should remove the fatigue of Brahmanas who are superior to you by serving them with seats, etc. Gift should be given with faith, in plenty, with modesty and sympathy. If there be any doubt regarding rites or conduct, then look up to the lives of great men and follow their examples. This is the injunction. This is the teaching. This is the secret of the Vedas. This is the Supreme’s word of command. This should be observed. Thus is this to be meditated upon.''”<ref name=":6" /></blockquote> | + | ''dattvā varamanujñāto guroḥ kāmaṁ yadīśvaraḥ । gr̥haṁ vanaṁ vā praviśetpravrajettatra vā vaset ॥ 14॥''</blockquote>While, the guru also gives his the final instructions to the student through a convocation address at the conclusion of their studentship before sending him home. One such address as recorded in the Taittiriya Upanishad is summarised as follows: <blockquote>“''Speak the truth. Do your duty. Never swerve from the study of the Veda. Do not cut off the line of progeny (after giving the preceptor the fee he desires). Never swerve away from truth. Never swerve from duty. Never neglect your welfare. Never neglect your prosperity. Never neglect the study and the teaching of the Vedas.''</blockquote><blockquote>''Never swerve from the duties to the deities and the forefathers. Regard your mother as a deity. (Matrdevo Bhava). Regard your father as a deity (Pitrdevo Bhava). Regard your teacher as a deity (Acharyadevo Bhava). Regard your guest as deity (Atithidevo Bhava). Let only those actions that are free from blemishes be done and not others. Only those that are good acts to us should be performed by you and not others.''</blockquote><blockquote>''You should remove the fatigue of Brahmanas who are superior to you by serving them with seats, etc. Gift should be given with faith, in plenty, with modesty and sympathy. If there be any doubt regarding rites or conduct, then look up to the lives of great men and follow their examples. This is the injunction. This is the teaching. This is the secret of the Vedas. This is the Supreme’s word of command. This should be observed. Thus is this to be meditated upon.''”<ref name=":6" /></blockquote>Thus, as the Agni Purana says, (He) should learn the scripture (from the preceptor), pay fees to the preceptor and perform the bathing (ceremony |
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| + | marking the completion of one’s study).<ref name=":10" /> |
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| + | वेदस्वीकरणं कृत्वा स्रायाद्वै दत्तदक्षिणः । नैष्ठिको ब्रह्मचारी वा देहान्तं निवसेद्गुरौ ॥१५३.१७<ref name=":11" /> |
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| + | However, the naisfika brahmachari (one who has taken a vow of life-long abstinence) should remain with the preceptor till his (own) death.<ref name=":10" /> |
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| == नैष्ठिकब्रह्मचर्यम् || Naishthika Brahmacharya == | | == नैष्ठिकब्रह्मचर्यम् || Naishthika Brahmacharya == |