Changes

The student life begins with the Upanayana ceremony that is known as 'second birth'.<ref name=":6" /> A child roughly about the age of 5 or 6 years is initiated into Brahmacharyashrama by performing the Upanayana samskara. Early history points to the evidence of this important samskara being in vogue from the vedic ages. Such a child who has undergone the Upanayana samskara is called a Brahmachari.

The student life begins with the Upanayana ceremony that is known as 'second birth'.<ref name=":6" /> A child roughly about the age of 5 or 6 years is initiated into Brahmacharyashrama by performing the Upanayana samskara. Early history points to the evidence of this important samskara being in vogue from the vedic ages. Such a child who has undergone the Upanayana samskara is called a Brahmachari.

Manu broadly defines a Brahmachari as follows:<ref>Pt. Girija Prasad Dvivedi (1917), [https://archive.org/details/ManuSmritHindi-GpDwivedi/page/n192/mode/2up The Manusmriti or Manavadharmashastra], Lucknow: Newul Kishore Press.</ref><blockquote>यद्यस्य विहितं चर्म यत् सूत्रं या च मेखला । यो दण्डो यच्च वसनं तत्तदस्य व्रतेष्वपि ॥२.१७४॥  

Manu broadly defines a Brahmachari as follows:<ref name=":12">Pt. Girija Prasad Dvivedi (1917), [https://archive.org/details/ManuSmritHindi-GpDwivedi/page/n192/mode/2up The Manusmriti or Manavadharmashastra], Lucknow: Newul Kishore Press.</ref><blockquote>यद्यस्य विहितं चर्म यत् सूत्रं या च मेखला । यो दण्डो यच्च वसनं तत्तदस्य व्रतेष्वपि ॥२.१७४॥  

सेवेतेमांस्तु नियमान् ब्रह्मचारी गुरौ वसन् । सन्नियम्येन्द्रियग्रामं तपोवृद्ध्यर्थमात्मनः ॥२.१७५॥<ref name=":1" />

सेवेतेमांस्तु नियमान् ब्रह्मचारी गुरौ वसन् । सन्नियम्येन्द्रियग्रामं तपोवृद्ध्यर्थमात्मनः ॥२.१७५॥<ref name=":1" />

In fact, many of these details mentioned above regarding the different possessions of a brahmachari as mentioned across shastra texts have been quoted in Balambatta's glossary on the Yajnavalkya Smrti.<ref name=":8" />

In fact, many of these details mentioned above regarding the different possessions of a brahmachari as mentioned across shastra texts have been quoted in Balambatta's glossary on the Yajnavalkya Smrti.<ref name=":8" />

== दिनचर्या ॥ Daily Routine ==

== दिनचर्या ॥ Daily Routine ==

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" />

The Agni Purana states that after investiture of the yajnopavita, the preceptor should instruct his pupil first with cleanliness and then with codes of conduct, the worship of fire and the Sandhya worship.<ref name=":10" /><blockquote>उपनीय गुरुः शिष्यं सिक्षयेच्छौचमादितः । आचारमग्निकार्यं च सन्ध्योपासनमेव च ॥१५३.१३<ref name=":11" />  

उपनीय गुरुः शिष्यं सिक्षयेच्छौचमादितः । आचारमग्निकार्यं च सन्ध्योपासनमेव च ॥१५३.१३<ref name=":11" />

upanīya guruḥ śiṣyaṁ sikṣayecchaucamāditaḥ । ācāramagnikāryaṁ ca sandhyopāsanameva ca ॥153.13</blockquote>Accordingly, the daily routine of a brahmachari begins with bathing and comprises of sprinkling the body with Mantras addressed to the waters, retention of breath, adoration of the Sun and the daily repetition of the Gayatri.<ref name=":8" /><blockquote>स्नानं अब्दैवतैर्मन्त्रैर्मार्जनं प्राणसंयमः । सूर्यस्य चाप्युपस्थानं गायत्र्याः प्रत्यहं जपः । । १.२२ । ।<ref name=":9" />

Bathing, sprinkling the body with Mantras addressed to the waters, retention of breath, adoration of the Sun and the daily repetition of the Gayatri should be performed.<ref name=":8" />

snānaṁ abdaivatairmantrairmārjanaṁ prāṇasaṁyamaḥ । sūryasya cāpyupasthānaṁ gāyatryāḥ pratyahaṁ japaḥ । । 1.22 । ।</blockquote>

स्नानं अब्दैवतैर्मन्त्रैर्मार्जनं प्राणसंयमः । सूर्यस्य चाप्युपस्थानं गायत्र्याः प्रत्यहं जपः । । १.२२ । ।<ref name=":9" />

The Manusmrti also iterates that everyday, being purified by bathing, the brahmachari must perform dvija, devata, rshi and pitr tarpana, worship the deities and perform agnikarya.<ref name=":12" /><blockquote>नित्यं स्नात्वा शुचिः कुर्याद्देवर्षिपितृतर्पणम् । देवताभ्यर्चनं चैव समिदाधानं एव च । । २.१७६ । ।<ref name=":1" />

Every day, having bathed, and being purified, he must offer libations of water to the gods, sages and manes, worship (the images of) the gods, and place fuel on (the sacred fire). (2.176)<ref name=":0" /><blockquote>नित्यं स्नात्वा शुचिः कुर्याद्देवर्षिपितृतर्पणम् । देवताभ्यर्चनं चैव समिदाधानं एव च । । २.१७६ । ।<ref name=":1" />

nityaṁ snātvā śuciḥ kuryāddevarṣipitr̥tarpaṇam । devatābhyarcanaṁ caiva samidādhānaṁ eva ca । । 2.176 । ।</blockquote>The Bhagavata Purana specifies that a brahmachari should wait upon the preceptor and worship the fire deity, the Sun and other prominent deities both, in the morning and evening. And observing perfect silence at both the twilights (and in the mid-day), he should repeat the Gayatri mantra with a concentrated mind while performing Sandhya.<ref name=":3" /><blockquote>सायं प्रातरुपासीत गुर्वग्न्यर्कसुरोत्तमान् । उभे सन्ध्ये च यतवाग्जपन् ब्रह्म समाहितः ॥ २॥<ref name=":4" />

nityaṁ snātvā śuciḥ kuryāddevarṣipitr̥tarpaṇam । devatābhyarcanaṁ caiva samidādhānaṁ eva ca । । 2.176 । ।</blockquote>According to the Bhagavata Purana, in the morning and in the evening, a brahmachari should wait upon the preceptor and worship the fire deity, the Sun and other prominent deities. Observing perfect silence at both the twilights (and in the mid-day), he should repeat the Gayatri mantra with a concentrated mind (while persorming Sandhya).<ref name=":3" /><blockquote>सायं प्रातरुपासीत गुर्वग्न्यर्कसुरोत्तमान् । उभे सन्ध्ये च यतवाग्जपन् ब्रह्म समाहितः ॥ २॥<ref name=":4" />

''sāyaṁ prātarupāsīta gurvagnyarkasurottamān । ubhe sandhye ca yatavāgjapan brahma samāhitaḥ ॥ 2॥''</blockquote>According to the Agni Purana, offering to the fire also should be made both in the morning and evening. And further states that one should abstain from offering impure things or offering with separated hands.<ref name=":10" /><blockquote>सायं प्रातश्च जुहुयान्नामेध्यं व्यस्तहस्तकं ।१५३.१५<ref name=":11" /> sāyaṁ prātaśca juhuyānnāmedhyaṁ vyastahastakaṁ ।153.15</blockquote>Another important duty of a brahmachari is Veda Adhyayana. The Bhagavata Purana states that when called by his preceptor, a brahmachari should study the Vedas at his guru's feet with perfect concentration, in a disciplined manner. And should bow down to his teacher's feet both, at the beginning and completion of the lesson.<ref name=":3" /><blockquote>छन्दांस्यधीयीत गुरोराहूतश्चेत्सुयन्त्रितः । उपक्रमेऽवसाने च चरणौ शिरसा नमेत् ॥ ३॥<ref name=":4" /> ''chandāṁsyadhīyīta gurorāhūtaścetsuyantritaḥ । upakrame'vasāne ca caraṇau śirasā namet ॥ 3॥''</blockquote>Summarising these various facets of a brahmachari's dinacharya or daily routine, Swami Sivananda says,<blockquote>"''He rises early, bathes and does Sandhya and Gayatri Japa. He studies scriptures. He takes simple food in moderation and takes plenty of exercise. He sleeps on a hard mat and does not use soft beds and pillows. He is humble and obedient. He serves and respects elders. He attempts to be chaste in thought, word and deed.''"<ref name=":6" /></blockquote>

== ब्रह्मचर्यधर्मः || Brahmacharya Dharma ==

== ब्रह्मचर्यधर्मः || Brahmacharya Dharma ==

A child is said to have been initiated into Brahmacharyashrama with a chief goal of veda adhyayana and has to follow the rules laid down for them. Many texts such as Grhyasutras, Dharmasutras, Puranas and Itihasas describe the ashrama dharmas. For example,  

A child is said to have been initiated into Brahmacharyashrama with a chief goal of veda adhyayana and has to follow the rules laid down for them. Many texts such as Grhyasutras, Dharmasutras, Puranas and Itihasas describe the ashrama dharmas. For example,