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bharaṇaṁ putradārāṇāṁ vedānāṁ cānupālanam । sevatāmāśramaṁ śreṣṭhaṁ vadanti paramarṣayaḥ ।।12.60.15</blockquote>
 
bharaṇaṁ putradārāṇāṁ vedānāṁ cānupālanam । sevatāmāśramaṁ śreṣṭhaṁ vadanti paramarṣayaḥ ।।12.60.15</blockquote>
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=== गृहस्थगुणाः ॥ ===
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=== गृहस्थगुणाः ॥ Qualities of a Grhastha ===
 
The Mahabharata states that completing the study of Vedas and observing the auspicious karmas given in the Vedas, the one who gives birth to his offspring through his wedded wife and upholds the garhasthya dharma that entails duties akin to that of ascetics is the best.<ref name=":14" /><blockquote>अधीत्य वेदान्कृतसर्वकृत्यः संतानमुत्पाद्य सुखानि भुक्त्वा। समाहितः प्रचरेद्दुश्चरं तं गार्हस्थ्यधर्मं मुनिधर्मजुष्टम्।।१२.६०.१०<ref name=":6" />
 
The Mahabharata states that completing the study of Vedas and observing the auspicious karmas given in the Vedas, the one who gives birth to his offspring through his wedded wife and upholds the garhasthya dharma that entails duties akin to that of ascetics is the best.<ref name=":14" /><blockquote>अधीत्य वेदान्कृतसर्वकृत्यः संतानमुत्पाद्य सुखानि भुक्त्वा। समाहितः प्रचरेद्दुश्चरं तं गार्हस्थ्यधर्मं मुनिधर्मजुष्टम्।।१२.६०.१०<ref name=":6" />
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svadāratuṣṭastvr̥tukālagāmī niyogasevī na śaṭho na jihnaḥ। mitāśano devarataḥ kr̥tajñaḥ satyo mr̥duścānr̥śaṁsaḥ kṣamāvān।।12.60.11</blockquote>Elaborating on the virtue of being devoted to one's wife alone, the Mahabharata says,<blockquote>शरीरमेकं दंपत्योर्विधात्रा पूर्वनिर्मितम्। तस्मात्स्वदारनिरतो ब्रह्मचारी विधीयते।।१३.२११.४६<ref name=":10" />
 
svadāratuṣṭastvr̥tukālagāmī niyogasevī na śaṭho na jihnaḥ। mitāśano devarataḥ kr̥tajñaḥ satyo mr̥duścānr̥śaṁsaḥ kṣamāvān।।12.60.11</blockquote>Elaborating on the virtue of being devoted to one's wife alone, the Mahabharata says,<blockquote>शरीरमेकं दंपत्योर्विधात्रा पूर्वनिर्मितम्। तस्मात्स्वदारनिरतो ब्रह्मचारी विधीयते।।१३.२११.४६<ref name=":10" />
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śarīramekaṁ daṁpatyorvidhātrā pūrvanirmitam। tasmātsvadāranirato brahmacārī vidhīyate।।13.211.46</blockquote>Meaning: The creator, in ancient times, had made a single body for a couple. Therefore, the one who is engaged with his wife alone is considered a brahmachari.<ref name=":12" />
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śarīramekaṁ daṁpatyorvidhātrā pūrvanirmitam। tasmātsvadāranirato brahmacārī vidhīyate।।13.211.46</blockquote>Meaning: The creator, in ancient times, had made a single body for a couple. Therefore, the one who is engaged with his wife alone is considered a brahmachari.<ref name=":12" /> The Mahabharata emphasizes that a grhastha in this world should observe truthfulness, straightforwardness, atithi satkara, dharma, artha, devotion to his wife and happiness. Only then does he obtain happiness in the other world.<ref name=":14" /><blockquote>सत्यार्जवं चातिथिपूजनं च धर्मस्तथार्थश्च रतिः स्वदारैः। निषेवितव्यानि सुखानि लोके ह्यस्मिन्परे चैव मतं ममैतत्।।१२.६०.१४<ref name=":6" />
 
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The Mahabharata emphasizes that a grhastha in this world should observe truthfulness, straightforwardness, atithi satkara, dharma, artha, devotion to his wife and happiness. Only then does he obtain happiness in the other world.<ref name=":14" /><blockquote>सत्यार्जवं चातिथिपूजनं च धर्मस्तथार्थश्च रतिः स्वदारैः। निषेवितव्यानि सुखानि लोके ह्यस्मिन्परे चैव मतं ममैतत्।।१२.६०.१४<ref name=":6" />
      
satyārjavaṁ cātithipūjanaṁ ca dharmastathārthaśca ratiḥ svadāraiḥ। niṣevitavyāni sukhāni loke hyasminpare caiva mataṁ mamaitat।।12.60.14</blockquote>
 
satyārjavaṁ cātithipūjanaṁ ca dharmastathārthaśca ratiḥ svadāraiḥ। niṣevitavyāni sukhāni loke hyasminpare caiva mataṁ mamaitat।।12.60.14</blockquote>
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It is said that a householder should earn money by honest means and distribute it in the proper manner. He should spend one-tenth of his income in charity and enjoy sensual pleasures within the limits of the moral law.<ref name=":5" /> The Mahabharata (Anushasana Parva) while speaking of  Pravrtti dharma for grhasthas states how wealth earned  through rightful means should be utilised by dividing it into 3 portions.<blockquote>एकेनांशेन धर्मार्थः कर्तव्यो हितमिच्छता। एकेनांशेन कामार्थमेकमंशं विवर्धयेत्।।१३.२११.१७<ref name=":10" />
 
It is said that a householder should earn money by honest means and distribute it in the proper manner. He should spend one-tenth of his income in charity and enjoy sensual pleasures within the limits of the moral law.<ref name=":5" /> The Mahabharata (Anushasana Parva) while speaking of  Pravrtti dharma for grhasthas states how wealth earned  through rightful means should be utilised by dividing it into 3 portions.<blockquote>एकेनांशेन धर्मार्थः कर्तव्यो हितमिच्छता। एकेनांशेन कामार्थमेकमंशं विवर्धयेत्।।१३.२११.१७<ref name=":10" />
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ekenāṁśena dharmārthaḥ kartavyo hitamicchatā। ekenāṁśena kāmārthamekamaṁśaṁ vivardhayet।।13.211.17</blockquote>Meaning: One desirous of upliftment must acquire dharma and artha with one portion, the second portion should be utilised for one's expenses while the third should be increased.<ref name=":8" />
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ekenāṁśena dharmārthaḥ kartavyo hitamicchatā। ekenāṁśena kāmārthamekamaṁśaṁ vivardhayet।।13.211.17</blockquote>Meaning: One desirous of upliftment must acquire dharma and artha with one portion, the second portion should be utilised for one's expenses while the third should be increased.<ref name=":8">Shastri, Ramnarayanadatta Pandey, Mahabharata Volume 6 (With Hindi Translation), Gorakhpur:Gita Press.</ref>
 
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=== गृहस्थकर्माणि Activities of a Grhastha ===
गृहस्थलक्षणानि Qualities of a Grhastha
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The Mahabharata states that a grhasthashrami should control his indriyas and accept the instruction of the shastras, never fail to offer havya and kavya offering in honour of the devatas and pitrs respectively, always offer annadana to brahmanas, defer from jealousy and hatred, offer food to other ashramis and nourish them and always be engaged in yajnas and yagas.<ref name=":14" /><blockquote>दान्तो विधेयो हव्यकव्याप्रमत्तो ह्यन्नस्य दाता सततं द्विजेभ्यः। अमत्सरी सर्वलिङ्गप्रदाता वैताननित्यश्च गृहाश्रमी स्यात्।।१२.६०.१२<ref name=":6" />
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The Grhastha is the very heart of the society as everything depends on him.<ref name=":5" />
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dānto vidheyo havyakavyāpramatto hyannasya dātā satataṁ dvijebhyaḥ।
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Mahabharata
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amatsarī sarvaliṅgapradātā vaitānanityaśca gr̥hāśramī syāt।।12.60.12</blockquote>It states that honouring of guests, protection of the 3 fires (ie. garhapatya and others) is the duty of a grhastha. And he must also perform the various ishtis and Pashubandhas according to the vidhis.<ref name=":8" /><blockquote>अतिथिप्रियता धर्मो धर्मस्त्रेताग्निधारणम्। इष्टिर्वा पशुबन्धाश्च विधिपूर्वं परंतप।।१३.२०८.१८<ref name=":9" />
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The Mahabharata states that a grhastha should purify his mind by performing the Panchamahayajnas.<ref name=":12" />  
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atithipriyatā dharmo dharmastretāgnidhāraṇam। iṣṭirvā paśubandhāśca vidhipūrvaṁ paraṁtapa।।13.208.18</blockquote>
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अहिंसा सत्यवचनं सर्वभूतानुकम्पनम्। शमो दानं यथाशक्ति गार्हस्थ्यो धर्म उत्तमः॥ (Maha. Anush. Parv. 141.25)
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== Panchamahayajnas ==
 
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Maheshvara explains - Ahimsa (refraining from harming any being), speaking satya (truth), compassion towards all creatures, practicing shama (control of mind and indriyas or sense organs) and giving unto others as per one's capacity (dana) are the greatest dharmas to be followed by a grhastha.<ref name=":8" />
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=== गृहस्थकर्माणि ॥ ===
   
'''Manusmrti'''
 
'''Manusmrti'''
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Doing homa in the vaivahika agni (the agni in whose presence one's marriage has taken place) as well as Vaishvadeva, Shanti-Paushtika karmas, Nitya paka, etc should be performed by a grhastha.<ref name=":15">Girija Prasad Dvivedi (1917), [https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.343659/page/n217/mode/2up?view=theater The Manusmriti], Lucknow: Newal Kishore Press.</ref>
 
Doing homa in the vaivahika agni (the agni in whose presence one's marriage has taken place) as well as Vaishvadeva, Shanti-Paushtika karmas, Nitya paka, etc should be performed by a grhastha.<ref name=":15">Girija Prasad Dvivedi (1917), [https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.343659/page/n217/mode/2up?view=theater The Manusmriti], Lucknow: Newal Kishore Press.</ref>
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According to the Mahabharata, honouring of guests, protection of the 3 fires (ie. garhapatya and others) is the duty of a grhastha. He must also perform the various ishtis and Pashubandhas according to the vidhis.<ref name=":8">Shastri, Ramnarayanadatta Pandey, Mahabharata Volume 6 (With Hindi Translation), Gorakhpur:Gita Press.</ref>
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The Mahabharata states that a grhastha should purify his mind by performing the Panchamahayajnas.<ref name=":12" />
 
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अतिथिप्रियता धर्मो धर्मस्त्रेताग्निधारणम्। इष्टिर्वा पशुबन्धाश्च विधिपूर्वं परंतप।।13.208.18<ref name=":9" />
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दान्तो विधेयो हव्यकव्याप्रमत्तो ह्यन्नस्य दाता सततं द्विजेभ्यः। अमत्सरी सर्वलिङ्गप्रदाता वैताननित्यश्च गृहाश्रमी स्यात्।।१२.६०.१२<ref name=":6" />
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A grhasthashrami should control his indriyas and accpet the instruction of the shastras, never fail to offer havya and kavya offering in honour of the devatas and pitrs respectively, always offer annadana to brahmanas, defer from jealousy and hatred, offer food to other ashramas and nourish them and always be engaged in yajnas and yagas.<ref name=":14" />
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== Grhastha Dharma Palana Phalam ==
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'''Mahabharata''', Anushasana Parva, Danadharma upaparva contains the details about how a grhastha in different varnas should conduct themselves and the qualities that should be cultured by every grhastha in the Uma Maheshvara Samvada (Adhyayas 140-146).
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Those who, being in grhasthashrama, do seva of parents, the women who serve their husbands and the brahmanas who do agnihotra daily, Indra and other devatas as well as the pitrs in the pitrloka become pleased with them and such people are pleased by their own dharma.<ref name=":8" />
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शुश्रूषन्ते ये पितरं मातरं च गृहाश्रमे। भर्तारं चैव या नारी अग्निहोत्रं च ये द्विजाः।।13.211.37
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तेषुतेषु च प्रीणन्ति देवा इन्द्रपुरोगमाः। पितरः पितृलोकस्थाः स्वधर्मेण स रज्यते।।13.211.38<ref name=":10" />
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The Mahabharata says,<blockquote>परदारेष्वसंसर्गो न्यासस्त्रीपरिरक्षणम्। अदत्तादानविरमो मधुमांसस्य वर्जनम् ॥
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एष पञ्चविधो धर्मो बहुशाखः सुखोदयः। देहिभिर्धर्मपरमैश्र्वर्तव्यो धर्मसम्भवः॥ (Maha. Anush. Parv. 141.26-27) </blockquote>Refraining from seeking other person's wife, protecting ladies and those under his care, not taking any thing from other's (in the form of charity) without first giving, not consuming meat and liquor - these are five kinds of dharmas that lead one to happiness. Each of these five dharmas further lead into many branches. Those who hold dharma in high position always follow such dharma for the sake of earning punya (merits).<ref name=":12" />
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== Panchamahayajnas ==
   
A householder uses five things frequently in his daily life viz. the hearth (floor of fire place), the grinding-stone, the broom, the pestle and mortar and the water-vessel. And while doing so he incurs papa (पापम्) since each of these five are potentially harmful for small living organisms that are invisible to the naked eyes. Hence, they are called slaughter-houses. In order to successively expiate the offences committed by means of all these five tools, the great sages have prescribed for householders the daily performance of the five great sacrifices. (Manu. 3.68 and 69)<ref name=":0" /><ref>Pt. Sri Rama Ramanuja Acharya, [http://www.srimatham.com/uploads/5/5/4/9/5549439/manu_for_modern_times.pdf The Laws of Manu for the 21st Century], srimatham.com</ref>   
 
A householder uses five things frequently in his daily life viz. the hearth (floor of fire place), the grinding-stone, the broom, the pestle and mortar and the water-vessel. And while doing so he incurs papa (पापम्) since each of these five are potentially harmful for small living organisms that are invisible to the naked eyes. Hence, they are called slaughter-houses. In order to successively expiate the offences committed by means of all these five tools, the great sages have prescribed for householders the daily performance of the five great sacrifices. (Manu. 3.68 and 69)<ref name=":0" /><ref>Pt. Sri Rama Ramanuja Acharya, [http://www.srimatham.com/uploads/5/5/4/9/5549439/manu_for_modern_times.pdf The Laws of Manu for the 21st Century], srimatham.com</ref>   
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A grhastha should partake of the food leftover after the worship of deities, rshis, human beings, ancestors and the deities of the house.<ref name=":15" />
 
A grhastha should partake of the food leftover after the worship of deities, rshis, human beings, ancestors and the deities of the house.<ref name=":15" />
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गृहस्थलक्षणानि ॥ Qualities of a Grhastha
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 +
The Grhastha is the very heart of the society as everything depends on him.<ref name=":5" />
 +
 +
Mahabharata
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अहिंसा सत्यवचनं सर्वभूतानुकम्पनम्। शमो दानं यथाशक्ति गार्हस्थ्यो धर्म उत्तमः॥ (Maha. Anush. Parv. 141.25)
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 +
Maheshvara explains - Ahimsa (refraining from harming any being), speaking satya (truth), compassion towards all creatures, practicing shama (control of mind and indriyas or sense organs) and giving unto others as per one's capacity (dana) are the greatest dharmas to be followed by a grhastha.<ref name=":8" />
 +
== Grhastha Dharma Palana Phalam ==
 +
'''Mahabharata''', Anushasana Parva, Danadharma upaparva contains the details about how a grhastha in different varnas should conduct themselves and the qualities that should be cultured by every grhastha in the Uma Maheshvara Samvada (Adhyayas 140-146).
 +
 +
Those who, being in grhasthashrama, do seva of parents, the women who serve their husbands and the brahmanas who do agnihotra daily, Indra and other devatas as well as the pitrs in the pitrloka become pleased with them and such people are pleased by their own dharma.<ref name=":8" />
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 +
शुश्रूषन्ते ये पितरं मातरं च गृहाश्रमे। भर्तारं चैव या नारी अग्निहोत्रं च ये द्विजाः।।13.211.37
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 +
तेषुतेषु च प्रीणन्ति देवा इन्द्रपुरोगमाः। पितरः पितृलोकस्थाः स्वधर्मेण स रज्यते।।13.211.38<ref name=":10" />
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The Mahabharata says,<blockquote>परदारेष्वसंसर्गो न्यासस्त्रीपरिरक्षणम्। अदत्तादानविरमो मधुमांसस्य वर्जनम् ॥
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 +
एष पञ्चविधो धर्मो बहुशाखः सुखोदयः। देहिभिर्धर्मपरमैश्र्वर्तव्यो धर्मसम्भवः॥ (Maha. Anush. Parv. 141.26-27) </blockquote>Refraining from seeking other person's wife, protecting ladies and those under his care, not taking any thing from other's (in the form of charity) without first giving, not consuming meat and liquor - these are five kinds of dharmas that lead one to happiness. Each of these five dharmas further lead into many branches. Those who hold dharma in high position always follow such dharma for the sake of earning punya (merits).<ref name=":12" />
 
== कर्तव्यनिवृत्तिः ॥ Retirement from Duties ==
 
== कर्तव्यनिवृत्तिः ॥ Retirement from Duties ==
 
When the householder sees that his sons are able to bear the burden of his duties, when his grandchildren are around him, he should know that the time has come for him and his wife to retire from the world and spend their time in study and meditation.<ref name=":5" />
 
When the householder sees that his sons are able to bear the burden of his duties, when his grandchildren are around him, he should know that the time has come for him and his wife to retire from the world and spend their time in study and meditation.<ref name=":5" />

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