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Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that human life is uniquely distinguished from animal life by the capacity for tapasya, or voluntary penance, and the cornerstone of this spiritual discipline is the vow of celibacy, or brahmacārya. The varṇāśrama system is specifically designed to train individuals from the very beginning of their education to conserve their physical and mental energy by abstaining from sex indulgence. While the highest perfection is complete celibacy, the Vedic scriptures provide a regulated path for householders, wherein satisfaction with one's own wife is considered a form of celibacy. However, for those in the retired or renounced orders, breaking this vow is a grave impediment to spiritual success. By strictly following the rules of celibacy, which include avoiding intimate association with women and eschewing bodily luxuries, a practitioner can purify their consciousness, end the cycle of birth and death, and eventually enter the kingdom of Godhead. | |||
* '''The Purpose of Human Life:''' Unlike animals, human beings are meant to undergo tapasya, particularly the great vow of celibacy, to achieve self-realization and freedom from material existence. | |||
* '''Levels of Brahmacārya:''' The scriptures describe various types of celibates, from the upakurvāṇa-brahmacārī who eventually enters married life, to the heroic naiṣṭhika-brahmacārī who remains celibate for their entire life. | |||
* '''Regulation for Householders:''' For those in family life, the vow of celibacy is maintained by remaining faithful and satisfied with one's wife, though complete abstinence is always the preferred spiritual ideal. | |||
* '''Strict Discipline and Protection:''' To protect the vow of celibacy, one must follow rigid regulations, such as avoiding the sight or painting of women and abstaining from perfumes, oils, and other sensory allurements. | |||
* '''Consequences and Perfection:''' Breaking the vow of celibacy, especially in the renounced orders, prevents entrance into the kingdom of deathlessness, as evidenced by Lord Caitanya's strict dealings with His followers. | |||
* Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: [[Vanipedia:Human Life is Meant for Such Tapasya, With the Great Vow of Celibacy|Human Life is Meant for Such Tapasya, With the Great Vow of Celibacy.]] | |||
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Revision as of 18:58, 5 April 2026
Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that human life is uniquely distinguished from animal life by the capacity for tapasya, or voluntary penance, and the cornerstone of this spiritual discipline is the vow of celibacy, or brahmacārya. The varṇāśrama system is specifically designed to train individuals from the very beginning of their education to conserve their physical and mental energy by abstaining from sex indulgence. While the highest perfection is complete celibacy, the Vedic scriptures provide a regulated path for householders, wherein satisfaction with one's own wife is considered a form of celibacy. However, for those in the retired or renounced orders, breaking this vow is a grave impediment to spiritual success. By strictly following the rules of celibacy, which include avoiding intimate association with women and eschewing bodily luxuries, a practitioner can purify their consciousness, end the cycle of birth and death, and eventually enter the kingdom of Godhead.
- The Purpose of Human Life: Unlike animals, human beings are meant to undergo tapasya, particularly the great vow of celibacy, to achieve self-realization and freedom from material existence.
- Levels of Brahmacārya: The scriptures describe various types of celibates, from the upakurvāṇa-brahmacārī who eventually enters married life, to the heroic naiṣṭhika-brahmacārī who remains celibate for their entire life.
- Regulation for Householders: For those in family life, the vow of celibacy is maintained by remaining faithful and satisfied with one's wife, though complete abstinence is always the preferred spiritual ideal.
- Strict Discipline and Protection: To protect the vow of celibacy, one must follow rigid regulations, such as avoiding the sight or painting of women and abstaining from perfumes, oils, and other sensory allurements.
- Consequences and Perfection: Breaking the vow of celibacy, especially in the renounced orders, prevents entrance into the kingdom of deathlessness, as evidenced by Lord Caitanya's strict dealings with His followers.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: Human Life is Meant for Such Tapasya, With the Great Vow of Celibacy.
Pages in category "Vow of Celibacy"
The following 22 pages are in this category, out of 22 total.
A
- A devotee should observe the vow of celibacy. Celibacy does not necessitate that one be absolutely free from sex life; satisfaction with one's wife is permitted also under the vow of celibacy
- Abrhad-vratas are those who have broken the vow of celibacy. The vanaprasthas, or those retired from family life, and the sannyasis, or the renounced persons, cannot break the vow of celibacy if they want success in the process
- Any form of religious principles in which the followers are trained to pursue the vow of celibacy is good for the human being because only those who are trained in that way can end the miserable life of material existence
B
- Brahmacaris or grhasthas who have taken the vow of celibacy as described (SB 7.12.12) should not indulge in the following: applying powder or ointment to the eyes, massaging the head with oil or the body with the hands, seeing a woman or painting her
- Brahmacaris or grhasthas who have taken the vow of celibacy as described above should not indulge in the following: applying powder or ointment to the eyes, massaging the head with oil, massaging the body with the hands
F
- For promotion to the highest status of perfection, namely freedom from birth and death, anxiety and fearfulness, not one of these processes allows the follower to break the vow of celibacy
- From pratipat until the thirteenth day of the next bright moon (sukla-trayodasi), one should observe complete celibacy, sleep on the floor, bathe three times a day and thus execute the vow
- From the very features of the sage (Kardama), it appeared that he had undergone great austerities; that is the sign of one observing brahmacarya, the vow of celibacy. If one lives otherwise, it will be manifest in the lust visible in his face and body
I
- In order to award the highest benefit of human life, the varnasrama system trains the follower to adopt the vow of celibacy beginning from the order of brahmacari
- In the rules of celibacy written by the great sage Yajnavalkya it is said: "The vow of brahmacarya is meant to help one completely abstain from sex indulgence in work, words and mind-at all times, under all circumstances, and in all places." BG 1972 pur
T
- The brahmacari life is for students who are educated to follow strictly the vow of celibacy
- The householders and persons who have deliberately broken the vow of celibacy cannot enter into the kingdom of deathlessness
- The Kumaras and Narada are known as naisthika-brahmacaris. Such brahmacaris are called vira-vrata because their vow of celibacy is as heroic as the vows of the ksatriyas
- The principle of brahmacarya is celibacy. There are two kinds of brahmacaris. One is called naisthika-brahmacari, which means one who takes a vow of celibacy for his whole life
- The upakurvana-brahmacari, is a brahmacari who takes the vow of celibacy up to a certain age. For example, he may take the vow to remain celibate up to twenty-five years of age; then, with the permission of his spiritual master, he enters married life