Category:Becoming a Grhastha
Theme Analysis
The transition from student life (brahmacarya) to household life (gṛhastha) is a pivotal stage in the Vedic social system of varṇāśrama. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the gṛhastha-āśrama is not merely a license for sense gratification but a regulated institution designed to help the aspiring devotee curb lusty desires while continuing their spiritual progress. This āśrama is specifically meant for those who cannot maintain the strict vow of celibacy required of a naiṣṭhika-brahmacārī. Śrīla Prabhupāda strongly advises that it is better to become a sincere householder than a pretentious renunciant (markaṭa-vairāgī). A true gṛhastha lives peacefully with a wife, executes religious duties, and prepares for the eventual stage of vānaprastha, distinguishing themselves from a gṛhamedhī, whose life is centered solely around family attachment and envy.
- Regulated Sex Life: The householder life is a concession for those who have sex desire, allowing them to satisfy it within a religious context while gradually cultivating detachment.
- Honesty over Hypocrisy: It is condemned to dress as a renunciant while secretly maintaining material desires; honest marriage is preferred.
- Need for Training: Just as there are colleges for careers, there must be training for entering family life to ensure it remains centered on God consciousness.
- A Progressive Step: Household life is not the goal but a stepping stone in the four spiritual orders (brahmacārī, gṛhastha, vānaprastha, sannyāsa).
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: Becoming a Gṛhastha - The Householder Āśrama.
Pages in category "Becoming a Grhastha"
The following 34 pages are in this category, out of 34 total.
A
- A brahmana generally remains a brahmacari throughout his entire life, but although some brahmanas become grhasthas and indulge in sex life, they do so under the complete control of the spiritual master
- Another point to be observed from this verse (SB 7.12.13-14) is that from the brahmacari-asrama one may accept the sannyasa-asrama, vanaprastha-asrama or grhastha-asrama. It is not compulsory for a brahmacari to become a grhastha
- As there are schools & colleges to train students to become chemical engineers, lawyers or specialists in many other departments of knowledge, there must be schools and colleges to train students to become brahmacaris, grhasthas, vanaprasthas & sannyasis
F
- First of all, they used to become brahmacari, to become most obedient servant of the spiritual master before becoming grhastha. Celibacy, brahmacari, then grhastha
- For brahmana, the four asramas are compulsory. He must become a brahmacari. Then from brahmacari he becomes grhastha. Then from grhastha he must become vanaprastha. Then he must become a sannyasi
H
- He (Caitanya Mahaprabhu) knows that grhastha has sex life, so He never rejected. So if you want sex life, become a grhastha. Just have a wife and live peacefully
- He (Daksa) improperly thought Narada Muni to be asadhu, or nonsaintly, because Narada had foiled his intentions. Desiring to train his sons to become grhasthas fully equipped with knowledge, Daksa had sent them to execute austerities by Narayana-saras
- He give up and become a sannyasi, and then again become this grhastha. This is not good
- Human society means to understand it, that what is the basic principle of material life. If we understand it is sex, therefore we have to cut down the sex desire gradually by becoming brahmacari, grhastha, vanaprastha, sannyasa. This is the process
- Husband & wife should execute religious life, spiritual cultivation. That is the purpose of becoming householder. Grhastha-asrama. Not that I become attracted by wife & I become absorbed in simply sex relation & forget my real duty, KC. That is dangerous
I
- If one accepts sannyasa at an immature stage, there is every possibility of his being attracted by women and lusty desires and thus again becoming a so-called grhastha or a victim of women
- If one can continue without sex life he is praised, naisthika-brahmacari. If one cannot, all right you become a perfect grhastha
- If you want sex life, become a grhastha. Just have a wife and live peacefully. But if you want to have sex life and at the same time you want to keep yourself as brahmacari, this is not truthful. This is condemned
- In the varnasrama system, one first becomes a brahmacari, then a grhastha, a vanaprastha and finally a sannyasi. Going to the forest means accepting vanaprastha life, which is between grhastha life and sannyasa
- In Vedic civilization a man is taught from the beginning of his life to become a brahmacari, then an ideal grhastha, then vanaprastha, then sannyasi, and the wife is taught just to follow the husband strictly in all conditions of life
M
- Markata-vairagya is not necessary. Real vairagya. We do not indulge in so-called sannyasi or brahmacari. If one is unable, he must become a grhastha
- Materialists are certainly very much attracted by sexual intercourse. Yan maithunadi-grhamedhi-sukham hi tuccham (SB 7.9.45). Although one becomes a grhastha, or householder, to enjoy sex life to his heart's content, one is never satisfied
O
S
- Simply by dressing in white cloth one becomes grhastha? And simply by dressing one, in this saffron cloth, he becomes sannyasi? By changing dress he becomes everything? He must know that what is the aim of life
- So far as your occasional agitation from maya, the answer is very simple that one must either strictly control his senses, or else he must get himself married. If one is strong enough in Krishna Consciousness, then there is no reason to become grhastha
- Sukadeva Gosvami said: The son of Nabhaga named Nabhaga lived for a long time at the place of his spiritual master. Therefore, his brothers thought that he was not going to become a grhastha and would not return
T
- The guru advises, "Better remain all through brahmacari. No botheration." So he's trained properly, but still if he has desire, then he's allowed to become a grhastha. That is also for a limited time
- The principle is that when one becomes a grhastha, he must live perfectly in that order, which means he must live peacefully with a wife and children
- They have got different dresses. So Kali-yuga, simply by dress, he becomes a brahmacari, he become a grhastha, he becomes a sannyasi, simply by dress. What he is acting, nobody cares, that's all
- This (schools and colleges to train students to become brahmanas, ksatriyas, vaisyas, sudras, brahmacaris, grhasthas, vanaprasthas and sannyasis) will provide the preliminary condition for good citizenship - varnasrama-gunan-vitah
- To become fixed, become sannyasi, the other three processes are there: to become brahmacari, to become grhastha, to become vanaprastha, stage by stage. But if one is able, he can take sannyasa