The Brahmacharin or the Celibate Student

[Ms Tercy Lonan]

The Brahmacharin or the Celibate Student
The first stage, Brahmacharya, is the period of study and discipline. The student should not
indulge in any pleasures. He stays in the house of his preceptor and studies the Vedas and the
sciences. This is the period of probation. The teachers in ancient India usually lived in forest
hermitages. These hermitages were the Gurukulas or forest universities. The student begged his
food. The children of the rich and poor lived together. The student regarded his teacher as his
spiritual father and served him with faith, devotion and reverence.
The life of the student begins with the Upanayana ceremony, his second birth. He must be
hardy and simple in his habits. 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.
He ever engages himself in doing services to his preceptor. He refrains from wine, meat,
perfumes, garlands, tasty and savoury dishes, women, acids, spices and injury to sentient creatures;
from lust, anger, greed; dancing, singing and playing on musical instruments; from dice-playing,
gossip, slander and untruth. He sleeps alone.
After the end of his student career, he gives a present to his preceptor according to his ability
and returns home to enter the household life. The preceptor gives the final instruction and sends the
student home. The teacher delivers a convocation address to the students at the conclusion of their
studentship:
“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.
“Never swerve from the duties to the gods and the forefathers. Regard your mother as a god
(Matridevo Bhava). Regard your father as a god (Pitridevo Bhava). Regard your teacher as a god
(Acharyadevo Bhava). Regard your guest as god (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.
“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 God’s
word of command. This should be observed. Thus is this to be meditated upon.”