________________
Celibacy and Chastity
129
life of a householder, which is the most important phase of life and herein lies the difference between Brāhmaṇism and Sramanism. In the Satapatha Brāhmaṇal social morality was considerably high as in the Ķgveda. “Adultery is condemned as a sin against gods especially Varuna. In all cases of evildoing confession is supposed to make the guilt less."2 Many other instances can be found which condemn adultery as the opposite of brahmacarya.
In the Upanişads too 'brahmacarya' is an important moral principle. Now, since the āśrama system was in prevalence, brahmacarya is ranked as the first phase of life. In the Chāndogya Upanişad it is told that the world of Brahman belongs 10 those who find it by 'brahmacarya'.3 It further says that the fruits of 'brahmacarya' are not fewer than those of yajñas. It is pointed out that 'brahmacarya is a discipline a student has to undergo, when studying under a guru, by which is revealed to him the pure and unscarred glimpse of the 'ātman' (the conception which is the contribution of the Upanişads); the nature of 'ātman' is revealed to all those who can establish themselves in truth, penance, right-knowledge and 'brahmacarya'.4 That which is called işta or ideal is nothing but 'brahmacarya', and that which is called 'Sattrāyana' is also brahmacarya.5 All this has been said with the purpose of showing the importance of 'brahmacarya' as a necessary step for the attainment of final knowledge and emancipation or mokşa.
At this point one story from the Chāndogya Upanişad 6 can be cited. The story goes like this: when Indra and Virocana were inquisitive about the nature of 'ātman', they observed brahmacarya for thirty-two years and then went to
1. Satapatha, II, 5.2.20. 2. Indian Philosophy--S. Radhakrishnan, p. 131. 3. Chẩndo. 8. 4. 3. 4. Mundako. 3. 1. 5. 5. Chando, 8. 5. 1-2. 6, Chando. 8. 7-11.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
