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Aghamarshana Mantra
The Eight Breaks of Brahmacharya (Celibacy)
Rules for Brahmacharis
What is Brahamacharya (Celibacy)?
Veerya (Semen) the vital fluid
Ojas Shakti - Sex-sublimation
The Ideal Brahmachari
Brahmacharya in acive life

Brahmacharya - Celibacy
The Mahabharata, Santi Parva, Section CCXIV
Translated by Sri Kisari Mohan Ganguli
Addressing King Yudhishthira
Bhishma said: I shall now tell thee what the means are (for conquering the senses) as seen with the eye of the
scriptures. A person, O king, will attain to the highest end by the help of such knowledge and by framing his
conduct accordingly. Amongst all living creatures man is said to be the foremost. Among men, those that are
regenerate have been called the foremost; and amongst the regenerate, they that are conversant with the Vedas.
These last are regarded as the souls of all living creatures. Indeed, those Brahmanas (Brahmins) that are
conversant with the Vedas are regarded as all seeing and omniscient. They are persons who have become
conversant with Brahman (the Supreme Reality). As a blind man, without a guide, encounters many difficulties on
a road, so has a person destitute of knowledge to encounter many obstacles in the world. For this reason, those that
are possessed of knowledge are regarded as superior to the rest.
Those that are desirous of acquiring virtue practise diverse kinds of rites according to the dictates of the scriptures.
They do not, however, succeed in attaining to Emancipation, all that they gain being those good qualities of which
I shall presently speak.
[Note: Bhishma desires to show the difference between the religion of Pravritti or acts and that of Nivritti or
abstention from acts. Those that follow the former cannot attain to Emancipation. What they gain are certain good
qualities mentioned in the next verse, which, however, are equally gained by the followers of the religion of
Nivritti. See Page Pravritti- Nivritti.]
Purity of speech, of body, and of mind, forgiveness, truth, steadiness, and intelligence, - these good qualities are
displayed by righteous persons observant of both kinds of religion. That which is called Brahmacharya (religion of
abstention or Yoga) is regarded as the means of attaining to Brahman. That is the foremost of all religions. It is by
the practice of that religion that one obtains the highest end (viz., Emancipation).
Brahmacharya is divested of all connection with the five vital breaths, mind, understanding, the five senses of
perception, and the five senses of action. It is on that account free from all the perceptions that the senses give. It is
heard only as a word, and its form, without being seen, can only be conceived. It is a state of existence depending
only on the mind. It is free from all connection with the senses. That sinless state should be attained to by the
understanding alone. He that practises it duly attains to Brahman; he that practises it half, attains to the condition
of the gods; while he that practises it indifferently, takes birth among Brahmanas (Brahmins) and possessed of
learning attains to eminence.
Brahmacharya is exceedingly difficult to practice. Listen now to the means (by which one may practise it). That
regenerate person who betakes himself to it should subdue the quality of Passion as soon as it begins to manifest
itself or as soon as it begins to be powerful. One that has betaken oneself to that vow should not speak with women.
He should never cast his eyes on an undressed woman. The sight of women, under even different circumstances,
fills all weak-minded men with Passion. If a person (while observing this vow) feels a desire for woman rising in
his heart, he should (as an expiation) observe the vow called Krichcchra and also pass three days in water.
[Note: The vow of Krichcchra consists of certain fasts. Pass three days in water, i.e., stand in water tank or
stream with water up to the chin.]
If desire is entertained in course of a dream, one should, diving in water, mentally repeat for three times the three
Riks by Aghamarshana.
[Note: The three Riks begin with Ritamcha Satyamcha etc. Every Brahmana who knows his morning and evening
prayers knows these three Riks well. (These three Riks are reproduced at the foot of this article.)]
That wise man who has betaken himself to the practice of this vow should, with an extended and enlightened
mind, burn the sins in his mind which are due to the quality of Passion. As the duct that bears away the refuse of
the body is very closely connected with the body, even so the embodies soul is very closely connected with the body
that confines it. The different kinds of juices, passing through the network of arteries, nourish mens wind and bile
and phlegm, blood and skin and flesh, intestines and bones and marrow, and the whole body. Know that there are
ten principal ducts. These assist the functions of the five senses. From these ten branch out thousands of other ducts
that are minuter in form. Like rivers filling the ocean at the proper season, all these ducts, containing juices
nourish the body. Leading to the heart, there is a duct called Manovaha. It draws from every part of the human
body the vital seed, which is born of desire.

Numerous other ducts branching out from that principal one extend into every part of the body and bearing the
element of heat cause the sense of vision (and the rest). As the butter that lies within milk is churned up by
churning rod, even so the desires that are generated in the mind (by the sight or thought of women) draw together
the vital seed that lies within the body. In the midst of even our dreams, passion having birth in imagination assails
the mind, with the result that the duct already named, viz., Manovaha, throws out the vital seed born of desire.
The great and divine Rishi Atri is well conversant with the subject of the generation of the vital seed. The juices
that are yielded by food, the duct called Manovaha, and the desire that is born of imagination,- these three are
causes that originate the vital seed which has Indra for its presiding deity. The passion that aids in the emission of
this fluid is, therefore, called Indriya. Those persons who know that the course of vital seed is the cause of (that
sinful state of things called) intermixture of castes, are men of restrained passions. Their sins are regarded to have
been burnt off, and they are never subjected to rebirth. He that betakes himself to action simply for the purposes of
sustaining his body, reducing with the aid of the mind the (three) attributes (of Goodness, Passion and Darkness)
into a state of uniformity, and brings at his last moments the vital breaths to the duct called Manovaha, escapes the
obligation of rebirth.
[Note: With the aid of the mind means Yoga Dehakarma means one whose acts are undertaken only for the
purpose of sustaining the body, i.e., one who does no act that is not strictly necessary for supporting life; hence, as
the commentator explains, one who is free from all propensities leading to external objects. Manovaham Pranan
Nudan, i.e., bringing to sending the vital breaths to the duct called Manovaha or Sushumna. Though a physical act,
its accomplishment becomes possible only by a long course of penances consisting in the withdrawal of the mind
from external objects. "Reducing the (three) attributes to a state of uniformity," as explained by the commentator,
means arriving at Nirvikalpa, i.e., at that state of knowledge which is independent of the senses.]
The mind is sure to gain knowledge. It is the Mind that takes the form of all things. The minds of all high-souled
persons, attaining to success through meditation, becomes freed from desire, eternal and luminous.
[Note: The Knowledge here spoken of is that knowledge which is independent of the senses. What the speaker says
is that such Knowledge is no myth but is sure to arise. When it arises, its possessor comes to know that the external
world, etc., is only the mind transformed, like the sights seen and sounds heard and thoughts cherished in a dream.
In the second line the results of that knowledge are declared. The mind of a Mahatma is Mantra-Siddha, i.e., has
won success by the meditation of the initial Mantra, or OM; it is Nitya, i.e., eternal, meaning probably that through
the result of Maya or Avidya, it is no longer subject to rebirth; it is Virajas, i.e., free from desire and passion, and
lastly it is Jyotishmat or luminous, meaning Omniscient and Omnipotent. The commentator cites a passage from
Vasishthas treatise on Yoga, which declares the same results as consequent on the attainment of Knowledge. It is,
of course, implied that in attaining to such a state, the mind as mind must be destroyed or merged into the soul and
the soul, with knowledge only for its attribute, must exist. In the previous verse emancipation after death has been
spoken of. In this Jivan-Mukti or emancipation in life is referred to.]
Therefore, for destroying the mind (as mind), one should do only sinless deeds and freeing oneself from the
attributes of Passion and Darkness, one is sure to attain to an end that is very desirable.
[Note: "Freeing oneself from the attributes of Passion and Darkness", i.e., by practising the religion of abstention
from acts.]
Knowledge (ordinarily) acquired in younger days becomes weakened with decrepitude. A person, however, of ripe
understanding succeeds, through the auspicious effects of past lives, in destroying his desires.
[Note: Adatte from Da meaning to cut or destroy. Manasam Valam as explained by the commentator, is Sankalpam,
i.e., desires or purposes. The man of ripe understanding, by doing this, attains to that knowledge which is not
subject to decay with age. Hence, such knowledge is superior to knowledge acquired in the ordinary way.]
Such a person, by transcending the bonds of the body and the senses like a traveller crossing a path of obstacles,
and transgressing all faults he sees, succeeds in tasting the nectar (of Emancipation).
Aghamarshana Mantra
(Prayer for destruction of sin)
Om ritam cha satyam chaa abhiddaat tapaso dhyajaayata. Tato raatryajaayata, tatah samudro arnavah.
Om samudraadarnavaadadhi samvatsaro ajaayata. Ahoraatraani vidadhad vishwasya mishato vashi.
Om surya chandramasu dhaataa yathaa purvamakalpayat. Divam cha prithivim chantarikshamatho swah.
Meaning
This world was created by the luminous God who is the impeller of all actions in accordance with the laws of
creation and the laws of life. Primordial matter, which was lying dormant in darkness, began to evolve. By
evolution the great expanse of sparkling particles of matter began to gain momentum. This movement of particles
brought into existence place and time. Thereafter as a continuation of the process of evolution the Creator of the
world divided it into day and night in accordance with His laws.
The support of the world made the sun and the moon; the stars and the earth; the other heavenly objects and selfluminous worlds as in previous cycles of creation.

The Eight Breaks of Brahmacharya (Celibacy)

By Swami Shivananda, The Divine Life Society, Rishikesh
There are eight kinds of breaks, so to say, in the current of unbroken Brahmacharya practice. You should avoid
them through great care, sincere exertion and vigilant attention. Then only will you be perfectly successful in the
practice of Brahamacharya.
Darshan looking at a member of the opposite sex with carnal desire.
Sparsha desire to touch, embrace or be near a person of the opposite sex.
Keertan praising his or her qualities to your friends.
Keli amorous sport with the opposite sex.
Guhya Bhaashan talking privately to a member of the opposite sex.
Sankalpa lustful thought of the opposite sex.
Adhyavasaaya strong desire for carnal knowledge.
Kriya Nivritti sexual enjoyment.
Only one who is free from the entire above can be called a perfect Brahmachari. A real Brahmachari, who is
seeking God earnestly, and who is engaged in spiritual practices, should avoid these breaks ruthlessly. A break in
any one of these vows is a break in Brahmacharya. This point should be well borne in mind.
Rules for Brahmacharis
Manu, the grat Hindu law-giver, says: "The Brahmacharis, as long as they are in school life, must get into the habit
of controlling their senses by abstaining from alcohol, meat, perfumes, flower garlands and the company of the
opposite sex. They should avoid violence. They should give up Rajasic food, oil, eye-paste, gambling, gossip, lies,
looking at the opposite sex, striking each other, and sleeping with others."
The student should never, not even in his dreams, let go of his Veerya (semen). If he does it willingly, he fails in his
duty. It is death to him. It is a sin. He is a fallen victim. By means of proper Sadhana (austere practices) he should
try to preserve the Veerya. By the practice of Brahmacharya alone can he get physical, mental and spiritual
progress.
The following rules would be very useful to those who are trying to observe Brahmacharya in thought, word and
deed.
Give up evil company, loose talks, cinemas and televisions, and newspapers and magazines dealing with sex
and love. Do not mix freely with the opposite sex. If this is found unavoidable in the course of the daily
duties of life, a male can mentally address a member of the opposite sex as mother. A female can address
a male as father. Sri Ramakrishna used to look upon all women as forms of the Divine Mother.
Anadamayi Ma, the well-known saint of Bengal who lived during recent times, used to address all elderly
males as Pitaji (father) or Baba.
Keep your head bowed down while you walk in the street.
Minimise your needs. Do not look into the mirror often. Lead a rigorous, disciplined life.
Avoid looking at the mating of insects, animals and birds.
Do not ride too much on a bicycle.
Root out love of leisure and ease. Overcome laziness and always be engaged in some useful work. Let the mind
be always occupied in the study of spiritual literature or some active work along useful lines. Let there be
no time for idle pleasure.
Let the work you do be a source of joy. Find pleasure in your work. Let it not be done under compulsion. The
mind turns away from that which it does not like, and then takes recourse to other objects for getting
pleasure. You should work freely and happily, so that there may not be occasions for the mind to resort to
unhealthy practices. Work for the sake of God. Then all work will become interesting. Take to hard
physical labour but do not exhaust yourself. Do your work as a hobby. Then you can do it happily.
Do Sirshasana, Sarvangasana and Siddhasana. Practise deep breathing and Bhastrika Pranayama. Take long
walks. Take part in games and sports.
Take cold baths if you can. Do not use perfumes and fashionable dress. Do not attend dance or music parties.
Do not sing worldly songs. You may take part in Kirtan and Bhajan without trying to display your musical
talent.
Do not smoke or take drugs or alcohol. They are harmful to the body and mind. Avoid non-vegetarian food.
Give up tea, coffee, pungent foods and excess of sweets and sugar. Take them moderately if you cannot give
them up altogether. If possible, fast once a week. Take only milk and fruit on that day. Do not take milk
without mixing a little ginger with it. Avoid pungent, stimulating dishes, sauces, savouries and pastries.
What is Brahamacharya (Celibacy)?
Brahmacharya is purity in thought, word and deed. In a special sense it is celibacy or control of the sex desire in
thought, word and deed.
Brahamacharya includes character building, or the right moulding of character. It is a must in spiritual life. It is
said that knowledge is power, but real power lies in character. As a power, character is superior to knowledge.

Brahmacharya is the very foundation of Yoga. Just as a house that is built on a weak foundation will surely
collapse, so also you will fail in meditation if you are weak in Brahmacharya.
Without Brahmacharya it is not possible to possess good concentration of mind, a good memory, and a strong willthe main essentials for God-realisation.
Brahmacharya is the most vital subject for those who wish to attain success in material and spiritual life. Without it
a boy or a girl cannot be successful, either in studies, in sports, in worldly activities, or in spiritual practices.
The well known Rishi Yajnavalkya says: "Brahmacharya is abstaining from sexual pleasure for ever, under all
conditions and in all places, either physically, mentally or verbally."
Physical Brahmacharya is control of the physical organs, while mental Brahmacharya is control of lustful thoughts.
Mental control is indeed much more difficult than physical control, but through sincere exertion one can get
established in mental Brahmacharya perfectly. Always maintain the ideal, then the final goal can be realised soon.
There is no doubt about this.
Brahmacharya is absolutely necessary for the attainment of peace and God- vision. It is a fresh spring flower whose
each petal gives off fragrance of freedom. It is a powerful weapon for waging war against the internal demons of
lust, anger, greed and jealousy.
Veerya (Semen) the vital fluid
God is Rasa. Rasa is Veerya, the vital fluid or semen. You can attain eternal bliss and peace by preserving the
Veerya. Brahmacharya means control of the Veerya. The vital force or Veerya is preserved only by one who is
established in the practice of Brahmacharya. The vital fluid or semen is lost and wasted during sexual indulgence.
From food comes juice or chyle; from chyle comes blood and flesh; from flesh comes fat; from fat comes bones;
from bones come marrow. Lastly, from marrow comes semen. The Veerya comes out of the very marrow concealed
in the bones. It is found in a subtle state in all the cells of the body. Mark here how precious the semen is! It is the
last essence of food. It is the essence of essences.
As the vital force is the most precious substance in the physical body, it should be carefully preserved. Its wastage
means loss of physical and mental energy.
It is said that a drop of semen comes out of forty drops of blood. According to Ayurveda it comes from eighty drops
of blood.
Just a sugar pervades the entire sugarcane and butter pervades milk, so also semen pervades the whole body. Just as
buttermilk is thinned after the butter has been extracted, so also the semen is thinned by its wastage. The more the
wastage of the semen, the more the physical and mental weakness.
Ojas Shakti - Sex-sublimation
When semen is preserved, it gets reabsorbed by the body and stored in the brain as Ojas Shakti or spiritual power.
The seminal energy is changed into spiritual energy. This is called the process of sex-sublimation. The Ojas Shakti
is used for spiritual Sadhana by the Yogi.
The vital force is closely linked with the nervous system. Hence, it is vitally necessary to preserve it carefully if one
desires to have strong nerves.
In the Yoga Shastra it is stated: "The falling of semen brings death; the preservation of it gives life." The semen is
the real vitality in man. It is the hidden treasure in him. It gives a glow to the face, strength to the intellect and
well being to the entire system. Girls, too, suffer great loss through having unchaste thoughts and giving way to
lust. Vital nervous energy is lost. There is a corresponding loss of Veerya in them as well.
The Srutis state that a mans full life span is a hundred years. This can be achieved only if a person is established
in perfect Brahmacharya. It is through the attainment of good conduct only that one can live to a ripe old age and
be ever happy and peaceful. Even if all other qualities may be lacking, good conduct alone will ensure longevity.
You must have pure character, otherwise you will lose your vital energy or Veerya. An early death will be the result.
Another important point to remember is that the secret of long life lies in the choice of pure food and drink,
chastity, temperance, sobriety and a cheerful and optimistic outlook on life. So, gluttons, drunkards and those given
to idleness and laziness, cannot hope to have long life.
According to psychological and natural laws, the length of human life, or any life, should be at least five times the
period necessary to reach full growth. The horse grows for a period of about three years and lives to be about twelve
or fourteen. The camel grows for eight years and lives to be forty. Man grows for about twenty to twenty-five years.
If all accidents are counted out, his normal duration of life should be not less than one hundred years.
This tallies very well with the advice of the Hindu Holy Scriptures that Brahmacharya should be practised for the
first twenty-five years. During the period of growth there is not to be any loss of the vital fluid.
There are some rare cases where people have attained longevity and high intellectual powers despite their loose,
immoral ways. This is obviously due to their past Karma. But they would have been still more powerful and
brilliant through the practice of Brahmacharya.
The Ideal Brahmachari
The word Brahmachari is used in two senses. Firstly, there is the student Brahmachari, who marries and becomes
a householder after completing his study. He is in the first of the four stages of life described in Hindu law books.
The second type of Brahmachari is the lifelong celibate and is called an Akhanda (unbroken) Brahmachari.

Brahmacharis of this latter type are very rare. Matted hair, application of ash and wearing a loincloth cannot make
one a true Brahmachari. The Akhanda Brahmachari is one who has not allowed a single drop of semen to be
wasted for an unbroken period of twelve years. Such a person can have the vision of God without effort. He
achieves the goal of life. He glows with effulgence.
The seminal energy of an Akhanda Brahmachari has been converted into Ojas Shakti or spiritual energy through
the process called sex-sublimation. Such a person can turn out a great deal of mental work. He is very intelligent.
He has a magnetic aura on his face. His eyes shine brightly.
Peace of mind, fearlessness, a strong will, good memory and power of concentration, keen application to workthese are the fruits of Brahmacharya.
Brahmacharya in acive life
The practice of Karma Yoga or selfless service will not be possible without Brahmacharya. If the Veerya (semen) is
lost, the Prana gets unsteady. If the Prana gets agitated, one becomes nervous. Then the mind also cannot work
properly and the person becomes fickle-minded. This is mental weakness.
Brahmacharya brings material and spiritual progress. It is a powerful weapon for waging war against the demons
of lust, anger, greed and jealousy. It gives great energy, a clear brain, strong will, retentive memory and good power
of enquiry.
Lack of Brahmacharya brings about loss of memory, a weak will, nervous disorders, tension, lack of the power of
concentration, and physical diseases.
The ignorant man is an instrument in the hands of his thoughts and Karmas. Man, the master of his destiny, has
lost his divine glory and becomes a slave, a tool in the hands of sex and ego. Sex and ego are the products of
ignorance. Knowledge of God destroys these two enemies.
Some Western psychologists wrongly believe that if one does not indulge in sex, then there is a danger of
developing some kind of complex in the mind; they feel that some undesirable results, such as diseases, may
appear. This is an ill-founded doubt. These complexes are due to other causes. They are morbid states due to
excessive jealousy, hatred, anger, worry and depression.
In fact, the opposite is true. Even a little practice of self-restraint is an ideal pick-me-up. It gives inner strength
and peace of mind. It invigorates the mind and nerves. It helps one to save physical and mental energy. It helps to
increase memory, will power and brain power. It bestows immense strength, vigour and vitality. It gives new life to
the system, rebuilds the tissues and cells, energises digestion, and gives one power to face difficulties in the daily
battle of life. A perfect Brahmachari can shake the whole world, can top the waves of the ocean, like Lord Jesus.
Like Jnana Dev, he can blow up mountains and command the five elements. There is nothing in the three worlds
that cannot be achieved by such a person.
A well disciplined life, study of scriptures, Satsang, Japa, meditation, Pranayama, Sattwic and moderate diet, daily
self-analysis and introspection, practice of right conduct- all these will pave the way towards the attainment of
perfection in Brahmacharya. Most people lead a life without any kind of discipline and religious ideals, with the
result that they are always filled with fears, cares, worries and anxieties. Through diverse desires, they get
entangled and create numerous problems for themselves.
In the case of young children, pure non-stimulating food, games and daily exercises are very important for keeping
up Brahmacharya.