Brahma Purana (critical study)
by Surabhi H. Trivedi | 1960 | 254,628 words
This is an English study of the Brahmapurana鈥攐ne of the eighteen major Puranas. This text occupies an important place in the Pauranic literature. This study researches the rich an encyclopaedic material for social, religious, philosophical, mythological, political, geographical and literary study found in the Brahma-Purana. It also includes a lingu...
8. The Stage of a Brahmacarin
An individual enters upon the first stage of life on the performance of initiation rites called upanayana (222.22). Upanayana initiates man into the disciplined life and that is why it is an important ceremony in the life of a twice-born.103 Then he has to reside at the teacher's house to study the vedas where he has to lead a disciplined life with good behaviour. He should bow down to the teacher and to his daily round of duties. He should perform the Surya-worship and the Agnihotra on both the Sandhyas. If 102 229.10; cf. also Mat. 144.73. 103 Kapadia K.M., Marriage and Family in India, P. 27.
274 the teacher remains standing, he should also stand and if the teacher goes somewhere, he should follow him, if the teacher sits, he should occupy a lower position. He should never act contrary to the wishes of the teacher and with his permission, he should study the vedas. He should take a bath before the teacher takes it and should bring samidh and water for him and after completing the studies should give the Gurudaksina and with the permission of the teacher he should enter the Grhasthasrama (222.22-25) The stage of studentship is marked by the rapid growth of the body, emotional instability, the development of sexual functions and the stimulation of sexual activities, It is a period of storm and stress of impulsiveness of strong self-expression.1 104 Thus this brilliant scheme of Asramas provided a healthy check towards a balanced development of an adolescent.