The Brahmacharya reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Apr-2004 (provided by Fixed Reference: snapshots of Wikipedia from wikipedia.org)

Brahmacharya

Brahmacharya is a Sanskrit word. The root "Brahma" signifies The Ultimate Reality or The Unified whole. The root "Char" means To follow or practice. The word Brahmacharya symbolises a person who is leading a life in quest of Brahma, or in other words a student. It is part of the Hindu scheme of life.

Pronunciation

• 'Brah' as the 'Bru' in 'brush'
• 'ma' as in 'animal'
• 'char' as the 'ture' in 'accenture'
• 'ya' as 'ia' in 'vial'

Usage

This word is generally used to denote a particular phase of life. This is the stage when the young child leads a student life, (ideally in the Gurukula - the household of the Guru). This stage of life is preceded by the Upanayanam of the child, during which ceremony, he is considered to be born again. It is the first in the four phases of a man, namely, Brahmacharya, Grihastha, Vanaprastha , and finally Sanyasa, as prescribed by Manusmriti for the Dhwija castes, in the Hindu system of life.

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