Bhagavad Gita on Marriage


Marriage was a very sacrosanct institution and Bhagavad Gita of Hinduism fully supports it. However for traveling spiritual path it was practice of Brahmacharya Vrata (bachelorhood) that was advocated by Bhagavad Gita. While remaining in Grihastha ashram (family life) it was extremely difficult to follow spiritual principles of life. Even Swami Vivekananda, an ardent follower of spirituality remained a bachelor throughout his life.

 

Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa practiced spirituality while in Grihastha ashram. He treated his consort Ma Sharda as goddess. For a spiritual traveler… earthly relationships carried no meaning. For a true traveler of spirituality… the whole world was one big family. Unable to distinguish one from another… a serious seeker of spirituality always treated different human beings equally. None was bigger than the other… was the surmise!

 

A traveler of spirituality can always marry but there was a limit to sexual indulgences. As per Bhagavad Gita maximum of two indulgences per month were permitted (one was desirable). As per Bhagavad Gita sexuality was purely meant for progeny… never personal entertainment. Married people often found it difficult to pursue spiritual path. If our goal of life was reaching God in present life… it is desirable not to marry.

 

Traveling path of spirituality demanded highest level of patience, persistence and perseverance that could ever be practiced by human beings. Most human beings world over failed on these parameters of life. Easily said than done… as a married person it was extremely difficult to pursue path of pure spirituality. I say this from my personal experience. Until I realized God, I was totally aloof from married life… never attaching self to karma performed.

 

However, as my family grew… I found notes of discord in my children. They did not approve of my spiritual travel. For them I was a failure in physical manifest life. Even though I did my best… I failed to satisfy my children through discussions. I know it was all my fault but I had to reach God in present life. If my family suffered on this account, I had no other alternative! I always prayed to God Almighty to take care of my family in times of need.

 

Traveling path of spirituality is traveling path of inner self… our soul atman, the spirit within! For a spiritual traveler bondages of earthy manifest life truly carried no meaning. One was all the time immersed in thoughts of God Almighty… contemplating God Almighty. Having married… one just could not leave circumstances to chance as did Siddhartha Gautama. Just by touching feet of wife and child… one does not absolve self of karma forever.

 

Karma is not dissolved in entirety that way. For this act, Siddhartha Gautama suffered all his life… so much so that he gained enlightenment at the ripe age of 81 when his body was frail and decaying. After gaining enlightenment Siddhartha Gautama did not live much longer. He left his mortal frame soon after.

 

To cut across shackles of karma was not easy and more so when married. Karma can only be extinguished by establishing absolute control over five senses and mind. Sitting under a bodhi tree for 12 years in continuation… Siddhartha Gautama finally gained enlightenment. Journey of enlightenment for Siddhartha Gautama was one of confusion and heartbreak. No matter how best he tried… he could not unveil precepts of spirituality in the early stages of life.