Brahmcharya Ashram is the first ashram out of the 4 ashrams (ie stages of life). In this Ashram, the student had to live with his guru in a gurukul. He had to live a simple life in a gurukul. In gurukul students generally came from all classes of society for education. May be one student from a poor Brahmin family or another student may be any prince of any kingdom. All were treated equally by their Gurus. Generally in ancient days, guru selects their disciples by examining him. There were some criteria like the desire to acquire knowledge, truthfulness, etc. Before entering into the Gurukul Guru had to perform Upanayana sanskar of that disciple. After the Upanayana Sanskar student had to live with his Guru in the gurukul. He had to serve his Guru, had to help Guru Mata in her household. Every student had to follow rules of Gurukul, had to do hard work, he should be self-dependent, etc.
Shishya should be devoted to Guru and education. He had to follow the path of truthfulness(Satya). There are many well-known Guru and their Shishya.
We will see two Guru Shishya stories
SATYAKAM JABALI AND GAUTAM RISHI.
The first story is of Satyakam Jabali and Gautam Rishi.
Satyakam was the son of a woman named Jabal. Jabal was a Nagar vadhu(devdasi). Satyakam had a strong wish to study and so he left home in search of a guru. He went to the ashram of sage Gautam and requested him to make him his pupil. Before Upnayan Sanskar Rishi Gautam had to know his Gotra and father’s name. Gautam questioned him, "Before I make you my pupil, I need to know about your family." This puzzled Satyakam, as he had no idea about his family except his mother. But to join the ashram he would not lie. He told the sage that he would ask his mother. So he went to Jabal.
His mother told him, " Go to the sage and tell him 'I am the son of Jabal and my name is Satyakam Jabali'. As I had served many people it’s difficult for me to tell your Father’s name”.Satyakam went to Gautam and told him what he knew. The sage was pleased with his truthfulness and accepted him as his pupil.
One day Gautam told him that before he could teach him, Satyakam should take the herd of 400 weak cows of the ashram and return only when it had multiplied to 1000. After that Gautam would impart knowledge to him. Without uttering a single word Satyakam left with the cows. He took them to the forest and looked after them with loving care.
After many years the herd grew to 1000. Every cow was strong and healthy. It was time for Satyakam to return to Gautam's ashram. All the gods and deities were happy with Satyakam's obedience and dedication to his guru. Along the way, he was blessed with knowledge by fire, a bull, a swan, and a waterfowl. Now enlightened, Satyakam reached the ashram. Gautam saw the glow of enlightenment on his face. He was also very happy that Satyakam had looked after the cows very well. He then accepted Satyakam as his pupil and blessed him with Brahmavidya.
Satyakam is an ideal of truth, obedience, and true service to the guru.
KARNA AND PARSHURAM
Our second story is of Karna and Parshuram where Karna lied his guru about his lineage.
Karna was keen to acquire Brahmastra Mantra from the great sage Parshuram. However, he knew that Parshuram gave instructions to Brahmins (the priestly tribe) only. So he disguised as a Brahmin and beseeched Parshuram to accept him as a shishya (disciple). Parshuram accepted him as such and started giving him instructions. One day when Parshuram was resting in Karna's lap, it so happened that a bee stung Karna on the lower portion of his thigh. It was very painful and he started bleeding. However, fearing that if he moved his legs, he would awaken Parshuram, he did not move at all and continued to suffer. When Parshuram woke up, he saw Karna bleeding. He asked, Son, tell me truly who you are? A Brahmin cannot suffer so much physical pain. Only a Kshatriya (the warrior tribe) can endure so much discomfort. Karna was obliged to disclose his identity. Parshuram was greatly annoyed because he was a sworn enemy of Kshatriyas. He, therefore, cursed Karna that as he had learned through deceit, he shall forget the vidya (skill) which Parshuram had taught him at the crucial juncture
Parashurama's curse was to prove Karnas undoing. At the Kurukshetra battle, when face to face with Arjuna, Karna forgot the Brahmastra mantra taught to him by Parshuram. The wheels of his chariot sank in soft earth and he was immobilized. At that time, Arjuna defeated him.
So In brahmacharya Ashram, the disciple had to follow the path of truthfulness(Satya), Dharma(duties), and humbleness. Satyakam followed the path of truthfulness and learned Brahma vidya from his Guru. Whereas Karna lied to his guru and forgot his skills when most needed.
Shilpa Pandit-Nasik, India
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