Brahmacharya is a Sanskrit word for chastity or celibacy and sense-control. According to Vedantic scriptures, Brahmacharya is the primary stage among the four phases of a man, prescribed in
Manu Smriti. This phase is introduced before the stage of
Upanayanam.
Grihastha,
Vanaprastha and
Sanyasa are the other three phases.
A person who follows Brahmacharya as a way of life is called a Brahmachari. Vedantic Scriptures describe Brahmacharya as the life of an unmarried student.
In Sanskrit 'Brahma' stands for 'the Ultimate Reality or the Unified whole,' and 'char' means 'to follow or practice.'
