Eligibility & Timing to become a Sanyasi? Can a Sanyasi Marry?
Last week, a Woman devotee (Name hidden) had asked
““Hare Krishna prabhuji! Please watch whenever you find time!! My question is they are acquising ISKON! Before taking Sanyas I hope the boys would have took permission/acceptance from their parents! Is it good if one took sanyas, and coming back to gragasthashram??! What is your reply/opinion about this!!?? Please reply it will be a good guidance for brahmacharis who are thinking of getting sanyas life in future!!? Thanks Hare Krishna”
REPLY:
Let us understand sanyasa from the scriptures:
(1) Sanysa means “Purification of Everything”.
Everything means Body, mind and soul.
(SANYASA – MEANING, TYPES & TIPS TO FOLLOW IN KALIYUGA! READ HERE!)
So, a sanyasi should follow purity of body, Purity of Mind and Purity of soul
Simple. Isn’t it?
(2) Bhagavad Gita emphasizes just deserting the attachments with the family and material pleasures that is equal to sanyasa. Bhagavad Gita does not describe about the sanyasa in which the person dwells in forests. Krishna never preached deserting the duties. Krishna clearly supported karma yoga than karma sanyasa in Bhagavad Gita.
In fact, for the followers of bhagavad gita, only karma yoga is sanyasa. Further, if we take up bhakti yoga, we will worship Krishna Himself and will go back to Himself.
In India, every spiritual concept is explained in different ways by different sampradhayas and sects.
If you take TILAKS, there are different types.
If you take even shaving the hairs, there are different explanations.
If you take ekadasi, there are different dates of observation.
(AFTER COMING TO DEVOTION, I HATE MARRIAGE AND LIKE TO SETTLE IN THE TEMPLE. CAN I DO SO? READ HERE!)
If you take even the Krishna’s appearance day, people celebrate on different dates.
Similarly, sanyasa too is described differently by the different scriptures.
For the sake of gaining knowledge, let us read other descriptions of sanyasa in scriptures:
In fact, this is the merciful simplification of sanyasa by Krishna that is suitable for kaliyuga. He glorified the karma yoga itself similar to karma sanyasa. However, He did not make sanyasa inferior. He just said that karma yoga is better and easier than sanyasa.
(After coming to devotion, I hate and avoid non-devotee family and others that makes them angry. Why Krishna allows this? READ HERE!)
But, many scriptures have described sanyasa in the meaning of living in the forests or huts in a lonely place.
Let us read some supporting definitions for sanyasa. However, let us follow what Krishna said in Bhagavad Gita.
But, Sanyasa is described differently in different sampradhayas and scriptures.
(3) It is strange to know that SANYASA was not mentioned in the EARLY Vedc texts. They mention MUNI or MONK who has similar description like a sanyasi. They encouraged an extended family life with duties. Only in the later days of vedic texts, the concept of Sanyasa emerged.
That is why Krishna Himself spoke a practically feasible version of sanyasa, called Karma yoga.
(4) How MUNIS or MONKS were described by the vedas?
This definition will match Sanyasis also.
(Can one really follow Krishna Consciousness in family life? READ HERE!)
Rig Veda (Book 10 Chapter 136):
“Munis are those with Kesin (long hairs) and Mala clothes (Soil, yellow, orange or saffron coloured) engaged in the affairs of Mananat (mind, meditation).”
Rig Veda (HYMN 10 CXXXVI 1-2):
He with the long loose locks (of hair) supports Agni, and moisture, heaven, and earth; He is all sky to look upon: he with long hair is called this light. The Munis, girdled with the wind, wear garments of soil hue; They, following the wind’s swift course, go where the Gods have gone before.
(5) What should the sanyasis possess?
Sanyasa Upanishad 1.4:
A Pot, drinking cup and flask – the three supports, a pair of shoes, a patched robe giving protection – in heat and cold, a loin cloth, bathing drawers and straining cloth, triple staff and coverlet.
(How can a wife remain detached in a family life? READ HERE!?)
(6) A sanyasi can choose two types of life style:
(i) Leading a secluded life alone;
(ii) Leading a group life with the fellow sanyasis with or without the support of a mutt or spiritual forum of devotees.
(7) HOW SHOULD A SANYASI LIVE AND WHAT SHOULD BE HIS VOWS?
Baudhayana Dharmasūtra (II.10.18.1-10):
“Abstention from injuring living beings, truthfulness, abstention from appropriating the property of others, abstention from sex, liberality (kindness, gentleness) are the major vows. There are five minor vows: abstention from anger, obedience towards the guru, avoidance of rashness, cleanliness, and purity in eating. He should beg (for food) without annoying others, any food he gets he must compassionately share a portion with other living beings, sprinkling the remainder with water he should eat it as if it were a medicine.”
(Are women Priests, Sanyasis and Gurus allowed in Sanathana Dharma? READ HERE!)
(8) TYPES OF SANYASIS
Ashrama Upanishad says
(i) Kutichaka – seeking atmospheric world;
(ii) Bahudaka – seeking heavenly world;
(iii)Hamsa – seeking penance world;
(iv) Paramahamsa – seeking truth world; and
(v) Turiyatitas and Avadhutas seeking liberation in this life.
As Per Sannyasa Upanishad:
People enter the state of Sannyasa for different reasons – for detachment and getting away from their routine meaningless world, to seek knowledge and meaning in life, to honor rites of Sannyasa they have undertaken, and because he already has liberating knowledge
Later classifications:
Achelakas (without clothes), Ajivika, Aviruddhaka, Devadhammika, Eka-satakas, Gotamaka, Jatilaka, Magandika, Mundasavaka, Nigrantha (Jains), Paribbajaka, Tedandikas, Titthiya and others.
(WHY FOLLOWING DEVOTION NEGLECTING PARENTS IS WRONG? – CASE STUDIES! READ HERE!)
(9) WHO AND WHEN SHOULD ONE TAKE SANYASA?
Baudhayana Dharmasūtra:
(i) Anyone who has finished Brahmacharya (student) life stage
(ii) Any childless couple;
(iii) A widower
(iv) Sannyasa is suited after the completion of age 70 and after one’s children have been firmly settled.Some Other texts suggest the age of 75
(v) Dharmaśāstra texts document people of all castes as well as women, entered Sannyasa in practice.
(vi) The views of Vasiṣṭha and Apastamba Dharmasutras, and the later Manusmṛti:
“The asramas as sequential stages which would allow one to pass from the Brahmacharya (Vedic studentship) to Grahastha (householder) to Vanaprastha (forest-dwelling) hermit to Sanyasa (renouncer)”.
(vii) IS VANAPRASTHA COMPULSORY?
Yajnavalkya Smṛti (Verse 3.56):
“One may skip Vanaprastha (forest dwelling, retired) stage and go straight from the Grihastha (householder) stage to Sannyasa.
(Why people become sanyasis though Krishna has advised to perform our assigned duties? READ HERE!)
CAN A SANYASI MARRY?
This is a One line answer.
Married life involves performing the duties for spouse and children and satisfying them.
Therefore, a sanyasi should not marry.
If he marries, from that moment, he loses his sanyasa status.
He becomes a householder (Grahastha)
Going up from grahastha to sanyasa is called ELEVATION.
Whereas Coming down from msanyasa to Grahastha life is called FALL DOWN.
(How to follow Sanyasa in Grahastha Ashram? READ HERE!)
However, if a sanyasi fails to follow the strict sanyasa rules, instead of cheating himself and the people, he can marry and live with a legal spouse.
So, falldown from sanyasa to a grahastha state is better than Polygamy and Illicit affairs.
This gives us another message. One should not rush for taking sanyasa. Only if he is truly able to control his senses, he can take sanyasa (renouncement).
Finally, if he had finished all the duties for his wife and children and if his wife is safe in the hands of son, then, one need not get any permission from anyone. He can decide and inform. But, if he has not done anything to his family, he should get permission from the dependents.
Hope you are clear about sanyasa.
(Is sanyasa for woman allowed if she is unmarried at 50 without caretakers? READ HERE!)