Is Marriage incompatible with Spirituality? Why marriage is necessary, in general, for life? What is its relevance in one's spiritual journey?
Many ancient spiritual traditions require their practitioners either to be celibates or join the ranks after their active married life. Hinduism perhaps is the only religion which had accepted marriage as one of the four stages of spiritual journey that a typical human life undergoes. Nevertheless, many religious texts still glorify the virtues of celibacy while pointing out negatives in married life, with few exceptions... One such exception is from Nature-loving poet-saint Sri Valluvar.
He declares in two couplets, "Married house-holder life is so essential for sustaining those in other three stages, namely bachelor-stage (brahmacharya), retired-stage (vaanaprasta), anchorite-stage (sanyaasa), and also poor and needy."
Tell us your opinions.
Original (in Tamil):
41. இல்வாழ்வான் என்பான் இயல்புடைய மூவர்க்கும்
நல்லாற்றின் நின்ற துணை.
The ideal householder is he 41
Who aids the natural orders there.
42. துறந்தார்க்கும் துவ்வா தவர்க்கும் இறந்தார்க்கும்
இல்வாழ்வான் என்பான் துணை.
His help the monk and retired share, 42
And celibate students are his care.
- Kural by Sri Valluvar
- PHD
Many ancient spiritual traditions require their practitioners either to be celibates or join the ranks after their active married life. Hinduism perhaps is the only religion which had accepted marriage as one of the four stages of spiritual journey that a typical human life undergoes. Nevertheless, many religious texts still glorify the virtues of celibacy while pointing out negatives in married life, with few exceptions... One such exception is from Nature-loving poet-saint Sri Valluvar.
He declares in two couplets, "Married house-holder life is so essential for sustaining those in other three stages, namely bachelor-stage (brahmacharya), retired-stage (vaanaprasta), anchorite-stage (sanyaasa), and also poor and needy."
Tell us your opinions.
Original (in Tamil):
41. இல்வாழ்வான் என்பான் இயல்புடைய மூவர்க்கும்
நல்லாற்றின் நின்ற துணை.
The ideal householder is he 41
Who aids the natural orders there.
42. துறந்தார்க்கும் துவ்வா தவர்க்கும் இறந்தார்க்கும்
இல்வாழ்வான் என்பான் துணை.
His help the monk and retired share, 42
And celibate students are his care.
- Kural by Sri Valluvar
- PHD
#ARIAN Q&A 14
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