12 years

Hello there,

Hope you are doing good. Coming to your queries,

Q1: What is the significance behind practicing Brahmacharya for a period of 12 years?
A: If one wanted to take a kettle of water and convert it to steam what would one do? Firstly the kettle would be placed atop a fire, it would be be covered tightly with a stopper, heated to 100 degrees centigrade and then the steam would start appearing, and after maintaining this temperature for a considerable duration of time, all the water in the kettle would slowly get converted into steam. Would any reduction in the temperature to say 98 degrees, reduction in the heating time or a leak in the kettle help us achieve conversion of every ounce of water into steam? NO.

Practicing Brahmacharya for a period of 12 years is very similar. The human body produces semen through a seven stage process. From food comes chyle, from chyle-blood, from blood-flesh, from flesh-fat, from fat-bone, from bone-marrow and finally from marrow comes semen. It is the seventh and final tissue element of the human body, hence called 'Saptha Dhatu'. It is the net sum of all energy, power, creativity and greatness within man capable of producing a new life. No other secretion in the human body has the power to give life. Semen is the net sum of all 'Prana' or vital energy within. The body draws entirely from man's vital life energy to produce each drop of semen and semen in turn produces another life. With every instance of loss of semen, 'Prana' or the vital energy within gets destabilized and man in turn gets poorer in his life energy proportionately. Hence for man to achieve his full potential and prowess in any sphere of life, the conservation, transmutation and sublimation of semen becomes mandatory. Just as water in the kettle took the requisite time, temperature and pressure to convert into steam it takes 12 years of absolute celibacy in thought, word and deed (without the voluntary wastage of even a single drop of semen) for the 'Prana' to reach a level where the complete intrinsic power, ability and greatness of man start to manifest.

Q2: What does one attain by this process?
A: The answer would be 'What does one not attain by the process'? A barrel of water by itself cannot do much, but if converted into high pressure steam, it can run a turbine and generate electricity. It can be used to cook food and feed a hungry mouth. Brahmacharya similarly can be used to achieve spectacular results in any field of life. All scriptures cutting across religions profess that by the honest and true, unbroken practice of Brahmacharya in thought, word and deed for a span of 12 years, the Urdhvareta acquires superhuman powers and even the vision of God. This rewards him with the fruition of all his goals and objectives at the highest level and finally self-realization, the very purpose of the human existence.

Q3: What is the connection between Siddhis and Brahmacharya?
A: Siddhis or special powers are nothing but a manifestation of the infinite power already present within the soul or 'Atman'. The reason why these do not manifest in the common man is because of the layers of 'Ignorance' or 'Avidya' which have cocooned themselves around the soul. If man could unveil this ignorance effectively, he could achieve the impossible, be it in the materialistic or spiritual spheres of life. Brahmacharya helps one to effectively unlock this veil and let the light of the 'Atman' or soul to shine through in full splendor so man could achieve all his aspirations and reach the goal of human life through self-realization.

Q4: Is damage caused by past loss of vital energy reversible?
A: It is 'Better late than never' and 'Never too late for amendments'. Practice of Brahmacharya even for a few months will make even a non-believer realize the benefic effects of celibacy. The scriptures recommend that for the full powers and siddhis of 12 year celibacy to be unleashed, the commencement of unbroken practice must commence at least before the 32 or the 34th year. This does not entirely mean that those who start later will not be benefited. Our past is gone and beyond our control. It is the present and future over which we have some say. He who starts the practice of celibacy as soon as he gets to know of its benefits, whatever be his age will surely improve and shine from then on.

God bless and have a nice day
Dhananjay :-)