|| Shri Hari ||
Duties in a Household Life
Question ‒ Why should one get married ? Is it a necessity ?
Answer ‒ There are two types of celibates over here - ‘Naishthika’ (life long celibates) and ‘Upakurvaana’ (celibates after leading a household life). ‘Naishthika’ celibates are those who lead a pure unmarried life throughout their life; while ‘Upakurvaana’ celibates are those who after reflection are unable to renounce the desire for pleasure so they lead a married life in order to root out this desire. It means that those who can’t renounce the desire for pleasure, get married, in order to experience that the desire for pleasure can’t be rooted out through enjoyment. After the householder social order, the other two social orders namely the retired and the renunciate have been ordained in our society. It is not human to continue to enjoy pleasures by continuing to lead a household life.
He who has a desire to enjoy mundane pleasures or he who wants the family succession to continue and has no brother, should get married in order to wipe out the desire for pleasure or to continue the family succession. If he has none of the above mentioned two desires, he need not get married. In the scriptures, the path of renunciation has been declared to be the supreme.
Question - How to follow the path of renunciation when it is forbidden in the Kali age. (Kaliyug) ?
Answer - It is forbidden in the Kali age because in this age it is very difficult to follow this renunciate path properly. Therefore just like retired government servants, he should retire from the domestic duties and having handed over the family duties and responsibilities to his sons and grand sons, should devote himself to devotion to God. If his sons want, he should have affinity for his family in order to receive food and clothes for the mere maintenance. If the sons don’t want it, he should renounce the affinity even for the mere maintenance. He should not worry for the maintenance of his body because Saint Tulasidasa declares - Fate is decided first and then the body is bestowed. So why should a person worry ? He should recite Lord Rama’s name with devotion.
(to be continued....... )
‒From the book ‘Jeevan ka Kartavya' by Swami Ramsukhdasji