Sources: Manu Samhita, Srimad Bhagavatam, Bhagavad-gita
In Krishna consciousness, sexual life is allowed only in family and only for child procreation. In Manu samhita and other Vedic scriptures, permissible sexual relations for conceiving children are explained in this way: sexual relations without the use of contraceptive means, pregnancy-terminating means, without aborting, and once a month at a time favorable for the child's conception.
A favorable time for children to be conceived is days 5-16 of the woman's cycle. Vedic brahmanas have followed and continue to follow these rules.
GBC Definition (2001)
"Sexual life according to the religious principles of Gaudiya Vaishnavas is intended for procreating children and for no other purposes. The responsibility of parents is to raise their offspring in the spirit of Krishna consciousness. As stated in SB 5.14.9: "Sexual relations are allowed for child procreation, not for satisfaction. One can engage in sexual relations to conceive good children for the benefit of the family, society and the world.""
Srimad Bhagavatam 11.20.27-28
"My devotee who has awakened faith in talks about Me and who has become disgusted with all material activities, knowing that any sense gratification leads to suffering, but nevertheless unable to renounce all sense gratification, should happily continue to worship Me with firm faith and conviction."
Consequences of Loose Life
Social Problems
- • Unwanted offspring, unloved children
- • Divorce and the breaking up of families
- • Juvenile delinquency
- • Aging society
- • Depression and suicide
Health Problems
- • Venereal diseases (herpes, AIDS)
- • Harm of contraceptive means
- • Complications from abortions
- • Psychological traumas
- • Infertility
Abortion
The Vedas state that human life begins when the spiritual soul enters the body during fertilization. This means that a newly emerging weak life must be protected and nurtured in every way.
📜 Vedic Scriptures on Abortion
Kaushitaki Upanishada 3.1
Compares abortion to the killing of one's parents.
Atharva Veda 6.113.2
Mentions brunaghni (the killer of the embryo) in the list of the biggest criminals.
Gautama Dharma Shastra 3.3.9
Accomplices and participants in an abortion must be deprived of their caste.
According to the World Health Organization, every day in the world 150,000 women have abortions. About 150 thousand women die every year from abortions.
Value of Celibacy
The Vedas do not glorify celibacy for everyone – for most people, family life is recommended. However, celibacy with the goal of spiritual enlightenment (brahmacharya) yields very positive results.
🧠 Physiological Benefits
- • Seed is rich in lecithin, cholesterol and phosphorus – substances essential for nervous tissues
- • Abstinence is favorable for the brain
- • Perfect memory and thinking
✨ Famous Celibates
Pythagoras, Plato, Aristotle, Leonardo da Vinci, Spinoza, Newton, Kant, Beethoven, Herbert Spencer and others.
The US Federal Institute of Aging states that a person can live up to 170 years if they abstain from sexual relations.
Purpose of Sex
dharmāviruddho bhūteṣu kāmo 'smi bharatarṣabha
"I am the sex life which is not contrary to religious principles (dharma)."
— Bhagavad-gita 7.11
Lust – the enemy of the soul
puṁsaḥ striyā mithunī-bhāvam etaṁ
tayor mitho hṛdaya-granthim āhuḥ
ato gṛha-kṣetra-sutāpta-vittair
janasya moho 'yam ahaṁ mameti
"Attraction between man and woman is the basic principle of material existence. On the basis of this false conception one becomes attracted to his body, home, property, children, relatives and wealth."
— Srimad Bhagavatam 5.5.8
kāma eṣa krodha eṣa
rajo-guṇa-samudbhavaḥ
mahāśano mahā-pāpmā
viddhy enam iha vairiṇam
"It is lust, Arjuna, which is born of contact with the material mode of passion and later transformed into wrath, and which is the all-devouring sinful enemy of this world."
— Bhagavad-gita 3.37
Four Sins
striya-sūnā-pāna-dyūta yatra pāpaś catur-vidhā
💔
Striya
Illicit relations
🔪
Sūnā
Animal killing
🍷
Pāna
Intoxicants
🎲
Dyūta
Gambling
How to become a Grihastha?
The Vedas state that one must limit sexual desire. Marriage is the first such limitation – a man and a woman promise to have only one partner. Vedic weddings are performed as a sacrifice to the gods and to Vishnu, Krishna Himself.
Srimad Bhagavatam Principle
Only he should become a father or mother who can deliver his children from the cycle of birth and death. To start such children, the parents themselves must be of pure consciousness.
Sushruta Samhita (Medical Treatise)
"If the embryo is alive, no one has the right to remove it from the living mother's womb."
"No one shall harm the mother and her future offspring. In desperate situations, it is best to induce miscarriage if it will protect against the loss of the mother."
💎 The Example of Bhaktivinoda Thakura
Bhaktivinoda Thakura was not afraid to have children because they were all Vaishnavas. If we renounce sexual freedom, the innovations of such civilization, like venereal diseases, will never reach us. Then even sex to conceive children in Krishna Consciousness will become our service to Krishna.
Scientific Research on Celibacy
Dr. R. W. Bernard: "Seed contains within itself substances of high physiological value, which are particularly related to the nourishment of the brain and nervous system."
Physiologists (Prof. Brown-Sequard, Prof. Steinach and others) confirm that the preservation of seed provides vitality, while its loss deprives one of valuable substances such as lecithin, causing neurasthenia and exhaustion.
History: Bhishma (Devadatta)
The Mahabharata tells the story of the great hero Devadatta, who swore in the presence of the gods that he would never touch a woman in his life. The gods praised him for his determination and named him Bhishma. He became one of the main heroes, distinguished by extraordinary power.
Self-Check Questions
- Explain the difference between permissible and impermissible sex?
- Explain the social consequences of a loose sexual life.
- How does a loose sexual life affect health?
- What are the spiritual consequences of a loose sexual life?
- What would you advise a devotee if they cannot follow the 4 regulative principles?