|| Shri Hari: || S.G. Shri Satanand Muni Virchit Volume-1 Chapter-55 | Suvrat Muni continued, "O King Pratapsinh! Ramanand swami read both letters that Mayaram gave him. He was very pleased at the arrival of Nilkanth Varni at Loj. His eyes became teary after reading that Varni's physical condition was due to harsh austerities. He read aloud both letters in the presence of disciples like Sunderji Suthar to familiarise with the content and praised Varni profusely. He replied to the letter himself. Ramanand swami wrote, 'The mortal humans suffer from various mental ailments due to their deeds in their past lives. O Muktanand swami! You reduce their burden of pain by sermonising and showing them the correct religious path. I bless you and all others at Loj and pray to Almighty Lord that your Brahamcharya Vrat, which, Sage Sanatsujat (in the Mahabharat) has equated to Brahm itself, remain intact. I have received both letters that you sent with Mayaram Bhatt and I am aware of the content. Do not consider Nilkanth Varni as an ordinary mortal man, as the austerities He has undertaken is not possible by any man. He could be a Mukta (liberated soul) from Shwetdweep or Badrikaashram. Do not go by His young age. Treat Him as your guru and learn the intricacies of Yoga like Neti, Dhauti, Kunjar, Basti etc. from Him which are pivotal for cleansing the body. Serve Him reverentially and learn Ashtang (eight pronged) Yoga in stages starting with (five) Yam, (five) Niyam, various Asanas, Pranayam, withdrawal of senses from mundane, mental serenity, meditation and ending with Samadhi. It is very important to master the Ashtang Yoga as Brahamcharya Vrat cannot remain intact without it. As Brahamcharya is the ultimate Vrat, one must preserve it at all cost by forsaking lust and avoiding women. Indeed, the scriptures define Lord Krishna's true devotees those who have overcome their senses by observing Brahamcharya Vrat. One must not look at, talk to or hear about a woman; not to speak about or hear the woman's characteristics or qualities. A Brahamchari must not go to places frequented by women and must not wear any clothes previously worn by a woman. He must not look at a picture or a statuette of a woman and neither should he make or draw pictures of a woman other than a goddess. He must not walk along with a woman on a road. He should maintain the distance of four yards if that is unavoidable. He must not stay or sleep in a house in which a woman is present. He should not even sermonise women directly. If needed, he could do that indirectly through another man. A Brahamchari must not go to the same place for a bath which is used by women. He must not think at all about a woman. A celibate must never touch a woman except in dire emergency. A strict celibate Yogi becomes reverential even to Devtas like Brahma. One must protect one's Brahamcharya at any cost. One must not give into the mental whims and desires and associate with a woman. Otherwise, he shackles himself to the cycle of death and rebirth.' 'A Yogi must forsake anger, ego, pride, envy, greed, jealousy, gluttony etc. as they are the obstacles in his Vrat. He must maintain a proper control over food and sleep and must give up the vices like gambling, consumption of meat and alcohol, stealing and enmity towards anybody. The Book Satsangi Jeevan Used To Make This Series Of Podcast Is Published By Shree Swaminarayan Temple Kalupur, Amdavad. Orator Of This Podcast : Viraj Rathod #SatsangiJivan #Swaminarayan Listen us On :- Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/show/5cREFw8... Amazon Music : https://music.amazon.in/podcasts/7850...