Brahmacharis
Brahmacharis are practitioners of Brahmacharya, a vow of celibacy and self-discipline in Hinduism. The term derives from Sanskrit brahma (Brahman, the ultimate reality) and charya (conduct or way of living). Traditionally, a Brahmachari is a male student who adopts celibacy during the Brahmacharya stage of life, living in a gurukula or sacred ashram under a guru to study the Vedas, scriptures, and philosophy, and to cultivate discipline, humility, and service.
In the classical four-ashrama framework, Brahmacharya is the first stage, followed by Grihastha (householder), Vanaprastha (retired),
In modern usage, the term Brahmachari can refer to a celibate monk in Hindu monastic settings or
See also: Brahmacharya, Gurukula, Ashrama, Sannyasa, Monasticism.