Eight Characteristics of Good Householders

Characteristics of Good Householders

Describing the characteristics of good householders, Maharishi Atri says that Anasuya, Shaucha, Mangal, Anayasa, Aspruha, Dama, Daan and Daya – these are the eight characteristics of the best Brahmins and good householders. Here is a brief introduction of them:

Anasuya: One who does not deny the qualities of the virtuous, praises even those with lesser qualities and does not make fun of others on seeing their faults – this feeling is called Anasuya.

Saucha: Giving up eating non-vegetarian food, not associating with condemned people and following the code of conduct (sauchachar-good conduct) – this is called Shaucha.

Mangala: Daily practice of good conduct of good people and as per the scriptures, giving up unpraiseworthy (condemnable) conduct – this has been called ‘Mangala’ by the great sages who know the essence of religion.

Anayasa: The feeling of not doing too much of any good or bad deed which causes pain to the body or of doing that which can be done easily and naturally is called ‘Anayasa’.

Aspruha: Being satisfied with whatever you have acquired and not having desire for another’s wife is called ‘Aspruha’.

Dama: The one who neither gets angry at the other person nor tries to kill him in retaliation for the external (physical) or spiritual pain or suffering caused by him, i.e., he is neither in a state of agitation himself nor agitates the other person in any way, his feeling of being in equanimity is called ‘Dama’.

Daan: Realizing that it is one’s duty to give charity (daan) every day, giving even a little with the satisfaction of the soul, is called ‘Daan’.

Daya: Feeling the happiness and sorrow in others, one’s relatives, friends, enemies, and the one who hates, i.e., in the entire animate and inanimate world and in all creatures, in the same way as one’s own, and treating everyone with love by considering them to be equal to oneself, by understanding the feeling of self and the feeling of God in everyone, is called ‘Daya’.

Maharishi Atri says, a pure householder with these characteristics attains the best position by his good religious conduct, he is not born again and he becomes free:

yashchaitairlakshanairyukto grhasthopi bhaved dvijah.
sa gachchhati paran sthaanan jaayate neh vai punah..
(atri sanhitaah 2.42)

Source : Sant Shri Asharam Bapu Ashram