What stage of life is represented by Brahmacharya in Hinduism?

Brahmacharya represents the stage of life associated with the student phase in Hinduism. This stage emphasizes education, learning, and the acquisition of knowledge, particularly in spiritual matters. During Brahmacharya, individuals are expected to focus on their studies, often residing in a guru's ashram and living a life of discipline and celibacy. This period is seen as foundational, where students cultivate values, self-discipline, and intellectual skills before moving on to the responsibilities of adulthood and family life.

In contrast, the other stages, such as the Householder stage, involve fulfilling familial and societal duties, focusing on career and family. The Retirement stage refers to a period of withdrawal from worldly life to reflect and prepare for the end of life, while the Renunciation stage embodies a complete withdrawal from material life to pursue spiritual enlightenment. These stages come after Brahmacharya and highlight the continuum of life's progression in Hindu teachings.