A Brahmchari should not massage his body with oil. Similarly he should not arm himself as this gives a wrongful impression of a violent nature to others. Manu and Yagnavalkya have under some circumstances given permission to Brahmins to arm themselves - such as in adverse times (Apatkara): ‘A Dwija should arm himself when there is downfall of Dharma.’ The use of ‘Cha’ suggests that Brahmcharis should also renounce the use of betel leaf and the like. Prachetas Muni explains, ‘Sanyassins, Brahmcharis and Vidhvas (widows) should refrain from eating betel leaf, massaging their body with oils and eating from metallic objects/plates.’
Also, Brahmcharis should never wear frightful clothing, which is unacceptable according to Shastras, time and custom. They should wear only the said attire for them such as Kaupin, Katisutra etc. Those who do not act in this way should perform Prayaschit: ‘Those who do not perform Sauch (cleansing/bathing), Achmana (sipping of water for purification), Sandhyavandana (prayer-morning/evening), Agnikarya (service to fire - offerings); those that touch a low born (Shudra), who does not wear clothing which fully covers the body, does not wear a Kaupin (loin cloth), Katisutra (string around the waist), Janoi (sacred thread), Mekhla (waist band), Danda (staff) and Mrugcharma (deer skin); who sleeps during the day or uses an umbrella for shade, wears a Paduka (open wood shoe) or flower garland; who massages the body with oils or Chandan, highlights his eye with Anjali, plays games dances, sings Gitas (other than devotional), plays musical instruments (in accompaniment to such songs); to have love for another and to associate with those that are unrighteous. All these sins should be cleansed by performing Prayaschit of a one day fast’, explains Kratu Muni.
Finally, Brahmcharis should overcome their sense of taste. Shatanand explains that they should overcome all senses, but especially the sense of taste as all other senses can be overcome singularly through victory over the sense of taste. Shrimad Bhagwat explains, ‘A person is classed Jitendriya (suppresser of senses) only when he has become victorious over the sense of taste. To overcome the sense of taste is to overcome all other senses, for that reason he should strive to overcome the sense of taste first and foremost.’
Rasa Indriya is one of the hardest sense objects to overcome. The simple message here is to feed the body what it wants and needs and not what the tongue or mind wants. It is because we listen to our mind and tongue, that we become unhealthy by filling our bodies with ‘junk food’ leading to all sorts of health problems. Thus by eating the right foods, observing stricter eating habits (eating less and less frequently) observing Vratas such as Upavaas and being active to exercise the body, can we live a much healthier life and at the same time become Jitendriya.