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Most Rishis were married . Only Rishi that I know who was unmarried was Maharishi Kapila ( founder of Sankhya Yog)

Suka ( Veda Vyas's son) initially decided to remain unmarried but he too eventually got married upon being advised by Ved Vyas and Janak.( Suka is known to have acheived Moksha)

There is story is Mbh where one Jaratkaru had become ascetic before being married . Once he saw his ancestors falling from heaven to hell because Jaratkaru was their only descendant on the earth and he had decided not to get married . So, upon being advised by his ancestors he got married.

Is marrying extremely essential for a man to get Moksha or even heaven ?

river
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Depends, some verses say that there's no heaven for sonless (unmarried) couples on the account of non-fulfillment of the Pitṛ Ṛṇa. There are remedies though, for that situation.

Again, like most things within Hinduism, there are varying beliefs.

First, I'll comment about Heaven.

I'm quoting some verses from smritis which say that even 'life-long' bachelors got/get heaven.

Vishnu Smriti 25.17

मृते भर्तरि साध्वी स्त्री ब्रह्मचर्ये व्यवस्थिता । स्वर्गं गच्छत्यपुत्रापि यथा ते ब्रह्मचारिणः ।। २५.१७ ।।

17. A good wife, who perseveres in a chaste life after the death of her lord, will go to heaven like (perpetual) students, even though she has no son.

Parāśara Smṛti 4.31

मृते भर्तरि या नारी ब्रह्मचर्यव्रते स्थिता । सा मृता लभते स्वर्गं यथा ते ब्रह्मचारिणः ।। ४.३१ ।।

  1. If on the death of her husband, a woman remains firm in her chastity, she obtains heaven, on death, in the manner of the 'Religious Students' (life-long observers of celibacy/sexual abstinence).

Āpastamba Praśna II, Paṭala 9, Khaṇḍa 23

अष्टाशीतिसहस्राणि ये प्रजामीषिर ऋषयः । दक्षिणेनार्यम्णः पन्थानं ते श्मशानानि भेजिरे ॥ ३ ॥
अष्टाशीतिसहस्राणि ये प्रजां नेषिर ऋषयः । उत्तरेणाऽयम्णः पन्थानं तेऽमृतत्वं हि कल्पते ॥ ४॥
इत्यूर्ध्वरेतसां प्रशंसा ॥५॥

‘Those eighty thousand sages who desired offspring passed to the South by Aryaman’s road and obtained cremation. Those eighty thousand sages who desired no offspring passed to the North by Aryaman’s road and obtained immortality. Thus are praised those who keep the vow of chastity.ξ


ξ: However, in footnote 4 in Praśna II, Paṭala 9, Khaṇḍa 24, translator Georg Bühler remarks:

^4: Āpastamba's own opinion is apparently against pure asceticism.


And finally:

Manu Smṛti 5.157

अनेकानि सहस्राणि कुमारब्रह्मचारिणाम् । दिवं गतानि विप्राणामकृत्वा कुलसन्ततिम् ॥ १५७ ॥

If on the death of her husband, a woman remains firm in her chastity, she obtains heaven, on death, in the manner of the 'Religious Students' (life-long observers of celibacy/sexual abstinence).

Acharya Medhātithi in his commentary also concur:

Many thousands of unmarried students’—life-long celebates—‘have gone to heaven’—do go to heaven.


To conclude:

There are verses that say, that even without marriage, the door to Heavens (swarga-loka) isn't closed. So unmarried men can also attain Moksha.

As regards Moksha: Moksha is not denied to even animals and demons, as I discuss in this answer - Can a woman get moksha? , then what to say of a life-long follower of celibate brahmacharyam?

Even a evil demon - Kālanemi, who was fighting with god Vishnu was granted Kaivalya Moksha as a boon, by Vishnu himself, then what to say of followers of Righteous path of Abstinence? One can read the Kālanemi being granted the Kaivalya Moksha by Vishnu in Chapter 14 (Verse 10-11), Section 1 - Kedāra-khaṇḍa, of the Skanda Purāṇa

Although 'the Householder's path' (gṛhasthāśrama), after studies are completed, is recommended for most people, since it's the foundation (ādhārabhūta āśrama) of our human society.

As Āpastamba himself notes in Praśna II, Paṭala 9, Khaṇḍa 21

चत्वार आश्रमा गार्हस्थ्य, माचार्यकुलं, मौनं, वानप्रस्थ्यमिति ॥१॥
तेषु सर्वेषु यथोपदेशमव्यग्रो वर्तमानः क्षेमं गच्छति ॥२॥

  1. If he lives in all these four (viz. the order of householders, the order of students, the order of ascetics, and the order of hermits in the woods), according to the rules (of the law), without allowing himself to be disturbed (by anything), he will obtain salvation.

Related /Duplicate /For further reading : Will Brahmacharis (life long bachelors) get moksha?

Vivikta
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  • FYI, Going to heaven is not moksha. – TheLittleNaruto Jan 30 '22 at 15:16
  • Yes, @TheLittleNaruto, indeed. And that's why in the starting itself I mentioned - I'm quoting some verses from smritis which say that even 'life-long' bachelors got/get heaven." – Vivikta Feb 01 '22 at 05:07
  • Was demon Kalanemi killed by Vishnu ? Because those who get killed by God , get Moksha. –  Feb 01 '22 at 06:40
  • @compaq. As per the boon, he gets it in next birth(s). There's an apparent Contradiction though, as I ask that in my this question – Vivikta Feb 01 '22 at 06:56
  • I have started to read Mbh and there it is written at multiple places that having son is considered as greatest virtue. Are there any examples of rishis who remained unmarried ? I am not sure if Maharishi Kapil was unmarried or not. Was Rishi Kapil unmarried ? Could you verify it ? Also if possible could you please find other rishis or knowledgable men who remained unmarried in Puranas and Ithihas ? – river Feb 01 '22 at 11:03
  • Since you're reading Mahabharata, @river .... I think Bhishma should work for you? A great person, with great knowledge and conduct throughout his life as a human. – Vivikta Feb 01 '22 at 11:30
  • I know about Bhisma ,everyone knows about him, but he took a vow , and he considered his brother's son as his own son , so he got rid of Pitru-rin. – river Feb 01 '22 at 11:36
  • Yes @river , still he was a Brahmachari. The keyword is considered, I think. As one thinketh, so one be cometh. King Sudyumna from Srimada Bhagvatam is a great example. The point I'm trying to make is - if someone really wants Moksha, then nothing will stop them. Although, as I take it - Moksha is rare. It's not like any 'tom, duck, n harry' can get it. – Vivikta Feb 01 '22 at 12:03
  • Yeah I Know Moksha is rare , that is why I also added heaven . One should strive for Moksha , at least he can get is heaven , then he may be born again as human to gain moksha. – river Feb 01 '22 at 12:45
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    Yes @river and about heaven, I think I have added sufficient verses that say unmarried also can reach heaven. Same for Moksha. – Vivikta Feb 01 '22 at 13:22