Q:

Avoiding Lust in Hinduism?

Many religions have stated clearly that indulgence in sin, specifically sin related to lust in some way is detrimental to spiritual growth. Is there anything in Hinduism that provides a way to prevent oneself from being lustful? Is there a way to seek forgiveness for lustful actions?

A:

What is the need of austerities if you have Love for God? What are the use of austerities if you have no Love for God?
As Sri Ramakrishna ponted out;

The farther you walk West, the farther away are you from the East. Walk towards God and the farther away you will be from lust. The more you worry about lust, the more it will consume you. Walk towards God and lust will leave by itself. If you must lust, lust for God.

Krishna says in the Gita (XVIII. 65-66):

Fix your heart on Me, give your love to Me, worship Me, bow down before Me; so shall you come to Me. This is My pledge to you, for you are dear to Me.
Abandon all dharmas and come to Me alone for shelter. I will deliver you from all sins; do not grieve.

And in Gita (IX. 30-32)

Even the most sinful man, if he worships Me with unswerving devotion, must be regarded as righteous; for he has formed the right resolution.
He soon becomes righteous and attains eternal peace. Proclaim it boldly, O son of Kunti, that My devotee never perishes.
For those who take refuge in Me, O Partha, though they be of sinful birth--women, vasiyas, and sudras--even they attain the Supreme Goal. 

A:

The varnasrama dharma in Hinduism is aimed at minimising the negative impact of such physical phenomena. Acceptance of grihastasrama (the life of a householder) and subsequent monogamy are recommended.
Madalasa's advice to her son , Alarka ,(from Dattatreya charitra) is the following:-
a. Companionship (sanga) is the root of evil. If you must seek 
   it, seek sat-sanga, i.e.,the companionship of those who strive to 
   be in "sat"

b. Exactly the same that @SwamiVishwananda states - "If you must 
   lust, lust for God"

A:

The answer in Hinduism, is at best gray. Sex in Hinduism is definitely not a sin, but lust (Kaama; which is best translated as 'wanting') can be considered as one.
Humans of all varna have 4 purushartha (or duties to perform) which are Dharma (righteousness, moral values), Artha (prosperity, economic values), Kāma (pleasure, love, psychological values) and Mokṣa (liberation, spiritual values). So, Kaama is one of the duties which one has to fulfill without which his life hasn't been complete. All four Purusarthas are important, but in cases of conflict, Dharma is considered more important than Artha or Kaama in Hindu philosophy. Moksha is considered the ultimate ideal of human life.
Now, that being said overindulgence is what is detested in Hinduism as in Buddhism. Vyasa, the commentator of the Yoga Sutras, however, defines brahmacharya as the control of the organ of generation and the giving up of all forms of lust. This means not only abstaining from gross sexual indulgence but also thinking, willing, seeing, talking, observing and indulging in sexual entertainment, mentally or through other senses. 1
Although, not a religious scripture, in Kamasutra Vatsyayana claims Kaama is never in conflict with Dharma or Artha, rather all three coexist and kaama results from the other two.

A man practicing Dharma, Artha and Kaama enjoys happiness now and in
  future. Any action which conduces to the practice of Dharma, Artha and
  Kama together, or of any two, or even one of them should be performed.
  But an action which conduces to the practice of one of them at the
  expense of the remaining two should not be performed.
      —Vatsyayana, The Kama sutra, Chapter 2

So, the morality in Hinduism is kind of subjective and context dependent. Lust is not outrightly rejected, rather it's accepted as an important part of Human psyche. The only precondition being a person's acts shouldn't solely be for Lust and must also take into account his Dharma.

