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Ashrama (stage)

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Ashrama (stage)

Part of a series on
Hinduism
Ashrama redirects here. See Ashram (disambiguation) for other uses.

An Ashrama (āśrama) in Hinduism is one of four stages in an age-based social system as laid out in the Puranas, Manu Smriti and later Classical Sanskrit texts.

The Ashram system

Under the Ashram system, the human life was divided into four periods. The goal of each period was the ideal fulfillment of each of the four consecutive stages of life.[1][2]

The Ashram system
Ashram or stage Age (years)[3] Description[1][2][4][5] Rituals of transition
Brahmacharya
(student life) 		Till 24 The male child would live with his family till the age of 5. He would then be sent to a Gurukul (house of the guru) and typically would live with a Guru (teacher), acquiring knowledge of science, philosophy, scriptures and logic, practicing self-discipline and evangelicalism, learning to live a life of dharma (righteousness). Upanayana at entry.
Grihastha
(household life) 		24-48 The ideal householder life is spent in enjoying family life, carrying out one's duties to family and society, and gainful labor. The man in this ashram has to shoulder responsibilities of the other three ashrams. Samavartana at entry. Other rituals of Hindu marriage later.
Vanaprastha
(retired life) 		48-72 After the completion of one's householder duties, one gradually withdraws from the world, freely shares wisdom with others, and prepares for the complete renunciation of the final stage.
Sannyasa
(renounced life) 		72-demise One completely withdraws from the world and starts spiritual pursuits, the seeking of moksha (freedom from the cycle of rebirth), and practicing meditation to that end.

The Ashram system is believed by the Hindus to lead to a fulfillment of the four aims of life namely, Dharma (righteousness), Artha (wealth), Kama (pleasure), and Moksha (liberation).

Developmental
stages of life 		Period Ashrama
(stages of
dutiful life) 		Purushartha
(aims of life) 		Description
Saisava 0–2 years No moral codes during this period
Balya 3–12 years Brahmacharya Dharma Vidyarambha, Learning of alphabet, arithmetic, basic education
Kaumara
(13 - 19) 		Kaishora 13–15 years Brahmacharya Dharma and Moksha
Tarunya 16–19 years Brahmacharya Dharma and Moksha
Yauvana
(20 - 59) 		Yauvana-I
(Tarunayauvana) 		20–29 years Brahmacharya or Grihastha Dharma, Artha and Moksha
Yauvana-II
(Praudhayauvana) 		30–59 years Grihastha Dharma, Artha and Kama and Moksha
Vardhakya
(60+ ) 		Vardhakya
(Period-I) 		60–79 years Vanaprastha Dharma and Moksha
Vardhakya
(Period-II) 		80+ years Sanyasa Dharma and Moksha

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b Chakkarath, Pradeep (2005), p. 39
  2. ^ a b Rama, p. 467.
  3. ^ J. Donald Walters (1998), The Hindu Way of Awakening: Its Revelation, Its Symbols, an Essential View of Religion, Crystal Clarity Publishers, pp. 154–,  
  4. ^ Kriyananda, p. 154.
  5. ^ Ashrama, Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia

References

External links

  • The Four Ashrams
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