Ashrama (stage)

Ashrama (stage)

An article related to
Hinduism
HinduismOm.svg

Hindu • History
Deities
Philosophy
Scriptures
Practices
Philosophers
Other Topics
Portal:HinduismHinduSwastika.svg

Hinduism Portal
Hindu Mythology Portal
v · d · e
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 Manu Smrti and later Classical Sanskrit texts.

Contents

The Ashram system

Under the Ashram system, the average human life was regarded as one hundred years, consisting of four periods of twenty-five years each. The goal of each period was the ideal fulfillment of four consecutive life stages.[1][2]

The Ashram system
Ashram or stage Age Description[1][2][3][4] Rituals of transition
Brahmacharya
(student life)		 5-24 The child would live with his family till he was at 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 celibacy, learning to live a life of dharma (righteousness). Upanayana at entry.
Grihastha
(household life)		 25-49 The ideal householder life is spent in enjoying family life, carrying out one's duties to family and society, and gainful labor. Samavartana at entry. Other rituals of Hindu marriage later.
Vanaprastha
(retired life)		 50-74 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)		 75-100 Completely withdrawing from the world, this is a time of complete dedication to 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 alphabets, arithmetic, basic education according to varna
Kaumara
(13 - 19)		 Kaishora 13–15 years Brahmacharya Dharma
Tarunya 16–19 years Brahmacharya Dharma
Yauvana
(20 - 59)		 Yauvana-I
(Tarunayauvana)		 20–29 years Brahmacharya or Grihastha Dharma and Artha
Youvana-II
(Praudhayauvana)		 30–59 years Grihastha Dharma, Artha and Kama
Vardhakya
(60+ )		 Vardhakya
(Period-I)		 60–79 years Vanaprastha Dharma
Vardhakya
(Period-II)		 80+ years Sanyasa Dharma and Moksha

See also

  • Varna in Hinduism

Notes

  1. ^ a b Chakkarath, p. 39.
  2. ^ a b Rama, p. 467.
  3. ^ Kriyananda, p. 154.
  4. ^ Ashrama, Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia

References

  • Friedlmeier, Chakkarath, Schwarz (2005), Culture And Human Development, Psychology Press, ISBN 1841695688 
  • Kriyananda, Swami (1998), The Hindu Way of Awakening, Crystal Clarity Publishers, ISBN 1-56589-745-5 
  • Rama, Swami (1985), Perennial Psychology of the Bhagavad Gita, Himalayan Institute Press, ISBN 0893890901 

External links


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Hinduism — An article related to Hinduism …   Wikipedia

  • education — /ej oo kay sheuhn/, n. 1. the act or process of imparting or acquiring general knowledge, developing the powers of reasoning and judgment, and generally of preparing oneself or others intellectually for mature life. 2. the act or process of… …   Universalium

  • Ramakrishna — Infobox Hindu leader name= Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa caption = Ramakrishna at Dakshineshwar birth date= birth date|1836|2|18|mf=y birth place= Kamarpukur, West Bengal, India birth name= Gadadhar Chattopadhyay death date= death date and… …   Wikipedia

  • Hinduism — /hin dooh iz euhm/, n. the common religion of India, based upon the religion of the original Aryan settlers as expounded and evolved in the Vedas, the Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita, etc., having an extremely diversified character with many… …   Universalium

  • Sri Ramakrishna Vidyashala — is residential junior college for boys located in the southern Indian city of Mysuru (formerly Mysore). It offers a comprehensive education from grades eight to twelve. Vidyashala operates as one of the Ramakrishna Mission s [http://www.belurmath …   Wikipedia

  • Smartism — (or Smarta Sampradaya, Smarta Tradition , as termed in Sanskrit) is a denomination of the Hindu religion. The term Smarta refers to adherents who follow the Vedas and Shastras. They mainly follow the Advaita Vedanta philosophy of Adi Shankara.… …   Wikipedia

  • Glossary of Hinduism terms — An article related to Hinduism …   Wikipedia

  • List of Metropolitan bus routes in Bangalore — Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation(BMTC) rus the city bus services in Bangalore City of South India. It operates different types of route within the city as well to some portion of the outskirts. The following are a list of various… …   Wikipedia

  • Theosophy — This article is about the philosophy introduced by Helena Blavatsky and the Theosophical Society. See Theosophy (history of philosophy) for other uses. The emblem of the Theosophical Society Theosophy, in its modern presentation, is a spiritual… …   Wikipedia

  • Narada Bhakti Sutra — The Narada Bhakti Sutra (IAST: Nārada Bhakti Sūtra) is a well known sutra venerated within the traditions of Hinduism, purportedly spoken by the famous sage, Narada. The text details the process of devotion (Bhakti), or Bhakti yoga and is thus of …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”