- Ashrama (stage)
-
Practices
- 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 lifePeriod 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
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
Categories:- Hindu law
- Aging
- Sanskrit words and phrases
- Ashramas
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