Chaturashrams in Hinduism
It is said that while Hinduism has been called the oldest religion in the world, many practitioners refer to their religion as ‘Sanatana Dharma’ which is overall abiding principles of dharma and which are not changeable. The 4 Ashramas system is one facet of the Dharma concept in Hinduism. The four ashramas are: Brahmcharya (student), Grihastha (householder), Vanprastha (retired), and Sanyasa (renunciation).
Sanatana Dharma in Hinduism is a term used to denote the “eternal” or absolute set of duties or religiously ordained practices incumbent upon all Hindus, regardless of class, caste, or sect. Such duties are enshrined in the religion in the form of the Vedas. Hinduism, which is derived from the Vedas, is known as Sanatana Dharma or Eternal Duty.” They say it to be the eternal truth and defines that all souls whether humans, birds, or animals are equal and the same, but they are born to different yonis (forms) because of their past karmas in the last several births.
Ashrama in Hinduism is one of four age-based life stages discussed in Indian texts of the ancient and medieval eras. It is also a component of the ethical theories in Indian philosophy, where it is combined with four proper goals of human life for the fulfillment, happiness, and spiritual liberation.
Chaturashrama (Four Ashramas) is part of the ancient Indian concept which identified four stages of human life, with distinct differences based on natural human needs and drives. The first stage of life was (1) Brahmacharya (bachelor student) lasting through about 25 years of life, the second stage was (2) Grihastha (married householder) and lasted through about 50 years of age. (3) Vanaprastha represented the third stage up to 74 years and typically marked with birth of grandchildren, gradual transition of householder responsibilities to the next generation, increasingly hermit-like lifestyle, and greater emphasis on community services and spiritual pursuit. The Vanaprastha stage at 75 years ultimately transitioned into (4) Sannyasa, a stage of complete renunciation and dedication to spiritual questions.
At the individual level, some texts of Hinduism outline four ashrams or stages of life as an individual’s dharma. These are:
(1)Brahmcharya Ashram : The celibate student. A boy enters this ashram for education at his teacher’s place (Gurukul).They teach him to balance his development and personality with a strictly disciplined life. In this way, the life of a Brahmachari is a life of discipline.
Brahmacharya is a divine word. It is the sum and substance of Yoga. Brahmacharya is the achara or conduct by which you attain or reach God. It is life in the Absolute. It is a movement towards God or the Atman (Self).
Brahmacharya is not mere bachelorhood. It must further involve a permanent abstention from indulgence in erotic imagination and voluptuous reverie.
In a narrow sense, Brahmacharya is celibacy. In a broad sense, it is absolute control of all the senses. The door of Nirvana (liberation) or perfection is complete Brahmacharya. Without celibacy no spiritual progress is possible. It is a potent weapon and shield to wage war against the internal evil forces of lust, anger, and greed. It serves as a gateway for the bliss beyond and opens the door of liberation.
Brahmacharya is meant both for men and women. They complete this ashram by the time a man completes 25 years of age.
(2)Gṛihastha Ashram : The Sanskrit word Grihastha (गृहस्थ) is a composite “Grih-astha” of two root words Grih (गृह) and Astha (अस्थ). Grih means “home, family, house”, while Asth means “devoted to, occupied with, being in”. Grihastha means that which “being in and occupied with home, family” or “householder”.
It refers to the second phase of an individual’s life in four age-based stages of the Hindu ashram system and follows Brahmacharya (bachelor student) life stage. It embodies a married life, with the duties of maintaining a home, raising a family, educating one’s children, and leading a family-centered and social life. Apart from this, he is supposed to offer food to animals, birds, insects, saints, donations to needy people, poor families, orphans, and persons belonging to the lower rungs.
A man or woman entered the Grihastha stage after a Hindu wedding [sacred ceremony].
As human beings in this stage not only pursue a virtuous life, they produce food and wealth that sustains people in the other 3 stages of life, as well as the offspring that continues humankind. The age at which the person enters the Grahstha Ashram is about 25 years.
Ancient and medieval era texts of Hinduism consider Grihastha stage as the most important of all stages in the sociological context. They also consider the householder stage in Indian philosophy as one where the most intense physical, sexual, emotional, occupational, social, and material attachments exist in a human being’s life.
In Indian traditions, Grihastha stage of life is a recommendation, but not a requirement. Any Brahmacharya may, if he or she wants, skip the householder and retirement stage, go straight to Sannyasa stage of life, thereby renouncing worldly and materialistic pursuits and dedicating their lives to spiritual pursuits.
This stage of Ashrama is conceptually followed by Vanaprastha (forest dweller, retired) and Sannyasa (renunciation).
(3)Vanprastha Ashram : Vanaprastha (वानप्रस्थ) is a composite word with the roots vana (वन) meaning “forest, distant land”, and prastha (प्रस्थ) meaning “going to, abiding in, the journey to”.The composite word literally means “retiring to the forest”. It is also a concept in Hindu traditions, representing the third of four ashramas (stages) of human life.
Vanaprastha is part of the ancient Indian concept called Chaturashrama, which identified four stages of human life. It represented the third stage and typically marked with handing over all his household responsibilities to the next generation, take an advisory role, gradually withdraw from the world, and go to the forest, He must do penance to purify his body and soul and devote himself to meditation.
Although Vanaprastha stage is described as one of “detachment and increasing seclusion” but usually serving as a counselor, peace-maker, judge, teacher to young, and advisor to the middle-aged.
The entry age in this ashram is around 50 years and lasts up to 74 years. It is said that if a person dies during Vanprastha ashram, he will attain Moksha.
The Vanaprastha stage ultimately transitioned into Sannyasa, a stage of complete renunciation and dedication to spiritual questions.
Although he has to live in the forest and control his senses of enjoyment, his wife is allowed to live with him for the sake of humanity. His obligation as a householder ends.
(4) Sannyasa Ashram: Saṃnyāsa in Sanskrit means purification, sannyasa means “Purification of Everything”. It is a composite word of sam which means “together, all”, ni- which means “down” and āsa from the root as, meaning “to throw” or “to put”. A literal translation of Sannyāsa is thus “to put down everything, all of it”. Sannyasa is sometimes spelled as Sannyasa.
Sannyasa is the life stage of renunciation within the Hindu philosophy of four age-based life stages known as ashramas and is traditionally conceptualized for men or women in later years of their life.
In this last ashram of life, the person enters at the age of 75 years. He breaks all attachments with the world by giving away all property and world, takes on a saffron robe and in some sects goes naked with a bowl and stick, and devotes his entire time to meditation to reorganize the subtle nature of the supreme soul to seek Moksha.
Sannyasa is a form of asceticism, is marked by the renunciation of material desires and prejudices, represented by a state of disinterest and detachment from material life, and has the purpose of spending one’s life in a peaceful, love-inspired, simple spiritual life. An individual in Sannyasa is known as a Sannyasi (male) or Sannyasini (female) in Hinduism.
Sannyasa has historically been a stage of renunciation, ahimsa (non-violence) peaceful and simple life, and spiritual pursuit in Indian traditions. However, this has not always been the case. After the invasions and establishment of Muslim rule in India, from the 12th century through the British Raj some sects of sannyasis developed martial arts, created military strategies, and engaged in guerrilla warfare too.
We also know sannyasis as Bhiksu, Pravrajita/Pravrajitā,Yati,Sr- amana and Parivrajaka in Hindu texts.
The four stages of life complete the four human strivings in life, according to Hinduism.
We can see the four ashramas as the framework of an influential life-span model, they are also part of indigenous developmental psychology which from its ancient beginnings until today has shaped the orientations and goals of many people, especially in India.
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