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- 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. The concept of Ashramas has gone into disuse, and nowadays few Hindus follow it. At present, Hindus live their lifes according to their preference and convenience only.
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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]
| Ashram or stage | Age | Description[1][2][3][4] |
|---|---|---|
| Brahmacharya (student life) |
0-24 | The child typically would live with a Guru (spiritual teacher), acquiring knowledge, practicing self-discipline and celibacy, learning to live a life of dharma (right action), and practicing meditation. |
| Grihastha (household life) |
25-49 | The ideal householder life is spent in selflessly carrying out one's duties to family and society, serving the saints, and gainful labor. |
| 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 (spiritual freedom), and practicing meditation. |
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).
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
See also
External links
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