What are the four stages of life in Hinduism?

Answer 1

The full life period of an Indo-Aryan was divided into 4 stages, namely, brahmacharya, grihasthya, vanaprastha, and sannyasa.

The first stage was devoted to study. The student led a life of chastity and austerity and served his teacher with humility. He learnt mantras and Vedas. And when he left the teacher's house, after completing his studies, he was commanded not to deviate from truth and to preserve the Vedas.

The second stage was devoted to household duties. The young man took a wife. Both together performed Vedic sacrifices with hymns of the mantra in accordance with the rules laid down in the Brahmana.

The third stage commenced when the hair turned gray and the face began to wrinkle. The householder consigned the household responsibility to the children and retired with his wife into the forest. He is then known as a forest-dweller or vanaprastha.

The final stage called sannyasa was the culmination of the strictly regulated life of the Indo-Aryan. During this period he totally renounces the world and is absorbed into the uninterrupted contemplation of the Brahman. He took a vow of dedicating his life to truth and to the service of humanity and was honoured as a spiritual leader of society.

Answer 2

student, householder, hermit or forest dweller, renunciant

Answer 3

In Hinduism there are four stages called as Ashrams in human life ; Brahmcharya, Grihatha, Vanprastha and Sanyas