Unit-1

INDIAN TRADITIONAL ORDER

ASHRAMAS
Hindu life is divided into four stages, Brahmacharya, Gruhasta, Vanaprastha and
Sanyasa. Each stage has its own duties and functions. And enters each stage of with
initiation of rites. The word Ashrama means a halting place. In the life of a Hindu
each ashram prepares individual in all forms to take responsibilities in the next phase
i.e. ashrama.
Brahmacharya Ashrama: For a dwija in Hindu society the first phase of life
brahmacharya ashram or student life is initiated with upanayana ceremony. And the
age for upanayana differs from varna to varna, eight for a Brahmins, ten for Kshatriyas,
twelve for vysyas and traditionally sudras were not allowed to take education.
In this ashram the student is expected to lead a disciplined life, control senses,
practice celibacy, acquire good character and learn Vedas. In this stage individual is
equipped with discipline, character and knowledge which are essential to lead
successful life through next phases.
Gruhasta Ashrama: It starts by entering into the institution of marriage. As a married
man one is expected to perform pancha maha yajnas (the great sacrifices). They are
Brahma yajna, Pitru yajna, Bhuta yajna, Deva yajna and Athidihi yajna or Nri yajna.
Brahma yajna is performed by reciting Vedas daily Pitru yajna by offering shradha and
tarpanas to ancestors, Bhuta yajna is to give food to birds and animals, Deva yajna is
to offer prayers and doing rituals to God, Nri yajna is entertaining guests at home. By
offering these sacrifices gruhasta is repaying rinas (obligations) to his rishis, ancestors,
animals, gods and his fellow beings respectively.
Besides those said above gruhasta has certain obligations towards his family and
society which are Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha. A house holder is expected to
earn artha and have sexual pleasure in the boundaries of dharma and strive for
mokhsha the ultimate goal of a Hindu.
Vanaprastha Ashrama: After discharging the house holder duties (dharma) in married
life, a gruhasta is expected to handover all his responsibilities and lead a retired life
away from family. One gain control over senses, develop detachment from family bonds
and work hard to achieve success to concentrate divine chanting’s and prayers. It is the
preparatory stage for last phase of Hindu life i.e. sanyasashram.
Sanyasa Ashrama: This is the fourth and final stage in the life of a Hindu. Sanyasa
means complete renunciation of worldly things. One is expected to completely cut off
earthly connections and concentrate on penance to get moksha, the liberation of soul is
the wish of every individual in Hindu social organization.

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Purusharthas: There is no doubt that a Hindu believes in theory of Karma and
considers Moksha as ultimate goal that has to be attained through sanyasa ashram.
This does not mean he is detached from worldly life he tries to balance fulfilment of
materialistic as well as spiritual wishes in Gruhasta ashram. There are four
purusharthas in the life of a house holder (married man / gruhastu) which are Dharma,
Artha, Kama and Moksha.
Dharma: Means fulfilment of acquisitive and emotional needs of a man through
controlled means. Dharma controls the abnormal activities of man by defining the right
place, time and importance of the activities to fulfil the wishes of artha and kama
keeping in view the moksha. Kapadia a famous sociologist says dharma is knowng
that kama and Artha are the means and not ends. Dharma is that leads to
improvement in this world and liberation in the next.
Artha: Means acquisition of material means of living and possession of power. This is
an obvious goal of a man without which a man cannot lead life. It is not only a
necessity but also considered desirable. Righteousness or legitimate means are
necessary for man to get wealth and power.
Kama: This doesn’t mean sex alone, it also means aesthetic and emotional life of a man.
A house holder has two obligations individual and societal. Individual is to propagate his
family and societal are to give new members to society. Though it has been kept in third
place it is considered as most important function in the life of a man.

Moksha: is considered as ultimate goal of man, the realization of inner spirituality of

man.
Dharma, artha and kama are together called as ‘trivargas’ according to Manu good
humanity lies in the harmonious coordination of trivargas which constitute moral,
material and biological bases of life of an individual. Dharma is an arbitrator which
maintains the balance between artha and kama. purushartha are considered as
the basis of Hindu ashrama scheme of life.