THE CONCEPT OF VARNASHRAMA

 Hindu Society divided into two coordinated systems of social

organisations.
1) Whole human life divided into four stages – “ashramas”
2) Whole society divided into four four strata – “Varnas”
 Ashrama Dharma to regulate individual’s life
 Varna Dharma with reference to society to regulate individual’s
social life
 To organize and management of individual and society
 These two schemes together called varnashrama Vyvastha or
Varnashrama Dharma
 The purusharthas are guiding principles for functioning of
varnashrama dharma
THE CONCEPT OF ASHRAMA DHARMA

 Socio-religious institutions of Ancient India

 It denotes Hindu scheme of life
 Different stages(Ashramas) in the life
 In this scheme, theory of purusharthas get expression
 Ashrama scheme related to Varna system
 Which regulates individual’s social life
Meaning of the word “Ashrama”
 Sanskrit word ‘Ashrama’ denotes halting or resting place
 It also means stages, monastery, duties, etc.
 The word Ashrama comes from Sanskrit root word-
‘Srama’ means making effort
 Ashrama means a step in the journey of life

 According to Hindu ethics- final aim is liberation or ‘moksha’

 Every Ashrama is a step in the long journey towards that aim

The Four Ashramas

 Human life divided into four stages or ashramas

 Brahmacharya, Grihastha, Varnaprastha, and Sanyasa

 Every stage has its own duties and functions

 Each ashrama- a stage of life

 The individual trained for a period

 Qualifies himself for the next Ashrama

 In his journey he takes rest in each Ashrama and to prepare for

future journey
 Human life divided into four
 Each individual should pass through four stages or phases of life

BRAHMACHARYA ASHRAM

 The first stage or ashrama

 This stage is meant for knowledge, developing discipline,

moulding character

 The stage starts with initiation ceremony- upanayanam

(conducting nearer)

 To bring individual nearer to life purposes (purusharthas)

 It also brings nearer to teacher, Guru

 It marks second birth

 Birth into a higher life

 They wear The Sacred Thread, yajnopavita or dwwija or twice-

born
Beginning of Education in gurukula
 Begins educational career with teacher, ‘guru’

 The Brahmachari or pupil to go to his guru who lives in forest, hermitage

 He stays with for study and serves him

 He acquires knowledge of shastras

 He leads life of simplicity and hard-work

Development of personality and character

 This stage is useful for development of character

 Character is moulded and given a shape

 His behaviour, thought patterns, attitudes channelized, prepared for the

future

 He has to observe indriya samyama (control of senses)

 This helps in learning process

 This stage transforms from animal-like human child into a responsible

person to meet challenges of life

Offering gurudakshina & receiving final instructions from guru

 After end of student career, Brahmacharin gives a present (gurudakshina)

 The guru gives final instruction

 The teacher gives convocation, addresses the students

 First stage extends from 10-12 years

GRIHASTHASHRAMA

 This stage is entered at marriage

 After studentship, he is ready to take up duties of household life

 In this stage, he gets married, earns money and begets children

 He pursues wealth (artha) and pleasure( kama) within limits of moral

lane(dharma)

 He earns money by honest means, enjoys and distributes in a proper way

 Marriage regarded as a sacrament

Importance of Grihasthashrama

 It gives support to all other ashramas

 It helps householder to perform religious rites

 The individual fulfils his obligations towards society

 He begets children for perpetuation of race

 He takes care of Brahmacharis, varnaprasthis, and sanyasis who are not

supposed to earn their living

VARNAPRASTHAHRAMA – (PHILOSOPHIC RECLUSE)

 After discharging all household duties he enters into varnapratha stage

 It consists of the third quarter of man’s life

 After retiring from active life, he dedicates to a life of spirituality

 After attaining the age of fifty, age of satisfaction, content and happiness

 He has to handover his authority to his children and aslo his responsibilities

 The inner call of Vyragya(detachment) insists to give up all that he owns

 He gives up not only wealth and authority but the feeling of possesion
 He lives like a guest in his own house
 He is a retired man both in society and his home
 He indulges in the life of worship, silence and meditation
 He turns away from pleasure of senses
 Many a time, he retires to forest, performs rituals or yagna, observes silence
and meditation
 He lives like a hermit with his wife
 He does not give up grihastha duties or atithiseva completely
 He is not a seeker of personal salvation
 He gathers around him students
 He converts his hermitage into gurukula
 Kings and community approach him for guidance, counseling
 It is preparation for the final stage, sanyasa
SANYASASHRAMA –( STAGE OF WANDERING MYSTIC OR RENUNCIATION)

 This is the last stage or final phase of life

 This is the time for renunciation

 A Varnaprastha becomes a yathi or sanyasi or an ascetic, attaining mental

serenity

 When he retires from stage of varnaprastha, he is at liberty to lay down

responsibilities and become a wandering mystic

 This final stage is sanyasa or total abandonment or total unburdening

 The primary goal of sanyasi is to attain moksha

 Sanyasi gives up all bondages and attachments

 He gives up his name, changes his clothes, leaves his race, family, sect

 He puts on saffron clothes, gives up shelter in any form

 He receives food through begging

 He never stays at one place for more than three days

 He performs meditation and preaches Dharma

 He belongs to the Parmatma

 He is known as parivarta (wanderer), bhikshu (beggar), yathi( restrained

one) and muni(silent mystic)

 This life is spiritual life

 Sanyasi is an asset to the society

 He is the spiritual wealth of the society

 He is spiritual master, commands respect of all

 He is a source of inspiration and founder of the path of dharma for the

society