Ashrama Flashcards
What are the Ashramas?
the 4 stages in life 1) student - formal education 2) married / family (householder) - considered most important of all stages 3) retirement 4) ascetic only applies to humans
Why is it important for Hindus to follow Ashramas?
following dharma
What happens in the first Ashrama (student)?
birth until between age of 12 and 25 study Vedic scriptures celibate he is called a brahmachari aim = make him a useful and mature member of society, prepare for future profession and for family, social and religious life
What happens in the second Ashrama (householder)?
called grhastha
marriage + family - regardless of poverty have many children, at least until have a boy
man should work at a trade or profession - support family + contribute to welfare of community
goals = wealth + pleasure (kama)
What happens in the third Ashrama (forest hermit)?
called vanaprastha
retire from family + social life, give up work, wealth, possessions and celibate and retreat to forest
What happens in the fourth Ashrama (wandering ascetic)?
called sannyasin
renounce, world, wife, social duties + religious obligations
desires, hopes, fears + responsibilities abandoned
concentrate on merging with God
will often burn an effigy of their bodies signify that they have died to the world
Why is the Ashrama system not practiced by many people in India today?
excludes certain groups - Sudras (1/3 population) + women
3rd + 4th not practice - withdraw from life
When is it believed that the Ashrama system came about?
5th Century BCE - seen in Hindu society
6th Century BCE - ideal of renunciation
What was the reason behind the system?
fitted with ideals of society e.g. renunciation
clear path to achieving Moksha
Once a Hindu has progressed to the next Ashrama stage what are they not allowed to do?
regress back to previous stages
