In Hinduism, human life is traditionally divided into four stages known as “ashramas,” each representing a distinct phase of life.
- The First Ashrama: “Brahmacharya” or the Student Stage
- The Second Ashrama: “Grihastha” or the Householder Stage
- The Third Ashrama: “Vanaprastha” or the Hermit Stage
- The Fourth Ashrama: “Sannyasa” or the Wandering Ascetic Stage
It is believed that every individual should ideally pass through these stages, and throughout this journey, the concept of “dharma” (moral rightness) plays a central role. While the ashramas were outlined in ancient Hindu texts such as the Asrama Upanishad, Vaikhanasa Dharmasutra, and later Dharmashastra, they have been more of ideals than universal practices throughout history.
- Brahmacharya: The Celibate Student
- Brahmacharya signifies the stage of formal education, lasting until approximately the age of 25. During this time, the student leaves home to reside with a guru, dedicating themselves to acquiring both spiritual and practical knowledge. The duties include learning life skills and demonstrating unwavering devotion to teachers. This phase prepares the individual for their future profession and societal, religious, and family responsibilities.
- Grihastha: The Householder
- Grihastha, the second ashrama, begins with marriage, marking the commencement of responsibilities for earning a livelihood and supporting a family. During this stage, individuals practice dharma, pursue material well-being (artha), and engage in regulated sexual activities (kama) within social and cosmic norms. This phase extends until around the age of 50, though many Hindus find themselves attached to the comforts of this stage for a lifetime.
- Vanaprastha: The Hermit in Retreat
- Vanaprastha involves a gradual withdrawal from worldly responsibilities. As a person’s duties as a householder conclude—usually when they become grandparents and their children have established their own lives—they are expected to renounce physical, material, and sexual pleasures. Retiring from social and professional life, they may reside in a forest hut, maintaining minimal contact with the family. This stage serves as a time for spiritual contemplation, and the individual is consulted as an elder by the community, imparting teachings on dharma.
- Sannyasa: The Wandering Recluse
- The final ashrama, Sannyasa, revolves around renunciation and the realization of dharma. At this stage, a person is wholly devoted to God, having severed all attachments. The sannyasi, or wandering ascetic, renounces desires, fears, hopes, duties, and responsibilities. This individual is considered virtually merged with God, aiming for moksha, or liberation from the cycle of birth and death. Few Hindus reach this stage, and when a Sannyasi passes away, funeral ceremonies are performed by their heir.