Misinterpreted Word Series: #1 – आश्रम; Ashrama

This will be a continual series of words frequently used in Hindu culture, but are words that are usually misinterpreted.

#1 – आश्रम; Ashrama (Stages of human life)

Usually, an ashram is interpreted as a hermitage or a monastery in Hinduism. The term ashram often denotes a range of cultural activity such as yoga, music study or religious instruction. It also sometimes represents the place where a spiritual leader dispenses spiritual guidance.

However, the word Ashrama comes from the Sanskrit root srama which means “making an effort towards liberation” (moksha). Moksha or liberation is the ultimate goal of human life according to the Hindu shastras (scriptures). We will talk more about these later. These are called पुरुषार्थ; Pursharthas [The object of human life].

The Ashrama’s really do describe the four stages that represent human life and correspond to the Pursharthas. They are also described as ब्रह्मचर्याश्रम; Bramhacharyashram, गृहस्थाश्रम; Grihasthashram,  वानप्रस्थाश्रम; Vaanaprasthashram and  सन्यासआश्रम; Sanyasashram. The four stages of life are such:

1. ब्रह्मचर्य; Brahmacharya (Student life) Or ब्रह्मचर्याश्रम; Bramhacharyashram:

   Brahmacharya represented the student stage of life. This stage focused on education. The student typically went to a Gurukul (house of the guru) and typically would live with a Guru (teacher), acquiring knowledge of science, philosophy, scriptures and logic, practicing self-discipline, working to earn dakshina to be paid for the guru, learning to live a life of Dharma (righteousness, morals, duties).

2. गृहस्थ; Grihastha (Household life) Or गृहस्थाश्रम; Grihasthashram:

   This stage referred to the individual’s married life, with the duties of maintaining a household, raising a family, educating one’s children, and leading a family-centred and a dharmic social life. This stage is considered as the most important of all stages in sociological context, as human beings in this stage not only pursued a virtuous life, they produced food and wealth that sustained people in other stages of life, as well as the offsprings that continued mankind. The stage also represented one where the most intense physical, sexual, emotional, occupational, social and material attachments exist in a human being’s life.

3. वनप्रस्थ; Vanaprastha (Retired life) Or वानप्रस्थाश्रम; Vaanaprasthashram:

   This is the retirement stage, where a person hands over household responsibilities to the next generation, takes an advisory role, and gradually withdraws from the world. The Vanaprastha stage is a transition phase from a householder’s life with its greater emphasis on Artha and Kama (wealth, security, pleasure and sexual pursuits) to one with greater emphasis on Moksha (spiritual liberation), the final stage of life.

4. सन्यास; Sannyaasa (Renounced life) Or  सन्यासआश्रम; Sanyasashram:

   This is the most important, yet mis-interpreted stage, and I will dedicate a separate article to this page in the “Misinterpreted” series. This stage leads a human being to the realization of the ultimate goal, मोक्ष; Moksha [liberation from this endless cycle of life/death and the end of suffering].

This stage really signifies the path and effort of transcendence of desire for the outside world, concepts and imagination. It DOES NOT mean, renunciation of all life and leaving life to live in the forest or in a cave. Anyone could enter this stage after completing the Brahmacharya stage of life. An individual in Sanyasa is known as a Sannyasi (male) or Sannyasini (female) in Hinduism.