Department of Sanskrit, University of Delhi, India Ashram System in Ancient India Dr. Subhash Chandra Assistant Professor Department of Sanskrit, University of Delhi, Delhi, India Email: [email protected] Web: http://sanskrit.du.ac.in/faculty/subhash.html Department of Sanskrit, University of Delhi, India In this lecture…… . Ashram System . Objective of Ashram System . Ashram and Purushartha . Major Ashram and Duties (Dharma) Department of Sanskrit, University of Delhi, India Ashram System Ashram (आश्रम) is second most important institution of Hindu social institution. The term derived from the verb root "श्रम्" which mean to do hard work or effort. Thus the Ashramas are the stages where hard works or efforts to be done. Ashrama is related to training and education. Department of Sanskrit, University of Delhi, India Ashram System Ancient Indian social thinkers had divided human life into four major stages called Ashram: Brahmacharya, Grihastha, Vanaprastha and Sanyasa. A branch of psychology called Developmental psychology also deals the human development in two major stages. An Ashrama in Hinduism is one of four age-based life stages discussed in Indian texts of the ancient and medieval eras. The four ashramas are: Brahmacharya (student), Grihastha (householder), Vanaprastha (retired) and Sannyasa (renunciate). Department of Sanskrit, University of Delhi, India Ashram System Under the Ashram system, the human lifespan was divided into four periods. The goal of each period was the fulfilment and development of the individual. An Ashrama in Hinduism is one of four age-based life stages discussed in Indian texts of the ancient and medieval eras. The four ashramas are: Brahmacharya (student), Grihastha (householder), Vanaprastha (retired) and Sannyasa (renunciate). Department of Sanskrit, University of Delhi, India Ashram System The classical system, in the Ashrama Upanishad, the Vaikhanasa Dharmasutra and the later Dharmashastra, presents these as sequential stages of human life and recommends ages for entry to each stage, while in the original system presented in the early Dharmasutras the Ashramas were four alternative available ways of life, neither presented as sequential nor with age recommendations. Department of Sanskrit, University of Delhi, India Ashram and Purushartha The Ashramas system is one facet of the complex Dharma concept in Hinduism. It is integrated with the concept of Purushartha, or four proper aims of life in Hindu philosophy, namely, Dharma (piety, morality, duties), Artha (wealth, health, means of life), Kama (love, relationships, emotions) and Moksha (liberation, freedom, self- realization) Each of the four Ashramas of life are a form of personal and social environment, each stage with ethical guidelines, duties and responsibilities, for the individual and for the society. Department of Sanskrit, University of Delhi, India Ashram and Purushartha Each Ashrama stage places different levels of emphasis on the four proper goals of life, with different stages viewed as steps to the attainment of the ideal in Hindu philosophy, namely Moksha Department of Sanskrit, University of Delhi, India The Ashram system Ashram or Age Description stage Brahmacharya Till 25 . Brahmacharya represented the bachelor student stage of life. (student life) . This stage focused on education and included the practice of celibacy. The student went to a Gurukul (house of the guru) and typically would live with a Guru (teacher). To 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). Grihastha 26–50 . This stage referred to the individual's married life, with the duties (household life) of maintaining a household, raising a family, educating one's children, and leading a family-centred and a dharmic social life. Grihastha stage was 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, Department of Sanskrit, University of Delhi, India The Ashram system Ashram or Age Description stage Vanaprastha 51–75 . The retirement stage, where a person handed over household (retired life) responsibilities to the next generation, took an advisory role, and gradually withdrew from the world. Vanaprastha stage was 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). Sannyasa 76- till . The stage was marked by renunciation of material desires and (renounced life) death prejudices, represented by a state of disinterest and detachment from material life, generally without any meaningful property or home (Ascetic). It focused on Moksha, peace and simple spiritual life. Anyone could enter this stage after completing the Brahmacharya stage of life. Department of Sanskrit, University of Delhi, India Major Ashram and Duties Brahmacharya Grihastha Vanaprastha Sannyasa Department of Sanskrit, University of Delhi, India The Brahmacharya Ashram Brahmacharya (ब्रह्मचर्य) is a concept within Indian religions that literally means "conduct consistent with Brahma". In simple terms on the path of Brahma. Brahmacharya is when a person controls his citta, abstaining through word, thought, and deed from physical or sensual pleasures to achieve Brahmagyan. Brahmacharya is the first of four Ashrama (age-based stages) of a human life The brahmacharya (bachelor student) stage of life – from childhood up to twenty-five years of age Department of Sanskrit, University of Delhi, India The Brahmacharya Ashram It was focused on education and included the practice and preparation of future life. The word brahmacharya stems from two Sanskrit roots: Brahman is what god is called in the Vedas, the main Hindu scriptures. charya (चर्य), which means "occupation with, engaging, proceeding, behavior, conduct, to follow, going after". This is often translated as activity, conduct, or mode of behavior. Brahmacharya is a means, not an end. It usually includes cleanliness, ahimsa, simple living, studies, meditation, and voluntary restraints on certain foods (eating only Sattvic food), intoxicants, and sexual behavior which is no sex at all cost not even with mind. Department of Sanskrit, University of Delhi, India The Brahmacharya Ashram Brahamacharya asrama occupied the first 20–25 years of life roughly corresponding to adolescence. Upon the child's Upanayana the young person would begin a life of study in the Gurukula (the household of the Guru) dedicated to learning all aspects of dharma that is the "principles of righteous living". Dharma comprised personal responsibilities towards himself, family, society, humanity and God which included the environment, earth and nature. This educational period started when the child was five to eight years old and lasted until the age of 14 to 25 years Department of Sanskrit, University of Delhi, India The Brahmacharya Ashram Naradaparivrajaka Upanishad suggests that Brahmacharya (student) stage of life should extend from the age a child is ready to receive teachings from a guru, and continue for a period of twelve years. The Brahmacharya begin with Upanayana and ends with Samavartanam ceremony. The graduate was then ready to either start Grihastha (householder) stage of life, or wait, or pursue a life of Sannyasa and solitude like Rishis in forest. Department of Sanskrit, University of Delhi, India The Brahmacharya Ashram Vyasa in Chapter 234 of Shanti Parva in the Mahabharata praises Brahmacharya as an important stage of life necessary for learning, then adds Grihastha stage as the root of society and important to an individual's success. The Vedas and Upanishads do not restrict the student stage of life to males. Atharva Veda, for example, states ब्रह्मचर्ेण कꅍर्ा र्ुवानं ववꅍदते पवतम् | ( Atharva Veda, 11.5.18) A youthful Kanya (कꅍर्ा, girl) who graduates from Brahmacharya, obtains a suitable husband. Department of Sanskrit, University of Delhi, India The Brahmacharya Ashram Generally there was no restriction of the age for the Brahmacharya. Few texts states that there were no age restrictions for the start of Brahmacharya in ancient India. Not only young men, but older people resorted to student stage of life, and sought teachers who were authoritative in certain subjects. The Chandogya Upanishad, in Section 5.11, describes "wealthy and learned householders" becoming Brahmacharis (students) with Rishi Kaikeya, to gain knowledge about Atman (Soul, inner Self) and Brahman (Ultimate Reality). Department of Sanskrit, University of Delhi, India Historical references to Brahmacharya The Vedas discuss Brahmacharya, both in the context of lifestyle and stage of one's life. Rigveda, however, refers to these people as Muni and Vati The Atharva Veda, completed by about 1000 BC, has more explicit discussion of Brahmacharya, in Book XI Chapter 5. This Chapter of Atharva Veda describes Brahmacharya as that which leads to one's second birth (mind, Self-awareness), with Hymn 11.5.3 painting a symbolic picture that when a teacher accepts a Brahmachari, the student becomes his embryo. Department of Sanskrit, University of Delhi, India Historical