The Four Stages of Human Life - Ashrama Dharma

The Four Stages of Human Life

FOUR STAGES OR AASHRAMAAS

From the birth to death human's life is divided into 4 main stages (aashramaas) as follows:

1. Brahmacharya aashrama
2. Grihastha aashrama
3. Vanaprastha aashrama
4. Sanyasa aashrama

1.Brahmacharya aashrama:

                In this aashrama a little boy who  able to learn something from others, is sent to some gurus or some gurukulams or some training centers to gain  some knowledge (like physical sciences or spiritual science or philosophy and social discipline  and self discipline etc.,) which is useful to his future life. There he only learns that what his master said to do so. He completely surrenders himself to his master without any egos, emotions, feelings, etc. He strictly follows the rules of physical detachment [even in feeling] because his concentration shouldn't get deviated or weakened,  and he will always be [on the move or charinchadam] with the guru [brahma]. That’s why it is called Brahma-Charyam.

                In this stage or aashrama dharma, he should not carry or maintain or store money for his personal purposes. He is just like a slave or true disciple to his master.

2.Grihastha aashrama:

                After gaining the knowledge regarding his future life and as he starts earning, he get married and then start a new stage or new life of Grihasthu (having family). After that he has to take the responsibility of his family and society (contributing some profit like 10% or above to other good things like helping poor, older people or orphans, offering help to construct Anadha Saranalayams, temples, etc.,). He has to help the others who is following the other three aashramaas [Brahmachari, vanaprastha and sanyasa]. He must follows his customs without fail as long as he is a Grihasthu.

                In this stage or aashrama he should maintain money or store money for his future purposes.

3.Vanaprastha aashrama:

                After finishing his all responsibilities towards family and society [settlement of their children’s life, arranging marriages of their children, etc.,] he has to start a new life of pilgrimage involving pilgrimage or thirtha yaatras, visiting various ashramas, participating in satsangs (or spiritual preaching), etc. In Vanaprastha stage he has to spend most of his time to attain the WISDOM. He must follow some of the societal customs in this stage also.

                In this stage he should handover all his properties to his children [can keep some part of the money for his pilgrimage or can take from their sons or others depending on the situations].

  4.Sanyasa aashrama:

                After finishing his Vanaprastha Dharma he takes Sanyasaashrama (renounced life). Because in this stage he is not strong enough to visit various places like thirtha yaatras or visiting various ashrams. So in this stage he will be waiting for completing his life in a peaceful manner [like moksha], so he will be spending his remaining life for practicing to achieve the moksha [meaning no life after death or his aatma entering into paramaatma or merging his soul into supreme soul]. No need to follow any customs in this stage. He has to be detached with every relation and every custom.

                In this stage he should not carry any money with him. He has to depend on Grihastus and seek for the moksha only.