From the disciplined learning of youth to the ultimate renunciation of worldly attachments, thefour stages enunciated in the scriptures offer a blueprint for balancing our worldly duties with our spiritual aspirations
‘I am planning to go and stay in an ashram for a few days’ said a friend. ‘But’ … ‘you already are staying in one’, I responded. I was not surprised by the bewildered questioning look on her face. An ashram usually brings visions of a secluded hermitage monastic space, serenity, hills, rivers, trees, forests, and maybe huts or spaced out structures with meditation yoga rooms etc.
Our ancient texts and scriptures affirm that every stage of our life is an asharama (‘srama’ or efforts towards spiritual learning, growth).
The concept of Chaturashrama,- The structure of the 4 stages or phases of life from youth to old age, fascinatingly captures the mental, physical, psychological, intellectual, emotional, and spiritual journey. A guide to Dharma through different responsibilities, duties, personal growth, social contribution, goals and spiritual pursuits and fulfilment at each phase.
Brahmacharya Ashrama (Student hood): A phase, typically from childhood to youth, an individual focuses on education, gathering knowledge (including scriptures), acquiring skills, celibacy and preparing for adulthood responsibilities. A period of disciplined Shravana (Listening), Manana (Reflection) and Nididhyasana (Deep Contemplation and Assimilation) under the guidance of a Guru. The application however differs. The Pandavas and the Kauravas all had their Brahmacharya under the same Guru Dronacharya - yet their paths ledinversely.
Þvkpk;Zçf.kikrsu içPN ifji`PNrsA
f’k";Lrq fpjekpk;aZ u fj";fr u Roj%AAaß
"A disciple, who respectfully bows down to the teacher and sincerely inquires, and learns does not suffer from spiritual decay nor does he show haste."
This highlights the qualities during the Brahmacharya - dedication, humility, respect, and devotion to learning and the Guru.
Grihastha Ashrama (The Householder): This phase transitions the individual into matrimony, raising and taking care of children and family, create wealth, pursues a career or profession. It is characterized by fulfilling worldly duties, managing relationship responsibilities, and participating and adding value actively to the individual’s social and economic ecosystem. In the Ramayana, Lord Rama and Mata Sita exemplify the ideal Grihastha life. After their marriage, Rama fulfils his duties as a prince and later as a king, while Sita supports him as a devoted wife and queen. They navigate through challenges and responsibilities, demonstrating righteousness (Dharma) and upholding societal norms.
dharmÀrtha-kÀma-mokÈÀkhyaÚ
ya icchec chreya ÀtmanaÍ
ekaÚ hyeva hares tatra
kÀraõaÚ pÀda-sevanam
As Sri Krishna says in Shrimad Bhagavatam ‘Any person who desires the fruits of the four principles righteousness, wealth, desire, and liberation should engage himself in these duties with integrity as a devotional service to the Lord to attain fulfilment"
Vanaprastha Ashrama (The Hermit- Forest Dweller): A big transition - first step to detachment. To calibrate the self into gradual retirement and withdrawal from worldly duties can be a very challenging one. Particularly coming after a phase of building wealth, relationships, family and societal bonds in the earlier Grihastha ashrama. Here, individuals are expected to gradually relinquish materialistic pursuits and responsibilities and slowly start focussing more on spiritual pursuits, self-reflection, and handing down their learnings, and wisdom to the next generations, preparing for the baton exchange. After the war and completing their duties as rulers and householders, Dhritarashtra and then the Pandavas retire to the forest to engage in meditation, and contemplation on the deeper aspects of life.
okuçLFkL; /kesZ.k ozre~ /keZeqiklrsA
flf)eçkIrqfePNfUr lq[ka pkSo u Hkwrye~AA
(Mahabharata, Anushasana Parva)
In the Mahabharata, the Anushasana Parva "The Vanaprastha, who practices the vows of righteousness, seeks perfection and happiness, not attainable on earth.
Sannyasa Ashrama (The Renunciation): Complete renunciation and detachment from all materialistic attachments. Individuals now dedicate themselves entirely to spiritual pursuits, seeking Moksha (liberation) living a modest, ascetic life, disengaging from all kinds of material activities and desire. They are engrossed in elevating themselves into the higher realms. In the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna explains the principles of Sannyasa. He explains that true renunciation is not just physical renunciation but also mental detachment.
dkE;kuka deZ.kka U;kla lUU;kla do;ks fonq%A
loZdeZQyR;kxa çkgqLR;kxa fop{k.kk%AA
kÀmyÀnÀÚ kÀrmaõÀÚ nyÀsÀÚ sannyÀsÀÚ kavayo viduÍ
sarva-karma-phala-tyÀgaÚ prÀhus tyÀgaÚ vichakÈhaõÀÍ
He says - Giving up of actions motivated by desire is what the learned understand as sanyÀs. Relinquishing the fruits of all actions is what the wise declare to be tyÀg.
The Ashramas provide a blueprint for harmonizing worldly duties, with spiritual aspirations and goals, encompassingthe spectrum of life. The references to the four Ashramas come through the principles of Purishartha Karmas. It provides a meaningful map that helps making our journey profoundly purposeful.
— The writer is a versatile professional with 3 decades in corporate experience & leadership roles, exceling in several areas as a ICF Certified Mentor Life Coach, Corporate Coach, Spiritual Intelligence Coach & CXO Coach. Spiritual counselor, Astro & Vastu consultant (25+ years of grounding in Vedanta philosophy) and a Motivational speaker. He is a Dale Carnegie’s T3 graduate
