1. THE CONCEPT OF
VARNASHRAMA DHARMA

2. • Hindu society divided into two coordinated
systems of social organisation
1) Whole human life divided into four stages
‘ashramas’
2) Whole society divided into four strata-varnas
• Ashrama dharma to regulate individual’s social
life
• To organise and management of individual and
society
• These two schemes together called varnashrama
vyavastha or varnashrama dharama
• The purusharthas are guiding principles for
functioning of varnashrama dharma

3. THE CONCEPT OF ASHRAMA DHARMA
• Socio-religious institution of ancient India.
• It denotes Hindu scheme of life
• Different stages(ashramas) in the life
• In this scheme, theory of purusharthas get
expression
• Ashrama scheme related to Varna system
• Which regulates individual’s social life

4. Meaning of the word Ashrama
• Sanskrit word Ashrama denotes halting or resting
place
• It also means stages, monastry, duties, etc..
• The word ashrama comes from sanskrit root
‘srama’ means making effort
• Ashrama means a step in the journey of life .
• According to Hindu ethics-final aim is liberation,
or moksha
• Every Ashrama is a step in the long journey
towards that aim.

5. THE FOUR ASHRAMAS:
• Human life divided into four stage or Ashramas
• Bhramacharya, grihastha, vanaprastha and sanyasa.
• Every stage has it’s own duties and functions
• Each Ashrama-a stage of life
• The individual trined for a period
• Qualifies himself for next ashrama
• In his journey, he takes rest in each ashrama to prepare
for future journey.
• Each individual should pass through four stages or
phrases of life

6. BHRAHMACHARYASHRAMA:
• THE first stage or Ashrama
• This stage is meant for knowledge, developing
discipline, moulding character.
• The stage starts with initiation ceremony-
upanayanam(conducting nearer)
• To bring the individual nearer to life
purposes(purusharthas)
• It also brings nearer to teacher, guru
• It marks second birth
• Birth into a higher life
• They wear the sacred thread, yajnopavitha or
dwija or twice-born

7. BEGINING TO EDUCATION IN
GURUKULA
• Begins educational career with teacher,
“Guru”
• The bhramachari (the pupil) to go to his guru
who lives in forest hermitage
• He stays with for study and serves him
• He aquires knowledge of shashtras
• He leads life of simplicity and hard work.

8. DEVELOPMENT OF PERSONALITY AND
CHARACTER:
• This stage is useful for development of character
• Character is moulded and given a shape
• His behaviour, thought patterns, attitudes
channelised, prepared for the future
• He has to observe indriya samyama (control of
senses)
• This helps learning process
• This stage transforms from animal like human
child into a responsible person to meet
challenges of life.

9. OFFERING GURUDAKSHINA AND
RECEIVING
• FINAL INSTITUTION FROM GURU
 After end of student career, brahmacharian
gives a present (gurudakshina)
 The guru gives final instruction
 The Teacher gives convocation address to the
students
 first stage extends from 10 to 12 years

10. GRIHASTHASHRAMA(STAGE OF
HOUSEHOLDER)
• This stage is entered at marriage
• After studentship, he is ready to take up duties of
household life
• In this stage, he get married, earns money and
gets children.
• He pursues wealth (Artha) and pleasure (kama)
within limits of mural law (Dharma)
• He earns money by honest means enjoy and
distribute in a proper way.
• Marriage regarded as a sacrament

11. IMPORTANCE OF GRIHASTHASHRAMA:
• It gives support to all other ashramas
• It helps householder to perform religious rites
• The individual fulfils his obligations towards
society
• He gets children for the perpetuation of race
• He takes care of Bhramacharis, vanaprasthis and
sanyasis who are not supposed to earn their
living.
• He engages in all activities relating to varna.

12. VANAPRASTHASHRAMA(philosophic
recluse)
• After discharging all household obligations he enters
vanaprastha stage
• It consists of the third quarter of man’s life
• After retiring from active life,he dedicates to a life of
spirituality
• After reaching age of fifty, age of satisfactions content
and happiness
• He has to hand over his authority and responsibilities
to children.
• The inner call of vyragya(detachment) insists to give up
all that is in his own
• He gives up not only wealth