Changes

# वानप्रस्थाश्रमः ([[Vanaprasthashrama (वानप्रस्थाश्रमः)|Vanaprasthashrama]]) : Importance to withdrawing from earning activities and devoting oneself more to the service of society.

# वानप्रस्थाश्रमः ([[Vanaprasthashrama (वानप्रस्थाश्रमः)|Vanaprasthashrama]]) : Importance to withdrawing from earning activities and devoting oneself more to the service of society.

# सन्न्यासाश्रमः ([[Sannyasashrama (सन्न्यासाश्रमः)|Sannyasashrama]]) : Importance to worship of God by renunciation of worldly desires.<ref name=":0" />

# सन्न्यासाश्रमः ([[Sannyasashrama (सन्न्यासाश्रमः)|Sannyasashrama]]) : Importance to worship of God by renunciation of worldly desires.<ref name=":0" />

Dr Radhakrishnan said: The four stages of life or the four Ashrama are: Brahmacarya or the period of training, Grāhastha or the period of work for the world as a householder, Vānaprasthya or the period of retreat for the loosening of the social bonds, and Sanyāsa or the period of renunciation and expectant awaiting of freedom. These four Ashramas indicate that life is a pilgrimage to the eternal life through different stages<ref>Radhakrishnan, S. (1926). ''Hindu view of life''. George Allen And Unwin Ltd, London.</ref>.   

Dr Radhakrishnan said: The four stages of life or the four Ashrama are: Brahmacarya or the period of training, Grāhastha or the period of work for the world as a householder, Vānaprasthya or the period of retreat for the loosening of the social bonds, and Sanyāsa or the period of renunciation and expectant awaiting of freedom. These four Ashramas indicate that life is a pilgrimage to the eternal life through different stages<ref name=":1">Radhakrishnan, S. (1926). ''Hindu view of life''. George Allen And Unwin Ltd, London.</ref>.   

== विषयविस्तारः ॥ Subject Matter ==

== विषयविस्तारः ॥ Subject Matter ==

=== '''ब्रह्मचर्याश्रमः ॥ Brahmacharyashrama''' ===

=== '''ब्रह्मचर्याश्रमः ॥ Brahmacharyashrama''' ===

After the completion of childhood (around eight or nine years), an individual was required to take to higher education and to maintain celibacy to conserve physical, moral and mental energy and to devote himself to the studies for a period of about twelve to fifteen years. During this period the main obligation of an individual was to acquire knowledge and to increase his knowledge by research. This ashrama was not only intended to earn knowledge to earn for a comfortable life, but also to enable the discharge of one of the pious obligations, 'Rishiruna' ( debt due to teachers) namely acquisition and dissemination of knowledge. An individual was also required to cultivate moral character and discipline which would enable him to develop his personality so that he would not only be useful to himself but also to the members of the family and to society as well.<ref name=":0" />

After the completion of childhood (around eight or nine years), an individual was required to take to higher education and to maintain celibacy to conserve physical, moral and mental energy and to devote himself to the studies for a period of about twelve to fifteen years. During this period the main obligation of an individual was to acquire knowledge and to increase his knowledge by research. This ashrama was not only intended to earn knowledge to earn for a comfortable life, but also to enable the discharge of one of the pious obligations, 'Rishiruna' ( debt due to teachers) namely acquisition and dissemination of knowledge. An individual was also required to cultivate moral character and discipline which would enable him to develop his personality so that he would not only be useful to himself but also to the members of the family and to society as well.<ref name=":0" />

=== '''गृहस्थाश्रमः ॥ Grhasthashrama''' ===

=== '''गृहस्थाश्रमः ॥ Grhasthashrama''' ===

In this second stage of life after the acquisition of knowledge or completing education, an individual had to get married and commence family life. During this stage, it was the joint responsibility of husband and wife to lead a pure and simple family life, to maintain sexual morality and to discharge the 'Pitruruna' by begetting children, educating them and making them good citizens. To do this effectively, they had to adjust to each other and live together. Further it was necessary for an individual to earn his livelihood by legitimate methods and to spend whatever he had earned not only for his benefit but also for the benefit of the other members of the family, and also to utilize his income/resources and energy for the benefit of society having due regard to his capacity and aptitude and thereby discharge the fourth pious obligation namely 'Manavaruna'. Also it was the duty of every individual to serve the society, of which he was part and parcel. It was the special responsibility of those undertaking the teaching profession or literary pursuits to enrich and disseminate knowledge to the younger generation as part of the discharge of Rishiruna - the debt due to teachers.<ref name=":0" />

In this second stage of life after the acquisition of knowledge or completing education, an individual had to get married and commence family life. During this stage, it was the joint responsibility of husband and wife to lead a pure and simple family life, to maintain sexual morality and to discharge the 'Pitruruna' by begetting children, educating them and making them good citizens. To do this effectively, they had to adjust to each other and live together. Further it was necessary for an individual to earn his livelihood by legitimate methods and to spend whatever he had earned not only for his benefit but also for the benefit of the other members of the family, and also to utilize his income/resources and energy for the benefit of society having due regard to his capacity and aptitude and thereby discharge the fourth pious obligation namely 'Manavaruna'. Also it was the duty of every individual to serve the society, of which he was part and parcel. It was the special responsibility of those undertaking the teaching profession or literary pursuits to enrich and disseminate knowledge to the younger generation as part of the discharge of Rishiruna - the debt due to teachers.<ref name=":0" />