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Grhasthashrama (Samskrit: गृहस्थाश्रमः) refers to the second of the four stages ([[Ashrama Dharma (आश्रमधर्मः)|ashramas]]) of life as per the [[Varnashrama Dharma (वर्णाश्रमधर्मः)|Varnashrama Vyavastha]]. It is the stage of a householder or Grhastha. This householder stage is entered at [[Vivaha (विवाहः)|marriage]], when a student completes his studentship and is ready to take up the duties and responsibilities of householder life.<ref name=":5">Swami Sivananda (1999), [http://www.dlshq.org/download/hinduismbk.pdf All About Hinduism], Uttar Pradesh: The Divine Life Society.</ref>  

Grhasthashrama (Samskrit: गृहस्थाश्रमः) refers to the second of the four stages ([[Ashrama Dharma (आश्रमधर्मः)|ashramas]]) of life as per the [[Varnashrama Dharma (वर्णाश्रमधर्मः)|Varnashrama Vyavastha]]. It is the stage of a householder or Grhastha. This householder stage is entered at [[Vivaha (विवाहः)|marriage]], when a student completes his studentship and is ready to take up the duties and responsibilities of householder life.<ref name=":5">Swami Sivananda (1999), [http://www.dlshq.org/download/hinduismbk.pdf All About Hinduism], Uttar Pradesh: The Divine Life Society.</ref>  

*Nourishing the dependent class.

*Nourishing the dependent class.

*Being compasionate towards the poor.

*Being compassionate towards the poor.

*Engaging in dana.

*Engaging in dana.

==== उपजीविकानियमाः ॥ Codes of Subsistence ====

==== उपजीविकानियमाः ॥ Codes of Subsistence ====

It is said that a householder should earn money by honest means and distribute it in the proper manner. He should spend one-tenth of his income in charity and enjoy sensual pleasures within the limits of the moral law.<ref name=":5" /> The Mahabharata (Anushasana Parva) while speaking of  [[Pravrtti and Nivrtti (प्रवृत्तिः निवृत्तिः च)|Pravrtti]] dharma for grhasthas states how wealth earned  through rightful means should be utilised by dividing it into 3 portions.<blockquote>एकेनांशेन धर्मार्थः कर्तव्यो हितमिच्छता। एकेनांशेन कामार्थमेकमंशं विवर्धयेत्।।१३.२११.१७<ref name=":10" /> ekenāṁśena dharmārthaḥ kartavyo hitamicchatā। ekenāṁśena kāmārthamekamaṁśaṁ vivardhayet।।13.211.17</blockquote>Meaning: One desirous of upliftment must acquire dharma and artha with one portion, the second portion should be utilised for one's expenses while the third should be increased.<ref name=":8">Shastri, Ramnarayanadatta Pandey, Mahabharata Volume 6 (With Hindi Translation), Gorakhpur:Gita Press.</ref>

It is said that a householder should earn money by honest means and distribute it in the proper manner. He should spend one-tenth of his income in charity and enjoy sensual pleasures within the limits of the moral law.<ref name=":5" /> The Mahabharata (Anushasana Parva) while speaking of  [[Pravrtti and Nivrtti (प्रवृत्तिः निवृत्तिः च)|Pravrtti]] dharma for grhasthas states how wealth earned  through rightful means should be utilised by dividing it into 3 portions.<blockquote>एकेनांशेन धर्मार्थः कर्तव्यो हितमिच्छता। एकेनांशेन कामार्थमेकमंशं विवर्धयेत्।।१३.२११.१७<ref name=":10" /> ekenāṁśena dharmārthaḥ kartavyo hitamicchatā। ekenāṁśena kāmārthamekamaṁśaṁ vivardhayet।।13.211.17</blockquote>Meaning: One desirous of upliftment must acquire dharma and artha with one portion, the second portion should be utilised for one's expenses while the third should be increased.<ref name=":12" />

The Bhagavata Purana further states that  

The Bhagavata Purana further states that  

dānto vidheyo havyakavyāpramatto hyannasya dātā satataṁ dvijebhyaḥ।  

dānto vidheyo havyakavyāpramatto hyannasya dātā satataṁ dvijebhyaḥ।  

amatsarī sarvaliṅgapradātā vaitānanityaśca gr̥hāśramī syāt।।12.60.12</blockquote>It states that honouring of guests, protection of the [[Tretagni (त्रेताग्निः)|3 fires]] (ie. garhapatya and others) is the duty of a grhastha. And he must also perform the various ishtis and Pashubandhas according to the vidhis.<ref name=":8" /><blockquote>अतिथिप्रियता धर्मो धर्मस्त्रेताग्निधारणम्। इष्टिर्वा पशुबन्धाश्च विधिपूर्वं परंतप।।१३.२०८.१८<ref name=":9" /> atithipriyatā dharmo dharmastretāgnidhāraṇam। iṣṭirvā paśubandhāśca vidhipūrvaṁ paraṁtapa।।13.208.18</blockquote>

amatsarī sarvaliṅgapradātā vaitānanityaśca gr̥hāśramī syāt।।12.60.12</blockquote>It states that honouring of guests, protection of the [[Tretagni (त्रेताग्निः)|3 fires]] (ie. garhapatya and others) is the duty of a grhastha. And he must also perform the various ishtis and Pashubandhas according to the vidhis.<ref name=":12" /><blockquote>अतिथिप्रियता धर्मो धर्मस्त्रेताग्निधारणम्। इष्टिर्वा पशुबन्धाश्च विधिपूर्वं परंतप।।१३.२०८.१८<ref name=":9" /> atithipriyatā dharmo dharmastretāgnidhāraṇam। iṣṭirvā paśubandhāśca vidhipūrvaṁ paraṁtapa।।13.208.18</blockquote>

==== पञ्चमहायज्ञाः ॥ Panchamahayajnas ====

==== पञ्चमहायज्ञाः ॥ Panchamahayajnas ====

The Manusmrti states that a grhastha should perform grhya rites in the Vaivahika agni (the agni in whose presence one's marriage has taken place) as well as the Panchamahayajnas and Nitya Paka.<ref name=":13" /><ref name=":15">Girija Prasad Dvivedi (1917), [https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.343659/page/n217/mode/2up?view=theater The Manusmriti], Lucknow: Newal Kishore Press.</ref><blockquote>वैवाहिकेऽग्नौ कुर्वीत गृह्यं कर्म यथाविधि । पञ्चयज्ञविधानं च पक्तिं चान्वाहिकीं गृही । । ३.६७ । ।<ref name=":0" /> vaivāhike'gnau kurvīta gr̥hyaṁ karma yathāvidhi । pañcayajñavidhānaṁ ca paktiṁ cānvāhikīṁ gr̥hī । । 3.67 । ।</blockquote>The hearth (place of cooking, the oven, etc.), the grinding-stone (the stone-slab and the grinding piece), household implements (such as the pot, kettle and other such household requisites), mortar and pestle (by which corn is thumped) and water-jar are known as the five slaughter-houses for the householder by using which one becomes stricken as they are sources of Papa. And in order to expiate or remove the evils proceeding from their use as in smearing of the hearth, scraping of the grinding-stone and so forth, the great sages have ordained the performance of the Panchamahayajnas daily for the householders.<ref name=":13" /><blockquote>पञ्च सूना गृहस्थस्य चुल्ली पेषण्युपस्करः । कण्डनी चोदकुम्भश्च बध्यते यास्तु वाहयन् । । ३.६८ । ।

The Manusmrti states that a grhastha should perform grhya rites in the Vaivahika agni (the agni in whose presence one's marriage has taken place) as well as the Panchamahayajnas and Nitya Paka.<ref name=":13" /><ref name=":15">Girija Prasad Dvivedi (1917), [https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.343659/page/n217/mode/2up?view=theater The Manusmriti], Lucknow: Newal Kishore Press.</ref><blockquote>वैवाहिकेऽग्नौ कुर्वीत गृह्यं कर्म यथाविधि । पञ्चयज्ञविधानं च पक्तिं चान्वाहिकीं गृही । । ३.६७ । ।<ref name=":0" /> vaivāhike'gnau kurvīta gr̥hyaṁ karma yathāvidhi । pañcayajñavidhānaṁ ca paktiṁ cānvāhikīṁ gr̥hī । । 3.67 । ।</blockquote>The hearth (place of cooking, the oven, etc.), the grinding-stone (the stone-slab and the grinding piece), household implements (such as the pot, kettle and other such household requisites), mortar and pestle (by which corn is thumped) and water-jar are known as the five slaughter-houses for the householder by using which one becomes stricken as they are sources of Papa. And in order to expiate or remove the evils proceeding from their use as in smearing of the hearth, scraping of the grinding-stone and so forth, the great sages have ordained the performance of the Panchamahayajnas daily for the householders.<ref name=":13" /><blockquote>पञ्च सूना गृहस्थस्य चुल्ली पेषण्युपस्करः । कण्डनी चोदकुम्भश्च बध्यते यास्तु वाहयन् । । ३.६८ । ।

paradāreṣvasaṁsargo nyāsastrīparirakṣaṇam। adattādānaviramo madhumāṁsasya varjanam ॥ eṣa pañcavidho dharmo bahuśākhaḥ sukhodayaḥ। dehibhirdharmaparamaiśrvartavyo dharmasambhavaḥ॥  

paradāreṣvasaṁsargo nyāsastrīparirakṣaṇam। adattādānaviramo madhumāṁsasya varjanam ॥ eṣa pañcavidho dharmo bahuśākhaḥ sukhodayaḥ। dehibhirdharmaparamaiśrvartavyo dharmasambhavaḥ॥  

(Maha. Anush. Parv. 141.26-27) </blockquote>Meaning: Refraining from seeking other person's wife, protecting ladies and those under one's care, not taking any thing from other's (in the form of charity) without first giving, not consuming meat and liquor - these are five kinds of dharmas that lead one to happiness. Each of these five dharmas further lead into many branches. And those who hold dharma in high position always follow such dharmas for the sake of earning punya (merits).<ref name=":12" /> The Mahabharata also states that those who, being in grhasthashrama, do seva of parents, the women who serve their husbands and the brahmanas who do [[Agnihotra (अग्निहोत्रम्)|agnihotra]] daily, [[Indra (इन्द्रः)|Indra]] and other devatas as well as the pitrs in the pitrloka become pleased with them and such people are pleased by their own dharma.<ref name=":8" /><blockquote>शुश्रूषन्ते ये पितरं मातरं च गृहाश्रमे। भर्तारं चैव या नारी अग्निहोत्रं च ये द्विजाः।।१३.२११.३७  

(Maha. Anush. Parv. 141.26-27) </blockquote>Meaning: Refraining from seeking other person's wife, protecting ladies and those under one's care, not taking any thing from other's (in the form of charity) without first giving, not consuming meat and liquor - these are five kinds of dharmas that lead one to happiness. Each of these five dharmas further lead into many branches. And those who hold dharma in high position always follow such dharmas for the sake of earning punya (merits).<ref name=":12" /> The Mahabharata also states that those who, being in grhasthashrama, do seva of parents, the women who serve their husbands and the brahmanas who do [[Agnihotra (अग्निहोत्रम्)|agnihotra]] daily, [[Indra (इन्द्रः)|Indra]] and other devatas as well as the pitrs in the pitrloka become pleased with them and such people are pleased by their own dharma.<ref name=":12" /><blockquote>शुश्रूषन्ते ये पितरं मातरं च गृहाश्रमे। भर्तारं चैव या नारी अग्निहोत्रं च ये द्विजाः।।१३.२११.३७  

तेषुतेषु च प्रीणन्ति देवा इन्द्रपुरोगमाः। पितरः पितृलोकस्थाः स्वधर्मेण स रज्यते।।१३.२११.३८<ref name=":10" />

तेषुतेषु च प्रीणन्ति देवा इन्द्रपुरोगमाः। पितरः पितृलोकस्थाः स्वधर्मेण स रज्यते।।१३.२११.३८<ref name=":10" />

satsaṅ‌gācchanakaiḥ saṅ‌gaṁ ātmajāyātmajādiṣu । vimuñcen mucyamāneṣu svayaṁ svapnavadutthitaḥ ॥ 4 ॥ </blockquote>Infact it is also suggested that even though one may be a householder, one should not take extraordinary measures to fulfil the three purusharthas. Rather one should enjoy what is afforded to oneself by providence according to its place and time. As also duly share one's objects of enjoyment with all down to dogs, papis and people belonging to the lowest strata of the society. Infact, sharing what one has obtained in one's own vocation with deities, sages, human beings, other living beings, pitrs and his own self is described as a means to worship the antaryamin or the indweller daily.

satsaṅ‌gācchanakaiḥ saṅ‌gaṁ ātmajāyātmajādiṣu । vimuñcen mucyamāneṣu svayaṁ svapnavadutthitaḥ ॥ 4 ॥ </blockquote>Infact it is also suggested that even though one may be a householder, one should not take extraordinary measures to fulfil the three purusharthas. Rather one should enjoy what is afforded to oneself by providence according to its place and time. As also duly share one's objects of enjoyment with all down to dogs, papis and people belonging to the lowest strata of the society. Infact, sharing what one has obtained in one's own vocation with deities, sages, human beings, other living beings, pitrs and his own self is described as a means to worship the antaryamin or the indweller daily.

It is said that if one possesses all the required materials as well as the requisite qualifications for performing yajnas, one should worship the Supreme being according to the procedure laid down in the Shrauta and Kalpa sutras. However, Bhagavan, the enjoyer of yajnas is still more satisfied when morsels of food are offered to Him through the mouths of the brahmanas than through oblations offered in the fire. Therefore, one should worship this Inner controller through the brahmanas, deities presiding over the Panchamahayajnas as also through human beings and other creatures, by offering them objects of enjoyment, in the respective order, after feeding the brahmanas.<ref name=":1" /> In this way, one will be able to worship all living entities; in other words, the supreme being within every living entity.  

It is said that if one possesses all the required materials as well as the requisite qualifications for performing yajnas, one should worship the Supreme being according to the procedure laid down in the [[Shrautasutras (श्रौतसूत्राणि)|Shrauta]] and [[Kalpa Vedanga (कल्पवेदाङ्गम्)|Kalpa sutras]]. However, Bhagavan, the enjoyer of yajnas is still more satisfied when morsels of food are offered to Him through the mouths of the brahmanas than through oblations offered in the fire. Therefore, one should worship this Inner controller through the brahmanas, deities presiding over the Panchamahayajnas as also through human beings and other creatures, by offering them objects of enjoyment, in the respective order, after feeding the brahmanas.<ref name=":1" /> In this way, one will be able to worship all living entities; in other words, the supreme being within every living entity.  

Moreover, it is also said that an intelligent person should consider the things obtained or the food left over from the offering to the deities in the Panchamahayajnas as one's means of livelihood. For, by this notion one can give up attachment to the body and the so-called proprietorship of the body. And when one is able to do this, then one becomes firmly fixed in the position of a great human being or mahatma.<ref name=":16" /><blockquote>सिद्धैर्यज्ञावशिष्टार्थैः कल्पयेद् वृत्तिमात्मनः । शेषे स्वत्वं त्यजन् प्राज्ञः पदवीं महतामियात् ॥ १४ ॥<ref name=":17" />

Moreover, it is also said that an intelligent person should consider the things obtained or the food left over from the offering to the deities in the Panchamahayajnas as one's means of livelihood. For, by this notion one can give up attachment to the body and the so-called proprietorship of the body. And when one is able to do this, then one becomes firmly fixed in the position of a great human being or mahatma.<ref name=":16" /><blockquote>सिद्धैर्यज्ञावशिष्टार्थैः कल्पयेद् वृत्तिमात्मनः । शेषे स्वत्वं त्यजन् प्राज्ञः पदवीं महतामियात् ॥ १४ ॥<ref name=":17" />

[[Category:Dharmas]]

[[Category:Dharmas]]

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