Changes

Meaning: Vaikhanasa were the favourites of Indra. In the sutras, Vaikhanasa meant Vanaprastha and therefore, it is possible that this is the germ of the idea.<ref name=":6" />

Meaning: Vaikhanasa were the favourites of Indra. In the sutras, Vaikhanasa meant Vanaprastha and therefore, it is possible that this is the germ of the idea.<ref name=":6" />

== Types of Vanaprastha ==

# Vaikhanasa

 

# Udumbara

# Valakhilya

 

==Types of Vanaprastha ==

#Vaikhanasa

#Udumbara

#Valakhilya

# Parivrajaka<ref name=":6" />

# Parivrajaka<ref name=":6" />

== Bhagavata Purana ==

== Bhagavata Purana==

Just as Brahmacharya is a preparation for the life of the Grhastha, similarly, Vanaprastha is a preparation for the final stage of Sannyasa. It is said that, after discharging all the duties of a householder, one should retire to the forest or a solitary country place and begin to meditate in solitude on higher spiritual things. At this stage, one is free from social bonds and the responsibilities of life and has ample time for study of scriptures.<ref>Swami Sivananda (1999), [http://www.dlshq.org/download/hinduismbk.pdf All About Hinduism], Uttar Pradesh: The Divine Life Society.</ref>

Just as Brahmacharya is a preparation for the life of the Grhastha, similarly, Vanaprastha is a preparation for the final stage of Sannyasa. It is said that, after discharging all the duties of a householder, one should retire to the forest or a solitary country place and begin to meditate in solitude on higher spiritual things. At this stage, one is free from social bonds and the responsibilities of life and has ample time for study of scriptures.<ref>Swami Sivananda (1999), [http://www.dlshq.org/download/hinduismbk.pdf All About Hinduism], Uttar Pradesh: The Divine Life Society.</ref>

The Bhagavata Purana, Skanda 7, Chapter 12, explains the code of conduct prescribed for Vanaprasthas.<ref name=":1">Ganesh Vasudeo Tagare, The Bhagavata Purana (Part III), Ancient Indian Tradition & Mythology (Volume 9), Edited by J.L.Shastri, New Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, P.no.[https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.150116/page/n101 971-973].</ref> They are as follows:

The Bhagavata Purana, Skanda 7, Chapter 12, explains the code of conduct prescribed for Vanaprasthas.<ref name=":1">Ganesh Vasudeo Tagare, The Bhagavata Purana (Part III), Ancient Indian Tradition & Mythology (Volume 9), Edited by J.L.Shastri, New Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, P.no.[https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.150116/page/n101 971-973].</ref> They are as follows:

* A Vanaprastha should not eat the product of cultivation (eg. rice, wheat) or anything (like fruits, roots etc.), which though not a product of tillage, ripened before time. He should not partake of food cooked on fire. He should subsist on what is ripe or cooked by rays of the Sun.

*A Vanaprastha should not eat the product of cultivation (eg. rice, wheat) or anything (like fruits, roots etc.), which though not a product of tillage, ripened before time. He should not partake of food cooked on fire. He should subsist on what is ripe or cooked by rays of the Sun.

<blockquote>न कृष्टपच्यमश्नीयादकृष्टं चाप्यकालतः । अग्निपक्वमथामं वा अर्कपक्वमुताहरेत् ॥ १८॥<ref name=":0">Bhagavata Purana, Skandha 7, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%AD/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%A8 Adhyaya 12].</ref>

<blockquote>न कृष्टपच्यमश्नीयादकृष्टं चाप्यकालतः । अग्निपक्वमथामं वा अर्कपक्वमुताहरेत् ॥ १८॥<ref name=":0">Bhagavata Purana, Skandha 7, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%AD/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%A8 Adhyaya 12].</ref>

''na kr̥ṣṭapacyamaśnīyādakr̥ṣṭaṁ cāpyakālataḥ । agnipakvamathāmaṁ vā arkapakvamutāharet ॥ 18॥''</blockquote>

''na kr̥ṣṭapacyamaśnīyādakr̥ṣṭaṁ cāpyakālataḥ । agnipakvamathāmaṁ vā arkapakvamutāharet ॥ 18॥''</blockquote>

* He should prepare charu (an oblation of rice, barley and pulse boiled for offering to deities and pitrs) and Purodasha (boiled rice rounded into a cake for offering to different deities) of corn, wild growth (Nivara) and of a permanent nature. And when he procures new and fresh eatables, he should reject the old ones (stored by him).

*He should prepare charu (an oblation of rice, barley and pulse boiled for offering to deities and pitrs) and Purodasha (boiled rice rounded into a cake for offering to different deities) of corn, wild growth (Nivara) and of a permanent nature. And when he procures new and fresh eatables, he should reject the old ones (stored by him).

<blockquote>वन्यैश्चरुपुरोडाशान् निर्वपेत्कालचोदितान् । लब्धे नवे नवेऽन्नाद्ये पुराणं तु परित्यजेत् ॥ १९॥<ref name=":0" />

<blockquote>वन्यैश्चरुपुरोडाशान् निर्वपेत्कालचोदितान् । लब्धे नवे नवेऽन्नाद्ये पुराणं तु परित्यजेत् ॥ १९॥<ref name=":0" />

''vanyaiścarupuroḍāśān nirvapetkālacoditān । labdhe nave nave'nnādye purāṇaṁ tu parityajet ॥ 19॥''</blockquote>

''vanyaiścarupuroḍāśān nirvapetkālacoditān । labdhe nave nave'nnādye purāṇaṁ tu parityajet ॥ 19॥''</blockquote>

* It is just for the preservation of the sacred fire that he should take shelter in a house or cottage or a cave in mountains. He himself should bear exposure to snow, wind, fire, rain and heat of the Sun.

*It is just for the preservation of the sacred fire that he should take shelter in a house or cottage or a cave in mountains. He himself should bear exposure to snow, wind, fire, rain and heat of the Sun.

<blockquote>अग्न्यर्थमेव शरणमुटजं वाद्रिकन्दराम् । श्रयेत हिमवाय्वग्निवर्षार्कातपषाट् स्वयम् ॥ २०॥<ref name=":0" />

<blockquote>अग्न्यर्थमेव शरणमुटजं वाद्रिकन्दराम् । श्रयेत हिमवाय्वग्निवर्षार्कातपषाट् स्वयम् ॥ २०॥<ref name=":0" />

''caredvane dvādaśābdānaṣṭau vā caturo muniḥ । dvāvekaṁ vā yathā buddhirna vipadyeta kr̥cchrataḥ ॥ 22॥''</blockquote>

''caredvane dvādaśābdānaṣṭau vā caturo muniḥ । dvāvekaṁ vā yathā buddhirna vipadyeta kr̥cchrataḥ ॥ 22॥''</blockquote>

* If (after the period of stay in the forest) he finds that, owing to ill health (diseases) or old age, he is incapable of pursuing his courses of duties (as a Vanaprastha) or prosecuting his studies in philosophy, he should adopt the vow of fasting, etc. (If he is capable, he should become a Sannyasi - a recluse).

*If (after the period of stay in the forest) he finds that, owing to ill health (diseases) or old age, he is incapable of pursuing his courses of duties (as a Vanaprastha) or prosecuting his studies in philosophy, he should adopt the vow of fasting, etc. (If he is capable, he should become a Sannyasi - a recluse).

<blockquote>यदाकल्पः स्वक्रियायां व्याधिभिर्जरयाथवा । आन्वीक्षिक्यां वा विद्यायां कुर्यादनशनादिकम् ॥ २३॥<ref name=":0" />

<blockquote>यदाकल्पः स्वक्रियायां व्याधिभिर्जरयाथवा । आन्वीक्षिक्यां वा विद्यायां कुर्यादनशनादिकम् ॥ २३॥<ref name=":0" />

''ātmanyagnīn samāropya sannyasyāhaṁmamātmatām । kāraṇeṣu nyasetsamyak saṅghātaṁ tu yathārhataḥ ॥ 24॥''</blockquote>

''ātmanyagnīn samāropya sannyasyāhaṁmamātmatām । kāraṇeṣu nyasetsamyak saṅghātaṁ tu yathārhataḥ ॥ 24॥''</blockquote>

* A self-controlled man should merge the cavities in his bodies (eg. eyes, ears, nostrils) into the sky (the element-the mahabhuta called akasha), his exhalations (vital-breaths) into the air, the temperature of his body into the fire, (fluids like) blood, phlegm and pus into the water and the rest (hard substances like bones, muscles etc.) into the earth - thus assigning them each to its respective origin. (Thus he should merge his gross body).  

*A self-controlled man should merge the cavities in his bodies (eg. eyes, ears, nostrils) into the sky (the element-the mahabhuta called akasha), his exhalations (vital-breaths) into the air, the temperature of his body into the fire, (fluids like) blood, phlegm and pus into the water and the rest (hard substances like bones, muscles etc.) into the earth - thus assigning them each to its respective origin. (Thus he should merge his gross body).

<blockquote>खे खानि वायौ निश्वासांस्तेजस्यूष्माणमात्मवान् । अप्स्वसृक्श्लेष्मपूयानि क्षितौ शेषं यथोद्भवम् ॥ २५॥<ref name=":0" />

<blockquote>खे खानि वायौ निश्वासांस्तेजस्यूष्माणमात्मवान् । अप्स्वसृक्श्लेष्मपूयानि क्षितौ शेषं यथोद्भवम् ॥ २५॥<ref name=":0" />

''khe khāni vāyau niśvāsāṁstejasyūṣmāṇamātmavān । apsvasr̥kśleṣmapūyāni kṣitau śeṣaṁ yathodbhavam ॥ 25॥''</blockquote>

''khe khāni vāyau niśvāsāṁstejasyūṣmāṇamātmavān । apsvasr̥kśleṣmapūyāni kṣitau śeṣaṁ yathodbhavam ॥ 25॥''</blockquote>

* He should consign his speech along with the organ of speech to the Fire, even his hands and handicraft to Indra, his feet along with (the power of) locomotion to Vishnu, the organ of pleasure (along with the power of procreation) to Prajapati (deity presiding over procreation).

*He should consign his speech along with the organ of speech to the Fire, even his hands and handicraft to Indra, his feet along with (the power of) locomotion to Vishnu, the organ of pleasure (along with the power of procreation) to Prajapati (deity presiding over procreation).

<blockquote>वाचमग्नौ सवक्तव्यामिन्द्रे शिल्पं करावपि । पदानि गत्या वयसि रत्योपस्थं प्रजापतौ ॥ २६॥<ref name=":0" />

<blockquote>वाचमग्नौ सवक्तव्यामिन्द्रे शिल्पं करावपि । पदानि गत्या वयसि रत्योपस्थं प्रजापतौ ॥ २६॥<ref name=":0" />

''mr̥tyau pāyuṁ visargaṁ ca yathāsthānaṁ vinirdiśet । dikṣu śrotraṁ sanādena sparśamadhyātmani tvacam ॥ 27॥''</blockquote>

''mr̥tyau pāyuṁ visargaṁ ca yathāsthānaṁ vinirdiśet । dikṣu śrotraṁ sanādena sparśamadhyātmani tvacam ॥ 27॥''</blockquote>

* Oh Raja, he should deposit his eyes (eye-sight) and the colours and forms (the objects of the eye) with the Sun deity, the tongue or its objects of taste such as sweet, bitter etc in water (or deity Varuna), and the olfactory sense along with objects ie. various smells, with the Earth.

*Oh Raja, he should deposit his eyes (eye-sight) and the colours and forms (the objects of the eye) with the Sun deity, the tongue or its objects of taste such as sweet, bitter etc in water (or deity Varuna), and the olfactory sense along with objects ie. various smells, with the Earth.

<blockquote>रूपाणि चक्षुषा राजन् ज्योतिष्यभिनिवेशयेत् । अप्सु प्रचेतसा जिह्वां घ्रेयैर्घ्राणं क्षितौ न्यसेत् ॥ २८॥<ref name=":0" />

<blockquote>रूपाणि चक्षुषा राजन् ज्योतिष्यभिनिवेशयेत् । अप्सु प्रचेतसा जिह्वां घ्रेयैर्घ्राणं क्षितौ न्यसेत् ॥ २८॥<ref name=":0" />

''sattvena cittaṁ kṣetrajñe guṇairvaikārikaṁ pare ॥ 29॥''</blockquote>

''sattvena cittaṁ kṣetrajñe guṇairvaikārikaṁ pare ॥ 29॥''</blockquote>

* He should then dissolve the earth into water, absorb water into fire, fire into the air and the air into the ether. The ether or akasha is to be merged intot the principle called ego (aham), that into Mahat (the principle of cosmic intelligence), and that into te unmanifested Prakrti and that unmanifest Pradhana into Paramatman (the Supreme being).

*He should then dissolve the earth into water, absorb water into fire, fire into the air and the air into the ether. The ether or akasha is to be merged intot the principle called ego (aham), that into Mahat (the principle of cosmic intelligence), and that into te unmanifested Prakrti and that unmanifest Pradhana into Paramatman (the Supreme being).

<blockquote>अप्सु क्षितिमपो ज्योतिष्यदो वायौ नभस्यमुम् । कूटस्थे तच्च महति तदव्यक्तेऽक्षरे च तत् ॥ ३०॥<ref name=":0" />

<blockquote>अप्सु क्षितिमपो ज्योतिष्यदो वायौ नभस्यमुम् । कूटस्थे तच्च महति तदव्यक्तेऽक्षरे च तत् ॥ ३०॥<ref name=":0" />

''apsu kṣitimapo jyotiṣyado vāyau nabhasyamum । kūṭasthe tacca mahati tadavyakte'kṣare ca tat ॥ 30॥''</blockquote>

''apsu kṣitimapo jyotiṣyado vāyau nabhasyamum । kūṭasthe tacca mahati tadavyakte'kṣare ca tat ॥ 30॥''</blockquote>

* Having thus realised the atman as identical with Paramatman, and nothing but indestructible consciousness and becoming free from the notion of duality (with the faith that there is no independent absolute thing other than Hari), he should cease to function ike fire that has consumed its own source (fuel).  

* Having thus realised the atman as identical with Paramatman, and nothing but indestructible consciousness and becoming free from the notion of duality (with the faith that there is no independent absolute thing other than Hari), he should cease to function ike fire that has consumed its own source (fuel).

<blockquote>इत्यक्षरतयाऽऽत्मानं चिन्मात्रमवशेषितम् । ज्ञात्वाद्वयोऽथ विरमेद्दग्धयोनिरिवानलः ॥ ३१॥<ref name=":0" />

<blockquote>इत्यक्षरतयाऽऽत्मानं चिन्मात्रमवशेषितम् । ज्ञात्वाद्वयोऽथ विरमेद्दग्धयोनिरिवानलः ॥ ३१॥<ref name=":0" />

''ityakṣaratayā<nowiki>''tmānaṁ cinmātramavaśeṣitam । jñātvādvayo'</nowiki>tha virameddagdhayonirivānalaḥ ॥ 31॥''</blockquote>

''ityakṣaratayā<nowiki>''tmānaṁ cinmātramavaśeṣitam । jñātvādvayo'</nowiki>tha virameddagdhayonirivānalaḥ ॥ 31॥''</blockquote>

== Mahabharata ==

==Mahabharata==

=== Rajadharmanushasana Parva, Shanti Parva ===

===Rajadharmanushasana Parva, Shanti Parva===

तत्रारण्यकशास्त्राणि समधीत्य स धर्मवित्।12.60.5 (61.5)<ref>Mahabharata, Shanti Parva, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D-12-%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5-060 Adhyaya 60]</ref>

तत्रारण्यकशास्त्राणि समधीत्य स धर्मवित्।12.60.5 (61.5)<ref>Mahabharata, Shanti Parva, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D-12-%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5-060 Adhyaya 60]</ref>

In the Vanaprashthashrama (tatra), a person knowledgeable in dharma upholds the duties of Vanaprastha by studying the Aranyaka shastras.<ref name=":4">Pandit Ramnarayanadatta Shastri Pandey, Mahabharata (Khanda 5-Shantiparva), Gorakhpur: Gita Press.</ref>

In the Vanaprashthashrama (tatra), a person knowledgeable in dharma upholds the duties of Vanaprastha by studying the Aranyaka shastras.<ref name=":4">Pandit Ramnarayanadatta Shastri Pandey, Mahabharata (Khanda 5-Shantiparva), Gorakhpur: Gita Press.</ref>

=== Mokshadharma Parva, Shanti Parva ===

=== Mokshadharma Parva, Shanti Parva===

In the Mokshadharma Parva from the Shanti Parva of the Mahabharata, Bhishma enlightens Yudhishthira with the knowledge about Vanaprasthashrama that was given to Shukadeva by his father Maharshi Vyasa.

In the Mokshadharma Parva from the Shanti Parva of the Mahabharata, Bhishma enlightens Yudhishthira with the knowledge about Vanaprasthashrama that was given to Shukadeva by his father Maharshi Vyasa.

नियतो नियताहारः षष्ठभुक्तोऽप्रमत्तवान् । तदग्निहोत्रं ता गावो यज्ञाङ्गानि च सर्वशः ॥६॥<ref name=":5" />

नियतो नियताहारः षष्ठभुक्तोऽप्रमत्तवान् । तदग्निहोत्रं ता गावो यज्ञाङ्गानि च सर्वशः ॥६॥<ref name=":5" />

=== Uma Shankara Samvada, Anushasana Parva, Mahabharata. ===

===Uma Shankara Samvada, Anushasana Parva, Mahabharata.===

गृहवासं समुत्सृकज्य निश्चित्यैकमनाः शुभैः। वन्यैरेव तदाहारैः वर्तयेदिति च स्थितिः।।13.208.47

गृहवासं समुत्सृकज्य निश्चित्यैकमनाः शुभैः। वन्यैरेव तदाहारैः वर्तयेदिति च स्थितिः।।13.208.47

He is required to perform agnihotra and bathe thrice every day. Brahmacharya, kshama and shaucha are his sanatana dharmas. The one who does these, such a vanaprastha gets established in devaloka after giving up his life.<ref>Shastri, Ramnarayanadatta Pandey, Mahabharata Volume 6 (With Hindi Translation), Gorakhpur:Gita Press.</ref>

He is required to perform agnihotra and bathe thrice every day. Brahmacharya, kshama and shaucha are his sanatana dharmas. The one who does these, such a vanaprastha gets established in devaloka after giving up his life.<ref>Shastri, Ramnarayanadatta Pandey, Mahabharata Volume 6 (With Hindi Translation), Gorakhpur:Gita Press.</ref>

== Manusmrti ==

==Manusmrti ==

When should one take to Vanaprasthashrama ?

When should one take to Vanaprasthashrama ?

The text distinctly adds the term region specially as liberation is going to be spoken as being led to from the fourth life stage.<ref name=":2" />

The text distinctly adds the term region specially as liberation is going to be spoken as being led to from the fourth life stage.<ref name=":2" />

== Narada Purana ==

==Narada Purana==

वानप्रस्थाः खल्वपि धर्ममनुसरंतः पुण्यानि तीर्थानि नदीप्रस्रवणानि स्वभक्तेष्वरण्येषु

वानप्रस्थाः खल्वपि धर्ममनुसरंतः पुण्यानि तीर्थानि नदीप्रस्रवणानि स्वभक्तेष्वरण्येषु

Similar verse in Mahabharata (Gita Press version Shanti Parva Adhyaya 192 Pg.no.4907<ref name=":4" />)

Similar verse in Mahabharata (Gita Press version Shanti Parva Adhyaya 192 Pg.no.4907<ref name=":4" />)

== Vanaprastha for Women ==

==Vanaprastha for Women==

According to the Smrtis, women could accompany their husbands in the Vanaprasthashrama if they so desired.

According to the Smrtis, women could accompany their husbands in the Vanaprasthashrama if they so desired.

For example,

For example,

* Amba (MB 5.187.25-28) - It describes how Amba, daughter of Kashiraja, went from hermitage to hermitage, bathing in holy waters and practising severe austerities. However, she did so to achieve a not very noble aim that is against the true spirit of the idea.  

*Amba (MB 5.187.25-28) - It describes how Amba, daughter of Kashiraja, went from hermitage to hermitage, bathing in holy waters and practising severe austerities. However, she did so to achieve a not very noble aim that is against the true spirit of the idea.

* Kunti (MB 15.25.15)

*Kunti (MB 15.25.15)

* Satyavati with her daughters-in-law (MB 1.119.11)<ref name=":6">Anant Balwant Marathe (2011), The Socio-Religious Implications of Vanaprastha and Samnyasa, Delhi: New Bharatiya Book Corporation.</ref>

*Satyavati with her daughters-in-law (MB 1.119.11)<ref name=":6">Anant Balwant Marathe (2011), The Socio-Religious Implications of Vanaprastha and Samnyasa, Delhi: New Bharatiya Book Corporation.</ref>

== References ==

==References==

[[Category:Dharmas]]

[[Category:Dharmas]]

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