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Sankara then briefly describes the discipline of the four asramas, but his heart seems to be in describing the grhathasramadharma for Uma. Dealing with vanaprasthasrama, the discipline of the forest-dweller, and the sannyasasrama, the discipline of the renouncer, in just six and a half verses, Sankara soon returns to a very detailed description of the grhasthasrama. And the core of the discipline of grhastha that Sankara describes is in looking after and generously providing for the sustenance of all, and especially of the guests who arrive at the door of the householder. This opportunity to look after and sustain others is what makes the grhasthasrama so great that, as Sankara says, the severest austerities of vanaprasthasrama cannot measure up to even the one-sixteenth part of the merit acquired by properly fulfilled grhasthasrama:  

Sankara then briefly describes the discipline of the four asramas, but his heart seems to be in describing the grhathasramadharma for Uma. Dealing with vanaprasthasrama, the discipline of the forest-dweller, and the sannyasasrama, the discipline of the renouncer, in just six and a half verses, Sankara soon returns to a very detailed description of the grhasthasrama. And the core of the discipline of grhastha that Sankara describes is in looking after and generously providing for the sustenance of all, and especially of the guests who arrive at the door of the householder. This opportunity to look after and sustain others is what makes the grhasthasrama so great that, as Sankara says, the severest austerities of vanaprasthasrama cannot measure up to even the one-sixteenth part of the merit acquired by properly fulfilled grhasthasrama:  

samyak tapascarantiha sraddadhana vanasrame grhasramasya te devi aldm ndrhanti sodasim? (Maha anusasana 141, p. 5923)

samyak tapascarantiha sraddadhana vanasrame grhasramasya te devi aldm ndrhanti sodasim? (Maha anusasana 141, p. 5923)

Sankara of course also describes in detail the various observances and fasts that a grhastha is expected to undertake, and even the rules of personal hygiene and social practice that he is expected to scrupulously follow. But he reverts again and again to the sustenance that flows from the grhastha in all directions, and concludes by an expansive listing of the diverse people and other living beings who keep looking up to the grhastha for their livelihood. Thus, says Sankara:3  

Sankara of course also describes in detail the various observances and fasts that a grhastha is expected to undertake, and even the rules of personal hygiene and social practice that he is expected to scrupulously follow. But he reverts again and again to the sustenance that flows from the grhastha in all directions, and concludes by an expansive listing of the diverse people and other living beings who keep looking up to the grhastha for their livelihood. Thus, says Sankara:3  

Listen to the virtue earned by the one who does not spare a second thought for what has been used up by the men and other living beings that look up to him for sustenance, and who knows that sustaining them is indeed his dharma. Such a one, having fulfilled the dharma of grhasthasrama for twelve years, attains the merit that accrues to those who perform an asvamedha after having first accomplished all other yagya. Such is the glory of grhasthasrama. And such are the yagyas of the grhastha, that sustain the whole world day after day.  

Listen to the virtue earned by the one who does not spare a second thought for what has been used up by the men and other living beings that look up to him for sustenance, and who knows that sustaining them is indeed his dharma. Such a one, having fulfilled the dharma of grhasthasrama for twelve years, attains the merit that accrues to those who perform an asvamedha after having first accomplished all other yagya. Such is the glory of grhasthasrama. And such are the yagyas of the grhastha, that sustain the whole world day after day.  

 

=== '''The five great Yagyas of Grihasthas (Pancaiva mahayajnah)''' ===

'''The five great Yagyas of Grihasthas (Pancaiva mahayajnah)'''

The responsibility of the grhastha to provide for the sustenance of  the daily routine of life around him is celebrated in the Indian classical texts as the pancamahayajna. These are the five great yagyasthat a grhastha is expected to perform everyday. In fact, it is the performance of the pancamahayajna that defines a grhastha: one who does not undertake these yajhas everyday probably does not even qualify to be called by the name of a grhastha, a householder. And, as we shall see, through the performance of the pahcamahayajna, the householder shares his daily victuals with the representatives of different aspects of creation, and thus seems to remind himself afresh everyday of his responsibility towards all creation and re-dedicate himself to the sustenance of at least as much of creation as falls within his reach.  

The responsibility of the grhastha to provide for the sustenance of  the daily routine of life around him is celebrated in the Indian classical texts as the pancamahayajna. These are the five great yagyasthat a grhastha is expected to perform everyday. In fact, it is the performance of the pancamahayajna that defines a grhastha: one who does not undertake these yajhas everyday probably does not even qualify to be called by the name of a grhastha, a householder. And, as we shall see, through the performance of the pahcamahayajna, the householder shares his daily victuals with the representatives of different aspects of creation, and thus seems to remind himself afresh everyday of his responsibility towards all creation and re-dedicate himself to the sustenance of at least as much of creation as falls within his reach.