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The principles of [[Varna Dharma (वर्णधर्मः)|varna]] (samskrit : वर्णः) and [[Ashrama Dharma (आश्रमधर्मः)|ashrama]] (samskrit : आश्रमः) are founded upon the principles of [[Purushartha (पुरुषार्थः)|Purushartha]] (पुरुषार्थः) viz. dharma (धर्मः), artha (अर्थः), kama (कामः), moksha (मोक्षः) that are the foundation of India’s culture. These Purusharthas together with varna and ashrama sum up the entire principles of Indian culture. Through the fulfilment of these, life became complete socially, physically, psychologically, intellectually, and adhyatmikly.<ref>Swami Krishnananda, The Heritage of Indian Culture ([https://www.swami-krishnananda.org/heritage/heritage_4.html Chapter 4])</ref>

The principles of [[Varna Dharma (वर्णधर्मः)|varna]] (samskrit : वर्णः) and [[Ashrama Dharma (आश्रमधर्मः)|ashrama]] (samskrit : आश्रमः) are founded upon the principles of Purushartha (पुरुषार्थः) viz. dharma (धर्मः), artha (अर्थः), kama (कामः), moksha (मोक्षः) that are the foundation of India’s culture. These Purusharthas together with varna and ashrama sum up the entire principles of Indian culture.<ref name=":4" /> It is said that, observance of Varnasrama Dharma helps one’s growth and self-evolution.<ref>Swami Sivananda (1999), [http://www.dlshq.org/download/hinduismbk.pdf All About Hinduism], Uttar Pradesh: The Divine Life Society.</ref> Through the fulfilment of these dharmas, the social, physical, psycholoical, intellectual and adhyatmika life became complete.<ref name=":4">Swami Krishnananda, The Heritage of Indian Culture ([https://www.swami-krishnananda.org/heritage/heritage_4.html Chapter 4])</ref>

== परिचयः ॥ Introduction ==

== परिचयः ॥ Introduction ==

=== The Origin of Varna Concept ===

=== The Origin of Varna Concept ===

Talking of the Origin of Varna Concept, Shabdakalpadruma says,<blockquote>एषामुत्पत्त्यादिर्यथा | यदा भगवान् पुरुषरूपेण सृष्टिं कृतवान् तदास्यशरीरात् चत्वारो वर्णा उत्पन्नाः | मुखतो ब्राह्मणाः बाहुतः क्षत्रियाः ऊरुतो वैश्याः पादतः शूद्रा जाताः |<ref name=":1" /></blockquote><blockquote>eṣāmutpattyādiryathā | yadā bhagavān puruṣarūpeṇa sr̥ṣṭiṁ kr̥tavān tadāsyaśarīrāt catvāro varṇā utpannāḥ | mukhato brāhmaṇāḥ bāhutaḥ kṣatriyāḥ ūruto vaiśyāḥ pādataḥ śūdrā jātāḥ |</blockquote>Meaning: When Bhagavan created the world in the form of [[Purusha]], the four varnas got created from his body. From the mouth - the brahmanas, from the arm - the kshatriyas, from the thigh - the vaishyas and from the feet - the Shudras were born.

Talking of the Origin of Varna Concept, Shabdakalpadruma says,<blockquote>एषामुत्पत्त्यादिर्यथा | यदा भगवान् पुरुषरूपेण सृष्टिं कृतवान् तदास्यशरीरात् चत्वारो वर्णा उत्पन्नाः | मुखतो ब्राह्मणाः बाहुतः क्षत्रियाः ऊरुतो वैश्याः पादतः शूद्रा जाताः |<ref name=":1" /></blockquote><blockquote>eṣāmutpattyādiryathā | yadā bhagavān puruṣarūpeṇa sr̥ṣṭiṁ kr̥tavān tadāsyaśarīrāt catvāro varṇā utpannāḥ | mukhato brāhmaṇāḥ bāhutaḥ kṣatriyāḥ ūruto vaiśyāḥ pādataḥ śūdrā jātāḥ |</blockquote>Meaning: When Bhagavan created the world in the form of Purusha, the four varnas got created from his body. From the mouth - the brahmanas, from the arm - the kshatriyas, from the thigh - the vaishyas and from the feet - the Shudras were born.

This concept is first found in verse 12 of the Purusha Sukta in the [[Rigveda|Rgveda]] (Mandala 10, Sukta 90). It says,<blockquote>ब्राह्मणोऽस्य मुखमासीद्बाहू राजन्यः कृतः । ऊरू तदस्य यद्वैश्यः पद्भ्यां शूद्रो अजायत ॥१२॥ (Rig.10.90.12)<ref>Rigveda, Mandala 10, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%8B%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%83_%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%82_%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%A6.%E0%A5%AF%E0%A5%A6 Sukta 90], Verse 12.</ref></blockquote><blockquote>brāhmaṇo'sya mukhamāsīdbāhū rājanyaḥ kr̥taḥ । ūrū tadasya yadvaiśyaḥ padbhyāṁ śūdro ajāyata ॥12॥ (Rig.10.90.12)</blockquote>Meaning: The Brahmana (representing adhyatmik wisdom and splendour) was His mouth; the Kshatriya (constituting administrative and military prowess) became His arms. His thighs were the Vaishya (who formed commercial and business enterprise); of His feet the Shudra (repository of the productive and sustaining force) was born.<ref>Swami Krishnananda, [https://www.swami-krishnananda.org/invoc/Daily_Invocations.pdf Daily Invocations], Rishikesh: The Divine Life Society, Pg.no.63 </ref>

This concept is first found in verse 12 of the Purusha Sukta in the Rgveda (Mandala 10, Sukta 90). It says,<blockquote>ब्राह्मणोऽस्य मुखमासीद्बाहू राजन्यः कृतः । ऊरू तदस्य यद्वैश्यः पद्भ्यां शूद्रो अजायत ॥१२॥ (Rig.10.90.12)<ref>Rigveda, Mandala 10, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%8B%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%83_%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%82_%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%A6.%E0%A5%AF%E0%A5%A6 Sukta 90], Verse 12.</ref></blockquote><blockquote>brāhmaṇo'sya mukhamāsīdbāhū rājanyaḥ kr̥taḥ । ūrū tadasya yadvaiśyaḥ padbhyāṁ śūdro ajāyata ॥12॥ (Rig.10.90.12)</blockquote>Meaning: The Brahmana (representing adhyatmik wisdom and splendour) was His mouth; the Kshatriya (constituting administrative and military prowess) became His arms. His thighs were the Vaishya (who formed commercial and business enterprise); of His feet the Shudra (repository of the productive and sustaining force) was born.<ref>Swami Krishnananda, [https://www.swami-krishnananda.org/invoc/Daily_Invocations.pdf Daily Invocations], Rishikesh: The Divine Life Society, Pg.no.63 </ref>

This image that we have in the Purusha Sukta of the Rgveda is illustrative of a very important significance hidden behind this system, namely, the organic character of people. As the human body is one organic completeness, society is also supposed to be that. The body is supported by the legs which stand firmly on the ground, and the legs are connected to the main trunk through the thighs, and there is the trunk, the whole body, and there is the voice which speaks the wisdom thought by the mind. That there is a cooperative action in an organism of the human personality is well known to every person, and we have no partiality or favouritism in regard to any limb of our body. It is improper to think that the legs are inferior to the head, the heart, the trunk, the arms, etc. says Swami Krishnananda.  

This image that we have in the Purusha Sukta of the Rgveda is illustrative of a very important significance hidden behind this system, namely, the organic character of people. As the human body is one organic completeness, society is also supposed to be that. The body is supported by the legs which stand firmly on the ground, and the legs are connected to the main trunk through the thighs, and there is the trunk, the whole body, and there is the voice which speaks the wisdom thought by the mind. That there is a cooperative action in an organism of the human personality is well known to every person, and we have no partiality or favouritism in regard to any limb of our body. It is improper to think that the legs are inferior to the head, the heart, the trunk, the arms, etc. says Swami Krishnananda.  

== Ashrama System ==

== Ashrama System ==

It has already been enumerated above that the organisation of the society took the form of the Varna System. However, it is not enough if we have an organisation of skeleton individuals. They must be powerful individuals. And so the ancient adepts did not forget the need to discipline the individual.The more the capacity of an individual, the greater also is the strength of society. Healthy, robust, well-educated, and highly idealized individuals are necessary for creating a perfect human society. So, while it is necessary to organise individuals into a society because of the partiality of endowments of different individuals, it is also necessary, at the same time, to see that the individuals themselves are disciplined and perfected to the extent possible under the circumstances available. This perfection of the individual is attempted through what is known as the ashrama system.<ref name=":0" /> 

It has already been enumerated above that the organisation of the society took the form of the Varna System. However, it is not enough if we have an organisation of skeleton individuals. They must be powerful individuals. And so the ancient adepts did not forget the need to discipline the individual.The more the capacity of an individual, the greater also is the strength of society. Healthy, robust, well-educated, and highly idealized individuals are necessary for creating a perfect human society. So, while it is necessary to organise individuals into a society because of the partiality of endowments of different individuals, it is also necessary, at the same time, to see that the individuals themselves are disciplined and perfected to the extent possible under the circumstances available. This perfection of the individual is attempted through what is known as the ashrama system.<ref name=":0" />

 

=== What is Ashrama ? ===

=== What is Ashrama ? ===

According to Shabdakalpadruma,<blockquote>आश्रमः, शास्त्रोक्त- धर्म्मविशेषः। आश्राम्यन्ति स्वं स्वं तपश्चरन्त्यत्र । स चतुर्विधः । ब्रह्मचर्य्यं १ गार्हस्थ्यं २ वानप्रस्थ्यं ३ सन्न्यासः ४ । इति स्मृतिः ॥ ब्रह्मचारी । गृही । वानप्रस्थः । भिक्षुः । इत्यमरः ॥<ref>[https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%86%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%80 Shabdakalpadruma]</ref> </blockquote><blockquote>āśramaḥ, śāstrokta- dharmmaviśeṣaḥ। āśrāmyanti svaṃ svaṃ tapaścarantyatra । sa caturvidhaḥ । brahmacaryyaṃ 1 gārhasthyaṃ 2 vānaprasthyaṃ 3 sannyāsaḥ 4 । iti smṛtiḥ ॥ brahmacārī । gṛhī । vānaprasthaḥ । bhikṣuḥ । ityamaraḥ ॥</blockquote>Meaning: Ashrama is a distinguishing feature of Dharma mentioned by Shastras. It refers to 4 stages in life.  

According to Shabdakalpadruma,<blockquote>आश्रमः, शास्त्रोक्त- धर्म्मविशेषः। आश्राम्यन्ति स्वं स्वं तपश्चरन्त्यत्र । स चतुर्विधः । ब्रह्मचर्य्यं १ गार्हस्थ्यं २ वानप्रस्थ्यं ३ सन्न्यासः ४ । इति स्मृतिः ॥ ब्रह्मचारी । गृही । वानप्रस्थः । भिक्षुः । इत्यमरः ॥<ref>[https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%86%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%80 Shabdakalpadruma]</ref> </blockquote><blockquote>āśramaḥ, śāstrokta- dharmmaviśeṣaḥ। āśrāmyanti svaṃ svaṃ tapaścarantyatra । sa caturvidhaḥ । brahmacaryyaṃ 1 gārhasthyaṃ 2 vānaprasthyaṃ 3 sannyāsaḥ 4 । iti smṛtiḥ ॥ brahmacārī । gṛhī । vānaprasthaḥ । bhikṣuḥ । ityamaraḥ ॥</blockquote>Meaning: Ashrama is a distinguishing feature of Dharma mentioned by Shastras. It refers to 4 stages in life.