Stages of life
Hinduism recognises that there are four stages to an individual’s life on this earth; these can be seen as the goals in many people’s lives that practice the religion. These stages can be divided into three plus one with the three deriving from the "life is good" strand of Hinduism, and the one deriving from the "life is bad" strand. The first three are the student, the householder, and the retired person, while the fourth is the ascetic (also known as a sannyasin or a sadhu).
The stages of life were originally formed to syndicate alongside the caste system, The 3 stages of life only applied to the three twice- born varans; Brahmin, Kshatriya and the Vaishya. Other castes such as the Untouchables and Jatis over time have adapted the stages in a contrast of ways, ways which suit their needs.
The primary or first stage of life is that of a student, a boy from ages 8-12 is expected to live with a teacher (Guru) for several years leading up to maturity. For varans such as Brahmin the male is required to acquire knowledge through memorising large portions of the Vedas and accompanying texts, along with training in the various rituals. Members of all castes learn how to set up and maintain their own household worship, cantered on the holy fire of Agni.
The secondary and third stages of life include householder and retirement, upon accomplishment of the stage of student one is deemed by society as viable enough to have a wife and children, establishing his own household he is withheld to maintain customary practice ensuring that the rituals of domestic life are carried out at their proper times and in the proper manner. This stage is important because it carries the responsibilities of looking after and supporting peoples at all other stages, both male and female. The final stage is that of retirement where the male is at his age of retirement and household responsibilities are passed on to his son who would have no doubt followed the stages himself.
The fourth and last stage is nevertheless an important as it breaks the progression of the other three, which is known as the ascetic translated to Hinduism as sadhu or the sannyasin. Sadhu or Sannyasin is the total rejection of life in exchange for moksha, that is, release from the cycle of samsara. With the release from the cycle of life, means the complete rejection of household duties and responsibilities to all 3 stages of life, hence rejecting the practice of the religion completely which is deemed highly unethical by Indian society, It is such a powerful rejection that a person even loses their caste affiliation; even a shudra can become a sannyasin and lose their low-caste identity.
The stages of life were originally formed to syndicate alongside the caste system, The 3 stages of life only applied to the three twice- born varans; Brahmin, Kshatriya and the Vaishya. Other castes such as the Untouchables and Jatis over time have adapted the stages in a contrast of ways, ways which suit their needs.
The primary or first stage of life is that of a student, a boy from ages 8-12 is expected to live with a teacher (Guru) for several years leading up to maturity. For varans such as Brahmin the male is required to acquire knowledge through memorising large portions of the Vedas and accompanying texts, along with training in the various rituals. Members of all castes learn how to set up and maintain their own household worship, cantered on the holy fire of Agni.
The secondary and third stages of life include householder and retirement, upon accomplishment of the stage of student one is deemed by society as viable enough to have a wife and children, establishing his own household he is withheld to maintain customary practice ensuring that the rituals of domestic life are carried out at their proper times and in the proper manner. This stage is important because it carries the responsibilities of looking after and supporting peoples at all other stages, both male and female. The final stage is that of retirement where the male is at his age of retirement and household responsibilities are passed on to his son who would have no doubt followed the stages himself.
The fourth and last stage is nevertheless an important as it breaks the progression of the other three, which is known as the ascetic translated to Hinduism as sadhu or the sannyasin. Sadhu or Sannyasin is the total rejection of life in exchange for moksha, that is, release from the cycle of samsara. With the release from the cycle of life, means the complete rejection of household duties and responsibilities to all 3 stages of life, hence rejecting the practice of the religion completely which is deemed highly unethical by Indian society, It is such a powerful rejection that a person even loses their caste affiliation; even a shudra can become a sannyasin and lose their low-caste identity.
The stages & cycle of life
This picture depicts the journey of an individual through the stages of life from child birth or student hood through till adulthood and retirement.