SECRET TO 4 STAGES OF LIFE REVEALED

Stages of Life as per Hindu scriptures.

As per laws of Manu, there are four ashram or stages in human life ie., Brahmacharya (student), Grihasta (Householder) Vanaprasta (semi retirement) Sannyasi (renouncement) and the curriculum and work area of each is different.The meaning  of these stage have changed in our today's life but we can still find significance in them:-

Brahmacharya (Student Life)

The first stage of life  Brahmacharya and is usually meant for students. This  stage starts when a child starts education and continues till his schooling is finished. The goal in this stage is to acquire knowledge as well as spiritual values.One is supposed to develop qualities like humility, discipline, simplicity, purity of thought, cleanliness, soft-heartedness in this stage .This stage  last upto 25 years.

This stage till now have not lost its significance.During this stage the mind is pure.It is easy to learn and grasp what we are taught. As one grows up his mind is not static. And after age of 25 one attains adulthood and his body and mind are ready enough to enter next stage of life.

Grihasta (Household Life) 

After marriage one enters this stage. A man will have to earn his livelihood to support his family and  enjoy sensual pleasure according to ethical principles. The husband is expected to first satisfy the wife's soul and the wife satisfies the husband with her body and gets his soul. Marriage is a life commitment and is not a mere love affair. His duty is to have children , educate and marry them, to observe religious rituals, and to make charity. The wife always accompanies the husband in discharging his duties. This ashrama lasts until around the age of 50.

This stage of life is also relevant today.We have all pleasure of material world in this stage of life. Our body and mind is mostly fit and we can earn and support our family. Till we reach end of this stage of life our children are grown up and ready to enter Grihasta ashram. And this is the time one has to proceed to next stage of life.

Vanaprashta (Retired Life)

This stage of a man starts when a man’s duty as a householder comes to an end. At this age, he should retire from his social and professional life. One gradually have  to renounce all physical, material and sexual pleasures, and begins devoting more time to study of scriptures, contemplation and meditation. He has become a grandfather, his children are grown up, and have established lives of their own. This stage is usually between 50 and 75 years of age.

This stage is important because now one has to give the opportunity to the younger generation to come forward in life.In a joint family the conflict arises when the elder does not retire and as such the younger one does not have their role to play.One now should devote more time to spiritual matters.

Sanyasa (Renounced Life)

This is the last 'Ashrama' Or stage which starts after 75 year. This stage means total renouncement  from worldly pleasures including the bare necessities to live. Having contributed a lot to society in his previous stage and having received from society what he needed, one prepares himself for the final release. At this stage, a man is supposed to be totally devoted to God. His sole concern becomes attaining moksha, or release from the cycle of birth and death. He has teach and preach the importance of self-realisation and God-consciousness, to the householders, who are distracted from their spiritual duties.