Lecture 2

Tuesday, October 17, 2017 11:19 AM

• Ashrama System- reconcile tension b/w Vedic and post Vedic

• Original formulation
○ Ashrama = mode of life
○ A young male from top 3 varnas (classes), completes a preliminary student ship , in
which he learns the vedas (Sanskrit) duties and responsibilities of various ashrama, and
other subjects
▪ Brahmanas- priests, teachers
▪ Kshatriyas - warriors, political
▪ Vaisyas-agriculture, merchant trades
□ Svadras- peasents - not twice born
▪ These three knows as twice born, once mother then guru
▪ Only 3 eligible for Vedic study
○ Learns the vedas (4) so he has the option of living an orthodox Vedic life
○ Boys remain selibit
○ Temporary stage of student ship is not a ashrama, when he’s done he chooses an
ashram for life
○ 4 ashrama
1. Permanent student- lives with guru for entire life, studying Veda and Sanskrit,
serving guru and family, remains single, doesn’t continue to study
2. Householder- follows worldly prosperity, gets married takes care of kid, provides
for family, does rituals
3. Forest dweller- hermit, give up possession and persuade moksa as primary goals,
abandon home, might maintain ties with friends, and social identity, continue to
perform rituals like householder, celibate
4. Renunciate- abandons social identity and name and required to move away where
no one recognizes him, abandons his varna

○ How 4 authors come down on original formulation

▪ The two oldest say that ashrama is dumb, and the only one that is valid is the
householder, vedas endorse procreation, insist passages that talk about 4 possible
paths are not authoritative
▪ Last 2 accept original formulation, but are careful to argue the equality of 4
ashrama, but go against renunciation, defending householder stage,
• Classical formulation
1. Permanent Student -youth, prepares young man for householder, celibate, serves gurus
and family, student leaves gurus house at 25 and returns to parents home
2. Householder-adulthood
3. Forest Dweller -old age, you see the son of your son then you can become , prepare for
death, abandon worldly possessions and perform various properties
4. Renunciation -old age
○ Each ashrama are temporary and obligatory, must go through each stage
○ This system resolves economic concerns
○ How much time should one spend in each ashram? It’s different for, no agreement

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