Vānaprastha
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''Vānaprastha'' ( sa, वानप्रस्थ) literally meaning "way of the forest" or "forest road", is the third stage in the varnasrama system of Hinduism. It represents the third of the four ''ashramas'' (stages) of human life, the other three being
Brahmacharya ''Brahmacharya'' (; sa, ब्रह्मचर्य ) is a concept within Indian religions that literally means to stay in conduct within one's own Self. In Yoga, Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism it generally refers to a lifestyle charac ...
(bachelor student, 1st stage), Grihastha (married householder, 2nd stage) and
Sannyasa ''Sannyasa'' (Sanskrit: संन्यास; IAST: ), sometimes spelled Sanyasa (सन्न्यास) or Sanyasi (for the person), is life of renunciation and the fourth stage within the Hindu system of four life stages known as '' As ...
(renunciation ascetic, 4th stage).RK Sharma (1999), Indian Society, Institutions and Change, , pages 28, 38–39 ''Vānaprastha'' is part of the Vedic ashrama system, which starts when a person hands over household responsibilities to the next generation, takes an advisory role, and gradually withdraws from the world. This stage typically follows ''Grihastha'' (householder), but a man or woman may choose to skip householder stage, and enter ''Vānaprastha'' directly after Brahmacharya (student) stage, as a prelude to Sannyasa (ascetic) and spiritual pursuits. Vānaprastha stage is considered as a transition phase from a householder's life with greater emphasis on
Artha ''Artha'' (; sa, अर्थ; Tamil: ''poruḷ'' / ''பொருள்'') is one of the four aims of human life in Indian philosophy.James Lochtefeld (2002), The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Rosen Publishing, New York, , pp 55–56 T ...
and
Kama ''Kama'' (Sanskrit ) means "desire, wish, longing" in Hindu, Buddhist, Jain, and Sikh literature.Monier Williamsकाम, kāmaMonier-Williams Sanskrit English Dictionary, pp 271, see 3rd column Kama often connotes sensual pleasure, sexual ...
(pursuits related to wealth and pleasures) to one with greater emphasis on
Moksha ''Moksha'' (; sa, मोक्ष, '), also called ''vimoksha'', ''vimukti'' and ''mukti'', is a term in Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism for various forms of emancipation, enlightenment, liberation, and release. In its soteriology, ...
(spiritual liberation).Albertina Nugteren (2005), Belief, Bounty, And Beauty: Rituals Around Sacred Trees in India, Brill Academic, , pages 13–21


Etymology

''Vānaprastha'' (वानप्रस्थ) is a composite word with the roots ''vana'' (वन) meaning "forest, distant land", and ''prastha'' (प्रस्थ) meaning "going to, abiding in, journey to". The composite word literally means "retiring to forest".vanapastha
Koeln University, Germany
Widgery states that ''Vānaprastha'' is synonymous with
Aranyaka The Aranyakas (; sa, आरण्यक; IAST: ' ) are the part of the ancient Indian Vedas concerned with the meaning of ritual sacrifice. They typically represent the later sections of the Vedas, and are one of many layers of the Vedic texts. ...
(Sanskrit: आरण्यक) in historic Indian literature discussing four stages of human life.


Discussion

''Vānaprastha'' is part of the ancient Indian concept called Chaturashrama, which identified four stages of a human life, with distinct differences based on natural human needs and drives. The first stage of life was
Brahmacharya ''Brahmacharya'' (; sa, ब्रह्मचर्य ) is a concept within Indian religions that literally means to stay in conduct within one's own Self. In Yoga, Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism it generally refers to a lifestyle charac ...
(bachelor student) lasting through about 25 years of life, the second stage was Grihastha (married householder) and lasted through about 50 year age. Vānaprastha represented the third stage and typically marked with birth of grandchildren, gradual transition of householder responsibilities to the next generation, increasingly hermit-like lifestyle, and greater emphasis on community services and spiritual pursuit.What is Hinduism? (Editors of Hinduism Today), , Family Life and Monastic Life, Chapter 10 with page 101, in particular, The Vānaprastha stage ultimately transitioned into
Sannyasa ''Sannyasa'' (Sanskrit: संन्यास; IAST: ), sometimes spelled Sanyasa (सन्न्यास) or Sanyasi (for the person), is life of renunciation and the fourth stage within the Hindu system of four life stages known as '' As ...
, a stage of complete renunciation and dedication to spiritual questions. Vānaprastha, according to Vedic ashrama system, lasted between the ages of 50 and 74. Nugteren states that ''Vānaprastha'' was, in practice, a metaphor and guideline. It encouraged gradual transition of social responsibility, economic roles, personal focus towards spirituality, from being center of the action to a more advisory peripheral role, without actually requiring someone to actually moving into a forest with or without one's partner. While some literally gave up their property and possessions to move into distant lands, most stayed with their families and communities but assumed a transitioning role and gracefully accept an evolving role with age. Dhavamony identifies Vānaprastha stage as one of "detachment and increasing seclusion" but usually serving as a counselor, peace-maker, judge, teacher to young and advisor to the middle-aged. While ''Grihastha'' and ''Vānaprastha'' stages of life were recommended, they were not a requirement. Any ''Brahmacharya'' may, if he or she wants, skip householder and retirement stage, go straight to Sannyasa stage of life, thereby renouncing worldly and materialistic pursuits and dedicating their lives to spiritual pursuits.


Literature

;History Jamison and Witzel stateJamison and Witzel (1992)
Vedic Hinduism
Harvard University Archives, page 47
early Vedic texts make no mention of life in retirement, or ''Vānaprastha'', or ''Ashrama system'', unlike the concepts of Brahmacharin and Grihasthi which can be distinguished. The earliest mention of a related concept in
Rig Veda The ''Rigveda'' or ''Rig Veda'' ( ', from ' "praise" and ' "knowledge") is an ancient Indian collection of Vedic Sanskrit hymns (''sūktas''). It is one of the four sacred canonical Hindu texts (''śruti'') known as the Vedas. Only one Sh ...
is of ''Antigriha'' (अन्तिगृह, like a neighbor) in hymn 10.95.4, where the context and content suggests the elders did not go into forest, but continued to live as part of extended family, with outwardly role, in ancient India. In later Vedic era and over time, ''Vānaprastha'' and other new concepts emerged, while older ideas evolved and expanded. The concept of ''Vānaprastha'', and
Sannyasa ''Sannyasa'' (Sanskrit: संन्यास; IAST: ), sometimes spelled Sanyasa (सन्न्यास) or Sanyasi (for the person), is life of renunciation and the fourth stage within the Hindu system of four life stages known as '' As ...
, emerged about or after 7th Century BC, when sages such as Yājñavalkya left their homes and roamed around as spiritual recluses and pursued their ''Pravrajika'' (homeless) lifestyle. The Dharmasūtras and
Dharmaśāstra ''Dharmaśāstra'' ( sa, धर्मशास्त्र) is a genre of Sanskrit texts on law and conduct, and refers to the treatises (shastras, śāstras) on dharma. Unlike Dharmasūtra which are based upon Vedas, these texts are mainly b ...
s, composed about mid 1st millennium BC and later, place increasing emphasis on all four stages of ''Ashrama system'', including ''Vānaprastha''. The
Baudhayana The (Sanskrit: बौधायन) are a group of Vedic Sanskrit texts which cover dharma, daily ritual, mathematics and is one of the oldest Dharma-related texts of Hinduism that have survived into the modern age from the 1st-millennium BCE. Th ...
Dharmasūtra, in verses 2.11.9 to 2.11.12, describes the four Ashramas including ''Vānaprastha'' as "a fourfold division of
Dharma Dharma (; sa, धर्म, dharma, ; pi, dhamma, italic=yes) is a key concept with multiple meanings in Indian religions, such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism and others. Although there is no direct single-word translation for '' ...
". The older Dharmasūtras, however, are significantly different in their treatment of ''Ashramas'' system from the more modern Dharmaśāstras, because they do not limit some of their Ashrama rituals to the three ''varnas'' – Brahmins, Kshatriyas and Vaishyas.Barbara Holdrege (2004), Dharma, in The Hindu World (Editors: Sushil Mittal and Gene Thursby), Routledge, , page 231 The newer Dharmaśāstra vary widely in their discussion of ''Ashrama'' system including ''Vānaprastha'' in the context of classes (castes), with some mentioning it for three, while others such as ''Vaikhānasa Dharmasūtra'' including all four. Olivelle
Patrick Olivelle Patrick Olivelle is an Indologist. A philologist and scholar of Sanskrit Literature whose work has focused on asceticism, renunciation and the dharma, Olivelle has been Professor of Sanskrit and Indian Religions in the Department of Asian Studi ...
(1993), The Ashrama System: The History and Hermeneutics of a Religious Institution, Oxford University Press,
posits that the older Dharmasūtras present the ''Ashramas'' as four alternative ways of life and options available, but not as sequential stage that any individual must follow. Olivelle also states that ''Vānaprastha'' along with the Ashrama system gained mainstream scholarly acceptance about 2nd century BC. ;Spectrum of views Numerous ancient and medieval texts of India discuss the four stages of a human being. Each offers different perspective. Some are strict and literal, while others discuss the concept in contextual and metaphorical terms. For example, Manusmriti offers elaborate prescriptions for drastic kind of renunciation, describing in verse 6.21 what the retiree in the forest should eat. In contrast, the
Mahabharata The ''Mahābhārata'' ( ; sa, महाभारतम्, ', ) is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India in Hinduism, the other being the ''Rāmāyaṇa''. It narrates the struggle between two groups of cousins in the Kuruk ...
suggests Vānaprastha is a symbolic metaphor and declares that a king may achieve the "object of Vānaprastha" by certain actions, without retiring into the forest. For example,
Shanti Parva The Shanti Parva ( sa, शान्ति पर्व; IAST: ''Śānti parva''; "Book of Peace") is the twelfth of eighteen books of the Indian Epic Mahabharata. It traditionally has 3 parts and 365 chapters.Ganguli, K.M. (1883-1896)Shanti Parva ...
(the Book of Peace) of the Hindu Epic, states,
Markandeya Purana The ''Markandeya Purana'' ( sa, मार्कण्डेय पुराण; IAST: ) is a Sanskrit text of Hinduism, and one of the eighteen major Puranas. The text's title Markandeya refers to a sage in Hindu History, who is the central char ...
suggests that a householder, after he has taken care of his progeny, his parents, his traditions and cleansed his mind is ready to enter the third stage of life, or Vānaprastha. He must lead a frugal life during this stage, sleeping on floor, eating only fruits and bulbs. The more he gives up the worldly delights, the closer he gets to the knowledge of his spirit, and more ready he is for the last stage – the Sannyasa asrama, where he renounces everything and focuses entirely on spiritual pursuits. ''Vānaprastha'' appears in many major literary works from ancient India. For example, many chapters of the Hindu Epic
Ramayana The ''Rāmāyana'' (; sa, रामायणम्, ) is a Sanskrit literature, Sanskrit Indian epic poetry, epic composed over a period of nearly a millennium, with scholars' estimates for the earliest stage of the text ranging from the 8th ...
, just like the
Mahabharata The ''Mahābhārata'' ( ; sa, महाभारतम्, ', ) is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India in Hinduism, the other being the ''Rāmāyaṇa''. It narrates the struggle between two groups of cousins in the Kuruk ...
, build around hermit-style life in a forest (Vānaprastha). Similarly, the
Abhijñānaśākuntalam ''Abhijnanashakuntalam'' (Devanagari: अभिज्ञानशाकुन्तलम्, IAST: ''Abhijñānaśākuntalam''), also known as ''Shakuntala'', ''The Recognition of Shakuntala'', ''The Sign of Shakuntala'', and many other variant ...
(Shakuntala play by
Kalidasa Kālidāsa (''fl.'' 4th–5th century CE) was a Classical Sanskrit author who is often considered ancient India's greatest poet and playwright. His plays and poetry are primarily based on the Vedas, the Rāmāyaṇa, the Mahābhārata and ...
) revolves around hermit lifestyle in a forest. Many of the legendary forest hermitages, mentioned in various Sanskrit works, later became sites for major temples and Hindu pilgrimage. Narada Parivrajaka Upanishad identifies four characteristics of a ''Vānaprastha'' stage of life as ''Audumbara'' (threshold of house, woods), ''Vaikhanasa'' (anchorite), ''Samprakshali'' (cleansing rituals) and ''Purnamanasa'' (contented mind).KN Aiyar (1914), Thirty Minor Upanishad, Madras, page 135, Nigal states Vānaprastha stage to be a gradual evolution of a "family man" to a "society man", from one seeking "personal gain" to one seeking a "better world, welfare of his community, agapistic altruism".


See also

*
Ashrama (stage) Ashrama may refer to: * Ashram (''āśrama''), a spiritual hermitage or a monastery in Indian religions *Ashrama (stage) (''āśrama''), in Hinduism is one of four age-based life stages discussed in ancient and medieval era Indian texts. *Ashrama, ...
*
Brahmacharya ''Brahmacharya'' (; sa, ब्रह्मचर्य ) is a concept within Indian religions that literally means to stay in conduct within one's own Self. In Yoga, Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism it generally refers to a lifestyle charac ...
* Grihastha *
Sannyasa ''Sannyasa'' (Sanskrit: संन्यास; IAST: ), sometimes spelled Sanyasa (सन्न्यास) or Sanyasi (for the person), is life of renunciation and the fourth stage within the Hindu system of four life stages known as '' As ...


References


Further reading

* Walter Kaelber (2004), Āśrama, in The Hindu World (Eds: Sushil Mittal and Gene Thursby), Routledge, , Chapter 17 * Patrick Olivelle (1993), The Ashrama System: The History and Hermeneutics of a Religious Institution, Oxford University Press,


External links

{{wikiquote
Four ashrama of yoga
Ashramas