ashrama

In Hinduism, the four stages of life that a Hindu may follow or pass through. They are the student (brahmachari), the householder (grihastha), the hermit (vanaprastha), and the wandering holy man (sannyasin). Very few Hindus follow all four stages, and far less women than men.

Student The stage of the student begins following the sacred thread ceremony, one of the Hindu samskaras (sacraments), when he will study with a guru (religious teacher).

Householder The householder will become part of the world, perhaps have a family and run a business. This gives him the opportunity to put his energies into marriage and bringing up children, to benefit society, and to follow the customs of his caste.

Hermit When a Hindu's children have grown up and left, and his responsibilities are reduced, he may become a hermit, giving away most of his possessions and concentrating on spiritual pursuits. He will study, perhaps take up meditation, and look more deeply for answers to eternal questions about the meaning of human life and its place in the universe.

Holy man The wandering holy man has broken off all connection with the material world and renounced all family ties, and is dependent on the charity of others for his survival. He seeks release from the worldly cycle of rebirth through moksha, or enlightenment.