A Wisdom Archive on Asrama

Asrama -
(1) one of the four stages of life - student, married, retired, or renounced - in which one carries out corresponding socio-religious duties in the system known as varnasrama.
(2) a hermitage, usually in the association of others, which is established to facilitate spiritual practices.

 
(See also: Asrama, Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul )

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Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda
 

Read more here: » Asrama Dharma: Asrama Dharma Under Modern Conditions

There are four Asramas or stages in life, viz., Brahmacharya or the period of studentship, Grihastha or the stage of the householder, Vanaprastha or the stage of the forest-dweller or hermit, and Sannyasa or the life of renunciation or asceticism. Each stage has its own duties. These stages help the evolution of man
 
The four Asramas or orders of life are Brahmacharya, Grihastha, Vanaprastha and Sannyasa.
 
Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda
 

Read more here: » Dharma in Hinduism: The Four Asramas in Hindu Dharma

Asrama (Sanskrit) (from the verbal root sram to exert oneself spiritually)
 
A sacred building, a monastery or hermitage for ascetic purposes; likewise one of the four periods of effort or inner development in the religious life of a Brahmin in ancient times.
 
These asramas were
1)    the student or Brahmacharin;
2)     the householder or grihastha, the period of married existence when the Brahmin played his due role in the affairs of the world;
3)     the period of religious seclusion or vanaprastha, usually passed in a vana (forest), a period of inner spiritual recollection and meditation on philosophical and religious matters; and
4)    the one who has renounced all the distractions of worldly life or bhikshu who has turned his attention wholly to spiritual affairs, although he may have returned to the world of men for purposes of aiding and teaching.
 
Ass In the cults of Asia Minor a symbol of Set, Typhon, Satan, Jehovah, or Saturn. Jesus rides into Jerusalem "upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass," in accordance with the prophecy in Zechariah (9:9). If the ass is Saturn, and its foal the earth (whose physical globe is governed by the genius of Saturn in connection with the moon), this is an apt symbol of the descent of the Christos into the lower worlds. Plutarch relates that Typhon or Set fled on an ass into Palestine and there founded Hierosolymus and Judaeus (De Iside et Osiride, ch 30).

 
(See also: Asrama, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary )

For more dictionary entries, see » asrama dictionary

Asrama (Sanskrit). A sacred building, a monastery or hermitage for ascetic purposes. Every sect in India has its Ashrams.

 
(See also: Asrama, Theosophy, Spirituality, Body mind and Soul, Spiritual Dictionary,  )

For more dictionary entries, see » asrama dictionary

A Theosophical definition of Asrama :
 
Asrama
(Sanskrit) A word derived from the root sram, signifying "to make efforts," "to strive"; with the particle a, which in this case gives force to the verbal root sram.
 
Asrama has at least two main significations.
The first is that of a college or school or a hermitage, an abode of ascetics, etc.; whereas the second meaning signifies a period of effort or striving in the religious life or career of a Brahmana of olden days. These periods of life in ancient times in Hindustan were four in number: the first, that of the student or brahmacharin; second, the period of life called that of the grihastha or householder  - the period of married existence when the Brahmana took his due part in the affairs of men, etc.; third, the vanaprastha, or period of monastic seclusion, usually passed in a vana, or wood or forest, for purposes of inner recollection and spiritual meditation; and fourth, that of the bhikshu or religious mendicant, meaning one who has completely renounced the distractions of worldly life and has turned his attention wholly to spiritual affairs.  
Brahmasrama. In modern esoteric or occult literature, the compound term Brahmasrama is occasionally used to signify an initiation chamber or secret room or adytum where the initiant or neophyte is striving or making efforts to attain union with Brahman or the inner god.
 

 
See also: Asrama, Mysticism, Body Mind and Soul )

For more dictionary entries, see » asrama dictionary

Brahmacari - the first asrama or stage of life in the varnasrama system; unmarried student life.

 
(See also: Brahmacari, Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul )

For more dictionary entries, see » asrama dictionary

For more dictionary entries, see » asrama dictionary

Sannyasa - the fourth asrama, or stage of life in the varnasrama system; renounced ascetic life.

 
(See also: Sannyasa, Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul )

For more dictionary entries, see » asrama dictionary

asramas: the four stages of life in hinduism

 
(See also: asramas, Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul )

For more dictionary entries, see » asrama dictionary

grihastha:
grihastha. Householder, one of the four stages of life (asramas).

 
(See also: grihastha, Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul )

For more dictionary entries, see » asrama dictionary