A Wisdom Archive on Vanaprastha

A vanaprastha (from Sanskrit vana, forest, and prus, dwelling) is a person who is living in the forest as a hermit after partially giving up material desires. This word is generally used to denote a particular phase of life(next 20 years {60-80 years of human life span} ). In this phase of life, the person is in a retreat from worldly life. He lives away from the city, in a jungle as a hermit, with as little material possessions as possible. This stage denotes a transition phase from material to spiritual life. It is the third ...

Read more here: » Vanaprastha: Encyclopedia - Vanaprastha

Vanaprastha: The third ashrama, or stage of life in Classical India.

 
(See also: Vanaprastha, Yoga, Yoga Dictionary )

For more dictionary entries, see » Vanaprastha Dictionary

Vanaprastha - the third asrama or stage of life in the varnasrama system; retired life which entails freedom from family responsibilities and the acceptance of spiritual vows.

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

For more dictionary entries, see » Vanaprastha Dictionary

The third stage is that of the Varnaprastha. Brahmacharya is a preparation for the life of the householder. Even so, Vanaprastha is a preparation for the final stage of Sannyasa. After discharging all the duties of a householder, he should retire to the forest or a solitary country place and begin to meditate in solitude on higher spiritual things
 
Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda
 

Read more here: » Sanatana Dharma: The Vanaprastha or the Recluse in Sanatana Dharma

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

According to the theory of transmigration, even if the individual is to take another birth immediately after his death, the performance of Sraaddha adds to his happiness in his new birth. So it is the imperative duty of everybody to perform Sraaddha ceremony for his parents and forefathers.

This is an excerpt from the book What Becomes Of The Soul After Death by Sri Swami Sivananda.

Read more here: » Sraaddha And Prayer For The Dead: Importance Of Sraaddha Ceremony

Grihastha vs Sanyas - The Eternal Dilemma
Once, a king asked his guru: Who is superior, a sanyasi or a householder? In response, the guru took him to a kingdom where the king had announced that his daughter's husband would be given half the kingdom. The princess chose a sanyasi , who refused to marry her. Even after the king offered his entire kingdom, the sanyasi walked away. The guru and his king-disciple followed the princess, whom they found crying in the forest where the sanyasi had disappeared. Hungry and lost, the three lit a fire for warmth.
 

Read more here: » Sanyasi: Grihastha vs Sanyas - The Eternal Dilemma

The next stage is that of a Sannyasin. When a man becomes a Sannyasin, he renounces all possessions, all distinctions of caste, all rites and ceremonies and all attachments to any particular country, nation, or religion. He lives alone and spends his time in meditation. He lives on alms. When he attains the sublime state of deep meditation he rejoices in his own Self.
 
Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda
 

Read more here: » Sanatana Dharma: The Sannyasin or the Renunciate in Sanatana Dharma

The Four Vedas and Their Sub Divisions : The Veda is divided into four great books: the Rig-Veda, the Yajur-Veda, the Sama-Veda and the Atharva-Veda. The Yajur-Veda is again divided into two parts, the Sukla and the Krishna. The Krishna or the Taittiriya is the older book and the Sukla or the Vajasaneya is a later revelation to sage Yajnavalkya from the resplendent Sun-God.
 
Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda
 

Read more here: » Four Vedas: The Four Vedas in the Hindu Scriptures

 
Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda
 

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