noun
- In Hinduism, the four stages of life in the traditional social and spiritual system: student, householder, forest dweller, and renunciate.
Usage: Also spelled 'ashramas' or 'ashrams'; From Sanskrit; used in Hindu philosophy and religious contexts; Plural form; singular is 'asrama'
Examples
- The asramas represent a framework for organizing one's life according to Hindu tradition.
- In classical Hindu philosophy, the asramas guide individuals through different phases of spiritual development.
- The concept of asramas emphasizes that different duties and responsibilities apply at different life stages.
- Scholars of Hinduism often discuss the asramas as a key component of the varna-asrama system.
- The four asramas are designed to balance worldly obligations with spiritual pursuits.