HinduismThe 4 Stages of Life.

Stage One – Student

They live and study with a teacher/guru for several years.’

They enter student-hood between ages 8-12.

They will spend most of their years studying.

Stage Two - Householder

Normally entered through a many day marriage.

They will have children with their wife and form a family.

Find a job/career while becoming more active in their community.

They are responsible for rituals of life; they must make sure they are being practiced in a proper manner, and during the right time.

Responsible for people of all ages, men and women.

Stage Three – Retired

The stage in life when the man is old, son has a family and is ready to take over the household.

Both man and wife are retired. Both religious and secular responsibilities are

diminished. They become more free to contemplate

death and rebirth. They have the option to disappear to a

secluded area (like a hermit) or remain active in public worship

Ascetic

Last stage in life; rejecting life. Rejection of household duties. Powerful rejection; they can even lose

their social status in their religious community.

Sannyasins become wandering hermits; may appear to be empty shells with no select living place, or possessions.

They’ll only eat food when hungry; found or given. They will not work for food.

Samskara

Each stage is proceeded with a Samskara. Samskara is a ritual which brings

someone from the previous life back to the present one.

They are presented in life more than following the stages of life. They will appear from 10-18 times; can exceed up to 40 times!

Many are performed before birth to the first six months of life.

Women

These stages are for men only. However this doesn’t mean that

women do not have a religious life. Most rituals cannot be performed

without the woman. Women are very active practitioners in

“bakhti yoga.”

The End.

Bibliography - http://uwacadweb.uwyo.edu/religionet/er/hinduism/hslife.htm

By: Ashley McNamara and Sam Hall