The =Aśrama System: The History and Hermeneutics of a Religious InstitutionThe lesser known and explored of the two pillars of Hinduism--=aśrama and var.na--=aśrama is the name given to a system of four distinct and legitimate ways of leading a religious life: as a celibate student, a married householder, a forest hermit, and a world renouncer. In this, the first full-length study of the =aśrama system, Olivelle uncovers its origin and traces its subsequent history. He examines in depth its relationship to other institutional and doctrinal aspects of the Brahmanical world and its position within Brahmanical theology, and assesses its significance within the history of Indian religion. Throughout, he argues that the =aśrama system is primarily a theological construct and that the system and its history should be carefully distinguished from the socio-religious institutions comprehended by the system and from their respective histories. |
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Advaita Āpastamba ĀpDh appears argument ascetic asrama āśrama system BāU Baudhāyana Bhagavad Gītā Brāhmaṇa Brāhmaṇical Brāhmaṇical theology Brāhmaṇical tradition Brāhmaṇism Brahmins Bṛhadāraṇyaka Buddhist century C.E. cited classical formulation classical system commentary common era context death debts dharma Dharmaśāstras Dharmasūtras discussion duties father forest hermit four āśramas Gautama Gītā gods Gonda hermeneutical hermit householder householder's Indian injunctions institutions interpretation Jābāla Kālidāsa Kane king Kṣatriyas later literature live Mahābhārata Malamoud Manu marriage married meaning medieval mendicant Mīmāmsā modes old age Olivelle original formulation original system Paramahamsa passage perform period person Prajāpati Purāṇa puruṣārthas Rāmāyaṇa reference regarding religious renunciation Ṛgveda rites ritual sacred fire sacrifice sacrificial string Samhitā Samkara samsāra seers significant Smṛtis Sprockhoff student studentship Śūdras Sureśvara sūtra teacher term āśrama tion twice-born Upanisad VaDh VaiDh Vaikhānasa varṇas and āśramas Vasistha Vedas vedic initiation vedic text verse wife Yājñavalkya yuga