Ashramadharma, aka: Āśramadharma, Ashrama-dharma; 2 Definition(s)
Introduction
Ashramadharma means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
The Sanskrit term Āśramadharma can be transliterated into English as Asramadharma or Ashramadharma, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Dharmashastra (religious law)
Āśramadharma (आश्रमधर्म):—The common Sanskrit terms given to these four stages of life are:
- Brahmacaryāśrama (studentship),
- Gārhasthyāśrama (householder),
- Vānaprasthāśrama (hermit),
- and Sannyāsāśrama (renouncer or wondrering ascetic).
Popularly these orders of life are known as Āśramadharma in Sanskrit literature. To regulate the duties of four castes, the Āśramadharma is prescribed. The derivative meaning of the word Āśrama is āśramyati asmin āśramaḥ—means life laid by heavy work.
According to Manu, these are—
- student’s life (brahmacarya),
- householder (gṛhastha),
- hermit (vānaprastha),
- and wondering ascetic (yati).

Dharmashastra (धर्मशास्त्र, dharmaśāstra) contains the instructions (shastra) regarding religious conduct of livelihood (dharma), ceremonies, jurisprudence (study of law) and more. It is categorized as smriti, an important and authoritative selection of books dealing with the Hindu lifestyle.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit-English dictionary
Āśramadharma (आश्रमधर्म).—
1) the special duties of each order or life.
2) the duties of one leading a hermit's life; य इमामाश्रमधर्मे नियुङ्क्ते (ya imāmāśramadharme niyuṅkte) Ś.1.
Derivable forms: āśramadharmaḥ (आश्रमधर्मः).
Āśramadharma is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms āśrama and dharma (धर्म).
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionarySanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family. Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.
Relevant definitions
Search found 2736 related definition(s) that might help you understand this better. Below you will find the 15 most relevant articles:
Dharma | Dharma.—(SII 1), the sacred law; religious merit; a meri- torious gift, a pious work, a charity... | |
Ashrama | Āśrama.—(EI 13) a stage of life; a religious establishment (Ep. Ind., Vol. XXX, p. 67); cf. Caṇ... | |
Dharmacakra | Dharmacakra (धर्मचक्र) refers to the “Wheel of Dharma”, according to an appendix at the 2nd cen... | |
Dharmashastra | Dharma-śāstra.—(BL), scriptures. Note: dharma-śāstra is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glo... | |
Dharmaraja | Dharmarāja (धर्मराज).—m. (-jaḥ) 1. A Jain or deified saint, according to the Jaina sect. 2. A n... | |
Dharmapala | Dharmapāla (धर्मपाल).—(1) (= Pali Dhammapāla 2 of DPPN), n. of the son of the purohita Brahmāy... | |
Badarikashrama | Badarikāśrama (बदरिकाश्रम).—m. (-maḥ) The hermitage at Badarika. | |
Dharmashala | Dharmaśālā (धर्मशाला).—f. (-lā) A court of justice, a tribunal. E. dharma justice, and śālā a h... | |
Sudharma | 1) Sudharmā (सुधर्मा).—The assembly hall of the Devas. (the gods). (Bhāgavata, Skandha 10).2) S... | |
Dharmagupta | Dharmagupta (धर्मगुप्त).—(1) n. of a former Buddha: Mv i.138.8 (and by Senart's em. for °gupti... | |
Dharmadhvaja | Dharmadhvaja (धर्मध्वज).—n. of several different former Buddhas: Gv 257.2; 259.2; 284.8; 427.2;... | |
Dharmakaya | Dharmakāya (धर्मकाय).—m. (in Pali recorded only as Bhvr. adj. in quite different sense, having ... | |
Dharmadhatu | Dharmadhātu (धर्मधातु).—(1) m. (compare Pali dhamma-dhātu), sphere of religion; regularly rend... | |
Dharmaputra | Dharma-putra.—(EI 32), ‘one theoretically accepted as a son’. Note: dharma-putra is defined in ... | |
Dharmadhyaksha | Dharm-ādhyakṣa.—(EI 15; HD), generally explained as ‘a judge’; but he was probably also the sup... |
Relevant text
Search found 4 books and stories containing Ashramadharma, Āśramadharma or Ashrama-dharma. You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Buddhist Monastic Discipline (by Jotiya Dhirasekera)
Shri Gaudiya Kanthahara (by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati)
Manusmriti with the Commentary of Medhatithi (by Ganganatha Jha)
Verse 2.25 < [Section VII - Summing up]
Shakti and Shakta (by John Woodroffe)
Chapter VI - Śakti and Śākta < [Section 1 - Introductory]