Grihastha, Grihasthya, Gṛhastha, Griha-stha: 29 definitions
Introduction:
Grihastha means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, the history of ancient India, Marathi, Hindi. 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 Gṛhastha can be transliterated into English as Grhastha or Grihastha, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
Alternative spellings of this word include Grahasth.
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Puranic EncyclopediaGṛhastha (गृहस्थ).—In ancient India the life of a male person was divided into four stages, namely, Brahmacarya Gārhasthya, Vānaprastha and Sannyāsa. He who is in the second stage of life is called a Gṛhastha.
When a person marries, he becomes a Gṛhastha. The bride should have certain qualities to be an ideal wife. The girl should be only a third of the age of the male. She should not have hair either too much or too little. She should not be black or of a piṅgala hue. She should not have any of her organs extra at the time of birth. The following types of girls are to be avoided for marriage. (1) Girls bred up by low-caste people (2) girls with hair over the body (3) not born of a good family (4) sick ones (5) ill-natured ones (6) girls who use abusive language (7) with hereditary diseases (8) with śmaśru (hair on the face) (9) girls with masculine features (10) with the sound of males (11) lean ones (12) with the voice of a crow (13) with thick eyelashes (14) round eyes. Again avoid girls having hair on their legs, raised heels and those with small depressions on their cheeks when they laugh. Girls whose bodies are too bright, with white nails, red eyes and fat hands and legs are not good for marriage. Girls too tall or too short, with eyelashes touching each other, with broad and raised teeth are to be avoided. A true Gṛhastha is one who marries a girl who is separated from him by five generations on the maternal side and seven generations on the paternal side. (See full article at Story of Gṛhastha from the Puranic encyclopaedia by Vettam Mani)
Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English TranslationGṛhastha (गृहस्थ) refers to the “household”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.3.54 (“Description of the duties of the chaste wife”).—Accordingly, as a Brahmin lady said to Pārvatī: “[...] Wife is the root of the household (gṛhastha), and of its happiness; she is the source of the fruit of virtue and for the flourishing of the family. In every house there are women proud of their exquisite beauty and comely appearance. But it is only due to the devotion of Śiva that a chaste lady is obtained. [...]”.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana IndexGṛhastha (गृहस्थ).—See Gṛhapatis.*
- * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa I. 7. 174, 181; II. 28. 20; 32. 24; III. 9. 70; 15. 16, 35.; IV. 6. 72; Vāyu-purāṇa Chaps. 11 and 12; 16. 11; 56. 18; 59. 23.

The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.
Arthashastra (politics and welfare)
Source: Knowledge Traditions & Practices of India: Indian Ethics: Individual and SocialGṛhastha (गृहस्थ), or “stage of the householder” refers to the second of the four Āśramas (“stages of life”).—The division of one’s life into the four āśramas (e.g., Gṛhastha) and their respective dharmas, was designed, in principle at least, to provide fulfilment to the person in his social, moral and spiritual aspects, and so to lead to harmony and balance in the society.

Arthashastra (अर्थशास्त्र, arthaśāstra) literature concerns itself with the teachings (shastra) of economic prosperity (artha) statecraft, politics and military tactics. The term arthashastra refers to both the name of these scientific teachings, as well as the name of a Sanskrit work included in such literature. This book was written (3rd century BCE) by by Kautilya, who flourished in the 4th century BCE.
Dharmashastra (religious law)
Source: Google Books: Manusmṛti with the ManubhāṣyaGṛhastha (गृहस्थ) or Gṛhin refers to the “householder” according to the Manusmṛti 3.77-78.—Accordingly, “just as all Creatures subsist by deriving support from air, so do the other states subsist by deriving support from the Housohelder (gṛhastha). Because men in all the three states are sustained by householders only, with knowledge and food, therefore the householder’s (gṛhin) is the highest state”.
According to Dakṣa (Vīramitrodaya-Āhnika, p. 456).—“Because gods, men and animals are supported by the householder, therefore is the householder (Gṛhastha or Gṛhin) the best of all. The householder has been described as the source of the other three stages; whenever he suffers, the other three suffer with him;...... for this reason, the householder is to be guarded with due effort, and should be honoured and worshipped by the king, as also by the other three”.
Source: Shodhganga: The saurapurana - a critical study (dharma)Gṛhastha (गृहस्थ) or Gṛhasthin refers to the second of the four “stages of life” (aśrama), according to the 10th century Saurapurāṇa: one of the various Upapurāṇas depicting Śaivism.—From the times of the most ancient dharmaśāstras the number of āśramas has been four:—Brahmacarya, Gṛhastha, Vānaprastha and Sannyāsin.—In the second part of his life, he marries and becomes a house holder (gṛhastha), discharges his debts to his ancestors by begetting sons and to the gods by performing sacrifices.
After Brahmacarya [viz., completing his study and giving proper fees to the teacher], he should marry and enter into the second Āśrama, gṛhastha-āśrama. The text prescribes the holding of vaiṣṇavī-yaṣṭi, clothes known as antarvāsa and uttarīya, sacred thread, water-filled kamaṇḍalu, umbrella, footwear etc. As a Gṛhastha he should perform all his karmas according to the injunctions laid down by the Vedas. He should be calm, self controlled, conquerer of anger, greed; should do svādhyāya, perform the five great sacrifices daily, mutter sāvitri daily, perform śrāddha, give donation, be kind and above all he should be devoted to Śiva.

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.
Vaishnavism (Vaishava dharma)
Source: Pure Bhakti: Bhagavad-gita (4th edition)Gṛhastha (गृहस्थ) refers to “householder”. (cf. Glossary page from Śrīmad-Bhagavad-Gītā).
Source: Pure Bhakti: Bhajana-rahasya - 2nd EditionGṛhastha (गृहस्थ) refers to:—A member of the second stage of life (āśrama) in the varṇāśrama system; a householder. (cf. Glossary page from Bhajana-Rahasya).

Vaishnava (वैष्णव, vaiṣṇava) or vaishnavism (vaiṣṇavism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshipping Vishnu as the supreme Lord. Similar to the Shaktism and Shaivism traditions, Vaishnavism also developed as an individual movement, famous for its exposition of the dashavatara (‘ten avatars of Vishnu’).
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Source: Google Books: ManthanabhairavatantramGṛhastha (गृहस्थ) [=Gṛhasta?] refers to a “householder”, according to the 16th century Śaivāgamaparibhāṣāmañjarī, a compendium of extracts from the Siddhāntāgamas written by Siddhāntin Vedajñāna.—[...] The recognized observances (āśrama) are that of the householder [i.e., gṛhasta], the mendicant monk (bhikṣu), the brahmacārin and the forest dwelling ascetic, but this basic list is qualified by dichotomies within each of the observances and, moreover, by categories that are superimposed on the aforementioned four:... [...] The gṛhastha also has two possibilities before him: take on his observance without worrying about other things except the pleasure of the senses or, on the contrary, give it up when his responsibilities have been fulfiled and detach himself from the world.

Shakta (शाक्त, śākta) or Shaktism (śāktism) represents a tradition of Hinduism where the Goddess (Devi) is revered and worshipped. Shakta literature includes a range of scriptures, including various Agamas and Tantras, although its roots may be traced back to the Vedas.
Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)
Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric TraditionsGṛhastha (गृहस्थ) refers to “home-dwellers”.—The Teaching of Śiva which defines the Śaivas is divided between two great branches or “streams” (srotas). These are termed the Outer Path (atimārga) and the Path of Mantras (mantramārga). The first is accessible only to ascetics, while the second is open both to ascetics and to married home-dwellers (gṛhastha). There is also a difference of goals.The Atimārga is entered for salvation alone, while the Mantramārga promises both this, and for those that so wish, the attainment of supernatural powers (siddhis) and the experience of supernatural pleasures in the worlds of their choice (bhoga).
Source: HAL: The function of the Vṛṣasārasaṃgraha in the Śivadharma corpusGṛhastha (गृहस्थ) refers to one of the Six Āśramas referred to by Kauṇḍinya in his comments on Pāśupatasūtra 3.1.—The system of the four Brahmanical Āśramas also survived practically intact during the time of the Tantric and non-Tantric manifestations of Śaivism and Vaiṣṇavism The editor of the Trivandrum edition of the Pāśupatasūtra gives a list in explanation of the phrase ‘Six Āśramas’ [e.g., Gṛhastha]. This interpretation is probably based on Kauṇḍinya ad Pāśupatasūtra 1.6 and 4.18 (“the paths of the householder, the chaste student, the forest-dweller, the mendicant, and the heretic are wrong paths”).

Shaiva (शैव, śaiva) or Shaivism (śaivism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshiping Shiva as the supreme being. Closely related to Shaktism, Shaiva literature includes a range of scriptures, including Tantras, while the root of this tradition may be traced back to the ancient Vedas.
Pancaratra (worship of Nārāyaṇa)
Source: archive.org: Catalogue of Pancaratra Agama Texts1) Gṛhastha (गृहस्थ) refers to group of initiates (initiated by cakramaṇḍala) which has four subdivisions, as discussed in chapter 5 of the Brahmarātra section of the Sanatkumārasaṃhitā: an encyclopedic Sanskrit text written in over 3500 verses dealing with a variety of topics such as yoga, temple-building, consecration ceremonies, initiation and dhanurveda (martial arts).—Description of the chapter [varṇa-ācāra-vidhi]: Sanatkumāra says that only five groups [Brāhmaṇas, Kṣatriyas, Vaiśyas and Śūdras and Sūtas] are eligible for dīkṣā-initiation. Those who were initiated by cakramaṇḍala means are further generally distinguished according to one or another of the āśrama-stages.
The initiates who are known as Gṛhasthas have four subdivisions, namely:
- Vratins,
- Ggṛhasthas,
- Āḍhyas, and
- Ācāryas.
2) Gṛhastha (गृहस्थ) refers to a class of persons for whom their “behavior” is discussed in the fourth chapter of the Kapiñjalasaṃhitā: a Pāñcarātra work consisting of 1550 verses dealing with a variety of topics such as worship in a temple, choosing an Ācārya, architecture, town-planning and iconography.—Description of the chapter [samayācāra-vidhi]:—For each of the four castes and for pratilomakas and sūtakas as well as for any of the four āśramas certain modes of behavior are expected; further, all of these persons are eligible for saṃskāras (1-4). [...] Such terms as [e.g., gṛhastha] [...] are defined (5-21a). The remainder of the chapter deals with general principles of conduct common to all these persons—prāṇāhuti, japa, etc. (21b-24a).

Pancaratra (पाञ्चरात्र, pāñcarātra) represents a tradition of Hinduism where Narayana is revered and worshipped. Closeley related to Vaishnavism, the Pancaratra literature includes various Agamas and tantras incorporating many Vaishnava philosophies.
General definition (in Hinduism)
Source: archive.org: Vedic index of Names and SubjectsGṛhastha (गृहस्थ) or Gṛhin refers to “householder” according to Sāyaṇa on Ṛgveda VI.49, 9; VII.97, 5.—cf. Pastyā (fem. pl.): a word occurring in several passages of the Ṛgveda. Roth ascribes to it the meaning of “house” or “dwelling”, in the wide sense of the term, as well as that of the “family” living in the house.
Source: WikiPedia: HinduismGrihasthya refers to the second phase of an individual's life in the Hindu ashram system. It is often called 'the householder's life' revolving as it does around the duties of maintaining a household and leading a family-centred life.
This word is used to denote the person who is currently in that phase of his life which is called 'Garhastha' according to the ancient Hindu system of life called Chaturashrama, prescribed in Manusmriti for the Dvija castes.
A person becomes a 'Grihastha' from the age of 25 and this Garhastha phase ends at the age of 49. Once a man becomes a Grihastha, he is expected to settle down, get married & produce children. The phase of "Grihastha" is preceded by the phase of Brahmacharya and followed by the phase of Vanaprastha.
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Source: archive.org: Jaina YogaGṛhastha (गृहस्थ) refers to the second of the four stages of a layman (āśrama) according to Cāmuṇḍarāya (940–989 A.D.) in his Caritra-sāra. Cāmuṇḍarāya, who was a Digambara Jain, has taken over the Hindu concept of the four āśramas, which, following Jinasena, he terms brahmacārin, gṛhastha, vānaprastha, and bhikṣu.
The following categories of Gṛhastha are mentioned in the Caritra-sāra:
- jāti-kṣatriya,
- tīrtha-kṣatriya.

Jainism is an Indian religion of Dharma whose doctrine revolves around harmlessness (ahimsa) towards every living being. The two major branches (Digambara and Svetambara) of Jainism stimulate self-control (or, shramana, ‘self-reliance’) and spiritual development through a path of peace for the soul to progess to the ultimate goal.
India history and geography
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Indian Epigraphical GlossaryGṛhastha.—(LL), a householder; same as Gṛhapati. Note: gṛhastha is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.

The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as mythology, zoology, royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.
Languages of India and abroad
Marathi-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionarygṛhastha (गृहस्थ).—m (S) pop. gṛhasta m A householder, the man of the second order; or he who, having finished his studies, and having been invested with the sacred thread, performs the duties of the master of a house and father of a family. 2 A gentleman; one distinguished from the vulgar; a patrician, as disting. from plebeian. 3 A person, a body, an individual.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishgṛhastha (गृहस्थ).—m A householder. A gentleman. A person, an individual.
Marathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryGṛhastha (गृहस्थ).—a householder, one who has entered on the stage of a house-holder; संकटा ह्याहिताग्नीनां प्रत्यवायैर्गृहस्थता (saṃkaṭā hyāhitāgnīnāṃ pratyavāyairgṛhasthatā) Uttararāmacarita 1.9; see गृहपति (gṛhapati) above and Manusmṛti 3.68;6.9. °आश्रमः (āśramaḥ) the life of a householder; see गृहाश्रम (gṛhāśrama). °धर्मः (dharmaḥ) the duty of a householder.
Derivable forms: gṛhasthaḥ (गृहस्थः).
Gṛhastha is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms gṛha and stha (स्थ).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryGṛhastha (गृहस्थ).—m.
(-sthaḥ) A householder, the man of the second class, or he who, after having finished his studies, and been invested with the sacred thread, performs the duties of the master of a house, and father of a family. E. gṛha a house, and stha who stays or abides.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryGṛhastha (गृहस्थ).—[gṛha-stha], I. adj. Being in a house, [Arjunasamāgama] 2, 16. Ii. m. A householder, or a Brāhmaṇa, who performs the duties of the father of a family, [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 3, 68. Iii. f. sthā, The wife of such a householder, [Lassen, Anthologia Sanskritica.] 17, 19.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryGṛhastha (गृहस्थ).—[adjective] living in the house of (—°); [masculine] householder, a Brahman in the second stage of his religious life.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Gṛhastha (गृहस्थ):—[=gṛha-stha] [from gṛha > gṛbh] mfn. ifc. living or staying in any one’s house, [Mahābhārata]
2) [v.s. ...] m. a householder, Brāhman in the 2nd period of his religious life (performing the duties of the master of a house and father of a family after having finished his studies and after investiture with the sacred thread; cf. [Religious Thought and Life in India] pp. 138; 150; 362 & 386), [Gautama-dharma-śāstra; Āpastamba-dharma-sūtra; Manu-smṛti; Bhāgavata-purāṇa vii, etc.]
3) Gṛhasthā (गृहस्था):—[=gṛha-sthā] [from gṛha-stha > gṛha > gṛbh] f. a housewife, [Vetāla-pañcaviṃśatikā ii, 9/10]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryGṛhastha (गृहस्थ):—[gṛha-stha] (sthaḥ) 1. m. A householder.
[Sanskrit to German]
Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). 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.
Hindi dictionary
Source: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionaryGṛhastha (गृहस्थ) [Also spelled grahasth]:—(nm) a householder.
...
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusGṛhastha (ಗೃಹಸ್ಥ):—
1) [noun] a married man.
2) [noun] a decent, socially amicable man; a patrician.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
Nepali dictionary
Source: unoes: Nepali-English DictionaryGṛhastha (गृहस्थ):—adj. living into the house; related to the house; n. a person in the second stage of life; the householder;
Nepali is the primary language of the Nepalese people counting almost 20 million native speakers. The country of Nepal is situated in the Himalaya mountain range to the north of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with: Griha-sthana, Grihasthabhai, Grihasthadharma, Grihasthadharmma, Grihasthagiri, Grihasthahnika, Grihasthamuktaphala, Grihasthamula, Grihastharatnakara, Grihasthashram, Grihasthashrama, Grihasthasutra, Grihasthata.
Full-text (+118): Grihasthashrama, Grihasthadharma, Ashrama, Grihasthata, Garhasthya, Grihin, Chapakhalaca Grihastha, Praggrihastha, Upakurvana, Grihastharatnakara, Grihashrama, Grihasthi, Grihadhipa, Grihasthamula, Vanaprastha, Kirestan, Kirukattan, Grihasthopanishad, Kirukastam, Samnyasa.
Relevant text
Search found 89 books and stories containing Grihastha, Gṛha-stha, Grha-stha, Gṛha-sthā, Gṛhastha, Grhastha, Gṛhasthā, Griha-stha, Grihasthya; (plurals include: Grihasthas, sthas, sthās, Gṛhasthas, Grhasthas, Gṛhasthās, Grihasthyas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Devala-smriti (critical study) (by Mukund Lalji Wadekar)
5. Division of Grihasthas: Yayavara and Shalina < [Chapter 9 - The distinctive features of the Devalasmriti]
References to section [B] < [Chapter 9 - The distinctive features of the Devalasmriti]
11.7. The rules regarding Bhaksya-abhaksya < [Chapter 9 - The distinctive features of the Devalasmriti]
Chaitanya Bhagavata (by Bhumipati Dāsa)
Verse 2.3.165-167 < [Chapter 3 - The Lord Manifests His Varāha Form in the House of Murāri and Meets with Nityānanda]
Verse 1.5.27 < [Chapter 5 - Eating the Mendicant Brāhmaṇa’s Offerings]
Verse 1.7.156 < [Chapter 7 - Śrī Viśvarūpa Takes Sannyāsa]
Amarakoshodghatana of Kshirasvamin (study) (by A. Yamuna Devi)
Education (2): Students < [Chapter 4 - Cultural Aspects]
The four Āśramas < [Chapter 3 - Social Aspects]
Atithi or Guest Reception (study) (by Sarika. P.)
Part 1 - The concept of Yajña (sacrifice) < [Chapter 7 - Pañcamahāyajñas]
Part 5 - How to appease an Atithi? < [Chapter 9 - Atithi-saparyā in Dharmaśāstra Literature]
Part 2 - Madhuparka offering < [Chapter 8 - Madhuparka]
Mahabharata (English) (by Kisari Mohan Ganguli)
Section XCI < [Sambhava Parva]
Brihad Bhagavatamrita (commentary) (by Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Nārāyana Gosvāmī Mahārāja)
Verse 1.1.32-34 < [Chapter 1 - Bhauma (the earthly plane)]
Verse 2.1.41 < [Chapter 1 - Vairāgya (renunciation)]
Verse 1.4.110 < [Chapter 4 - Bhakta (the devotee)]
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