Varnashramadharma, Varṇāśramadharma: 12 definitions

Introduction
In Hinduism
Languages
1. Sanskrit
2. Kannada
3. Nepali
See also
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Introduction:

Varnashramadharma 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 Varṇāśramadharma can be transliterated into English as Varnasramadharma or Varnashramadharma, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

In Hinduism

Vaishnavism (Vaishava dharma)

Source: Pure Bhakti: Bhagavad-gita (4th edition)

Varṇāśramadharma (वर्णाश्रमधर्म) refers to “the Vedic social system, which arranges society into four occupational divisions based on a person’s qualities and four stages of spiritual development (See prescribed duty)”. (cf. Glossary page from Śrīmad-Bhagavad-Gītā).

Source: Pure Bhakti: Brhad Bhagavatamrtam

Varṇāśramadharma (वर्णाश्रमधर्म) refers to:—The Vedic social system, which organizes society into four occupational divisions and four stages of spiritual development. (cf. Glossary page from Śrī Bṛhad-bhāgavatāmṛta).

context information

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’).

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translation

Varṇāśramadharma (वर्णाश्रमधर्म) refers to the “norms of peoples of different castes and stages in life”, as explained in the Śivapurāṇa 2.2.23. Accordingly as Brahmā narrated to Nārada:—“[...] on hearing the enquiry of Satī Śiva was delighted and He narrated them with pleasure in their entirety for raising the worldly creatures. The sacred lore bearing on the subject, the glory and greatness of the illustrious lord, Śiva explained Himself with Yantras, with their five adjuncts. He told her legendary stories, the greatness of the votaries, the norms of peoples of different castes and stages in life (varṇāśramadharma) and the duties of kings, O great sage”.

Source: Shodhganga: The saurapurana - a critical study

Varṇāśramadharma (वर्णाश्रमधर्म) refers to the “duties of the castes and stages of life”, as explained in the 10th century Saurapurāṇa: one of the various Upapurāṇas depicting Śaivism.—Accordingly, smṛti materials like the duties of the castes and stages of life Varṇāśramadharma, the duties of the twice-born, the rules of performing Śrāddha and the duties of Vāha-Prastha and Yati are described in chapter seventeenth, eighteenth, nineteenth and twenty respectfully. All these are described with special attention to the glorification of Śiva and his worship.

context information

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.

Dharmashastra (religious law)

Source: Shodhganga: The saurapurana - a critical study (dharma)

Varṇāśramadharma (वर्णाश्रमधर्म) is short for Varṇāśrama: the laws related to the “four castes and four orders”, according to the 10th century Saurapurāṇa: one of the various Upapurāṇas depicting Śaivism.—The performance of varṇāśramadharma is said to be elevating and productive of happiness both in this world and the next. And the violation of it leads to misery or suffering in hell. In the Saurapurāṇa (chapter 17) the sages ask the Sūta to narrate the varṇāśramadharma. Then the Sūta narrates it as it was told by the Sun-god to Manu.

context information

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.

Vedanta (school of philosophy)

Source: academia.edu: Religious Inclusivism in the Writings of an Early Modern Sanskrit Intellectual (vedanta)

Varṇāśramadharma (वर्णाश्रमधर्म) (Cf. Śaṅkara) refers to the “order of castes and stages of life”.—[...] Just like the knowledge of Brahman and the means (sādhana) of acquiring it, the ‘qualification’ or ‘eligibility’ (adhikāra) to the study of the Veda is a matter of Vedic revelation, not of human understanding. It is the Veda itself that ‘appoints’ (adhikṛ) whoever may be eligible for its instruction. Intelligence, capability, desire for knowledge, and other things, are not sufficient requirements to become a proper adhikārin; other conditions apply that typically presuppose the upanayana and other ceremonies reserved to twice-born males (Halbfass 1983: 92). For Śaṅkara, as for virtually every orthodox brahmin of this period, eligibility to Vedic teachings is intimately related to the order of castes and stages of life (varṇāśramadharma).

context information

Vedanta (वेदान्त, vedānta) refers to a school of orthodox Hindu philosophy (astika), drawing its subject-matter from the Upanishads. There are a number of sub-schools of Vedanta, however all of them expound on the basic teaching of the ultimate reality (brahman) and liberation (moksha) of the individual soul (atman).

Pancaratra (worship of Nārāyaṇa)

Source: Shodhganga: Kasyapa Samhita—Text on Visha Chikitsa (p)

Varṇāśramadharma (वर्णाश्रमधर्म) or “social rules” refers to one of the principal topics of the Pāñcarātra division of the Vaiṣṇava Āgamas.—The almighty Hari, out of compassion for mankind in general, felt that the Vedas and Śāstras could not be easily grasped and practised by people belonging the diverse communities and cadres, whose potential and comprehension would vary vastly. Hence, he promulgated the Pāñcarātra doctrine [teaching for example social rules—varṇāśramadharma] which is the essence of the Vedas, in a simplified form.

context information

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.

Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Aufrecht Catalogus Catalogorum

1) Varṇāśramadharma (वर्णाश्रमधर्म) as mentioned in Aufrecht’s Catalogus Catalogorum:—by Vaidyanātha Dīkṣita. Oppert. 866. 2255. 3849. 4187. Ii, 2212. 2670. 3469. 6035. 7735. 8773. 9202. 10092. 10178.

2) Varṇāśramadharma (वर्णाश्रमधर्म):—ibid.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1) Varṇāśramadharma (वर्णाश्रमधर्म):—[=varṇāśrama-dharma] [from varṇāśrama > varṇa > varṇ] m. the duties of caste and order, [Horace H. Wilson]

2) [v.s. ...] Name of [work] (also madīpa, m.)

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Varṇāśramadharma (वर्णाश्रमधर्म):—[varṇā+śrama-dharma] < [varṇāśrama-dharma] (rmmaḥ) 1. m. Duties of that station.

context information

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.

Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Varṇāśramadharma (ವರ್ಣಾಶ್ರಮಧರ್ಮ):—[noun] = ವರ್ಣಾಶ್ರಮ [varnashrama].

context information

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 Dictionary

Varṇāśrama-dharma (वर्णाश्रम-धर्म):—n. social system with different duties allocated to four classes and four stages in life;

context information

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.

Relevant text

Search found 50 books and stories containing Varnashramadharma, Varṇāśramadharma, Varnasramadharma, Varnashrama-dharma, Varṇāśrama-dharma, Varnasrama-dharma; (plurals include: Varnashramadharmas, Varṇāśramadharmas, Varnasramadharmas, dharmas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Part 1 - Introduction to Varṇāśrama-dharma (the wholeness of one’s life) < [Chapter 6 - Social Customs and Ethical Codes in Dharmaśāstras]

Part 6 - Content of Dharmaśāstras < [Chapter 5 - The Dharmaśāstra Literature]

Part 2 - Atithi-saparyā in the Brāhmaṇas < [Chapter 2 - Ātithyeṣṭi]

+ 1 more chapters / show preview

Varṇāśrama-dharma (Introduction) < [Chapter 2]

Divisions of Āśrama (d): Nyāsin or Sannyāsin < [Chapter 2]

Socio-Cultural aspects reflected in the Mārkaṇḍeyapurāṇa (Introduction) < [Chapter 2]

+ 3 more chapters / show preview

Verse 2.2.204 < [Chapter 2 - Jñāna (knowledge)]

Verse 1.3.55-58 < [Chapter 3 - Prapañcātīta (beyond the Material Plane)]

Verse 1.1.9 < [Chapter 1 - Bhauma (the earthly plane)]

+ 6 more chapters / show preview