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HandWiki. Grihastha. Encyclopedia. Available online: https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/28852 (accessed on 25 September 2026).
HandWiki. Grihastha. Encyclopedia. Available at: https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/28852. Accessed September 25, 2026.
HandWiki. "Grihastha" Encyclopedia, https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/28852 (accessed September 25, 2026).
HandWiki. (2022, October 11). Grihastha. In Encyclopedia. https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/28852
HandWiki. "Grihastha." Encyclopedia. Web. 11 October, 2022.
Grihastha
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The content is sourced from: https://handwiki.org/wiki/Philosophy:Grihastha

Grihastha (Sanskrit: gr̥hastha) literally means "being in and occupied with home, family" or "householder". It refers to the second phase of an individual's life in a four age-based stages of the Hindu ashram system. It follows celibacy (bachelor student) life stage, and embodies a married life, with the duties of maintaining a home, raising a family, educating one's children, and leading a family-centred and a dharmic social life. This stage of Ashrama is conceptually followed by Vanaprastha (forest dweller, retired) and Sannyasa (renunciation). Combined with other three life stages, Hindu philosophy considers these stages as a facet of Dharma concept, something essential to completing the full development of a human being and fulfilling all the needs of the individual and society. Ancient and medieval era texts of Hinduism consider Grihastha stage as the most important of all stages in sociological context, as human beings in this stage not only pursue a virtuous life, they produce food and wealth that sustains people in other stages of life, as well as the offspring that continues mankind. The householder stage is also considered in Indian philosophy as one where the most intense physical, sexual, emotional, occupational, social and material attachments exist in a human being's life. In Indian traditions, Grihastha stage of life is a recommendation, but not a requirement. Any Brahmacharya may, if he or she wants, skip householder and retirement stage, go straight to Sannyasa stage of life, thereby renouncing worldly and materialistic pursuits and dedicating their lives to spiritual pursuits.

spiritual celibacy grihastha

References

  1. gRha Sanskrit English Dictionary, Koeln University http://spokensanskrit.de/index.php?script=HK&beginning=0+&tinput=stha+&trans=Translate&direction=AU
  2. stha Sanskrit English Dictionary, Koeln University http://spokensanskrit.de/index.php?script=HK&beginning=0+&tinput=stha+&trans=Translate&direction=AU
  3. gRhastha Sanskrit English Dictionary, Koeln University http://spokensanskrit.de/index.php?tinput=gRhastha&direction=SE&script=HK&link=yes&beginning=0
  4. What is Hinduism? (Editors of Hinduism Today), Two noble paths of Dharma, p. 101, at Google Books, Family Life and Monastic Life, Chapter 10 with page 101 in particular https://books.google.com/books?id=9XC9bwMMPcwC&pg=PA101
  5. Sahebrao Genu Nigal (1986). Axiological approach to the Vedas. Northern Book Centre. pp. 110–114. ISBN 81-85119-18-X. https://books.google.com/books?id=mMZzmB4duPoC&q=vanaprastha&pg=PA112. 
  6. Manilal Bose (1998). "5. Grihastha Ashrama, Vanprastha and Sanyasa". Social and cultural history of ancient India. Concept Publishing Company. p. 68. ISBN 81-7022-598-1. https://books.google.com/books?id=t_PpdZosif4C&q=vanaprastha&pg=PA68. 
  7. R Sharma (1986), A Socio-political Study of the Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Motilal Banarsidass, ISBN:978-8120800786, page 435
  8. Max Muller, The Sacred Books of the East: The Vedanta-Sutras, Pt. 2, Vol. XXXVIII, Oxford University Press, pages 324-325
  9. Paul Deussen (1906), The Philosophy of the Upanishads, T&T Clark, Edinburgh, pages 54-61
  10. See the following Upanishads: Brahma, Sannyasa, Aruneya, Kantha, Paramahamsa, Jabala and Ashrama; For English translations and secondary source - see Paul Deussen (1906), The Philosophy of the Upanishads, T&T Clark, Edinburgh, pages 374-377
  11. RK Sharma (1999), Indian Society, Institutions and Change, ISBN:978-8171566655, page 28
  12. Sanskrit Original: Gautama Dharma Sutra page 3; English Translation: UC Pandey, Gautama Dharma Sutra, with the Mitaksara' Sanskrit commentary of Haradatta, 1966, OCLC 702663294 http://www.hinduonline.co/vedicreserve/kalpa/dharma/gautama_dharma_sutra.pdf
  13. Original: ManuSmriti Chapter 6, Verses 87-90 (in Sanskrit);English Translation: Max Muller, The Laws of Manu, p. 214, at Google Books, The Sacred Books of the East, Oxford University Press, pages 214-215English Translation 2: RK Sharma (1999), Indian Society, Institutions and Change, ISBN:978-8171566655, page 28 https://archive.org/stream/ManuSmritHindi-GpDwivedi#page/n343/mode/2up
  14. Max Muller, The Laws of Manu, p. 89, at Google Books, The Sacred Books of the East, Oxford University Press, page 89 https://books.google.com/books?id=VAobAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA89
  15. Original: ManuSmriti Chapter 4, Verses 1-6, pages 114-115 (in Sanskrit);English Translation 1: Max Muller, The Laws of Manu, p. 128, at Google Books, The Sacred Books of the East, Oxford University Press, pages 128-129;English Translation 2: William Jones (1796), Manu Smriti - Ordinances of Manu Chapter the Fourth, page 89 https://archive.org/stream/ManuSmritHindi-GpDwivedi#page/n253/mode/2up
  16. Muller translates it as gleaning of corn, William Jones as lawful gleaning and gathering, Prasad translates it as proper natural work
  17. pramRta Koeln University, Germany http://spokensanskrit.de/index.php?script=HK&beginning=0+&tinput=pramrita+&trans=Translate&direction=AU
  18. satyAnRta Koeln University, Germany http://spokensanskrit.de/index.php?script=HK&beginning=0+&tinput=Satyanrita+&trans=Translate&direction=AU
  19. zvavRtti Koeln University, Germany http://spokensanskrit.de/index.php?tinput=zvavRtti&direction=SE&script=HK&link=yes&beginning=0
  20. Muller translates it as dog-like menial subsistence, William Jones translates this as service for hire, Prasad translates it as slavery
  21. Original: Vishnu Purana pages 209-211 (in Sanskrit);English Translation: HH Wilson (Translator) Vishnu Purana, Volume 3 Book III, Chapter IX, pages 93-94 https://archive.org/details/Vishnu_Purana_with_Vishnuchittiyam_-_PB_Annangaracharya_1972
  22. See, for example, Adi Sankara's commentary on The Bhagavad Gita of the Mahabharata, AM Sastri (Translator), at pages 83-95 and 179-182;For another example, see Chapter 63, Book 13 of the Mahabharata, KM Ganguli (Translator) https://archive.org/stream/Bhagavad-Gita.with.the.Commentary.of.Sri.Shankaracharya#page/n97/mode/2up
  23. KM Ganguli (Translator), The Mahabharata - First Book Adi Parva Section XCI https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-mahabharata-first-book/d/doc4084.html
  24. J. A. B Van Buitenen (1974), The Book of the Beginning, University of Chicago Press, ISBN:978-0226846484
  25. MN Dutt (Translator), Sambhava Parva - Adi Parva The Mahabharata, verse 3, page 132 https://archive.org/stream/aproseenglishtr00duttgoog#page/n143/mode/2up
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