Ashrama (stage)

Ashrama in Hinduism is one of four age-based life stages discussed in Indian texts of the ancient and medieval eras. The four ashramas are: "Brahmacharya" (student), "Grihastha" (householder), "Vanaprastha" (forest walker/forest dweller), and "Sannyasa" (renunciate). It is a hermitage/ monastery where spiritual and yogic disciplines are pursued. "Ashrams" are often associated with a central teaching figure, a guru, who is the object of adulation by the residents of the ashram.
The "Ashrama" system is one facet of the "Dharma" concept in Hinduism. It is also a component of the ethical theories in Indian philosophy, where it is combined with four proper goals of human life ("Purusartha"), for fulfilment, happiness and spiritual liberation. Moreover, since the four ashramas can be seen as the framework of an influential life-span model, they are also part of an indigenous developmental psychology which from its ancient beginnings until today has shaped the orientations and goals of many people, especially in India.
Ashram system.
Under the Ashram system, the human lifespan was divided into four periods. The goal of each period was the fulfilment and development of the individual. The classical system, in the "Ashrama Upanishad", the "Vaikhanasa Dharmasutra" and the later "Dharmashastra", presents these as sequential stages of human life and recommends ages for entry to each stage, while in the original system presented in the early "Dharmasutras" the Ashramas were four alternative available ways of life, neither presented as sequential nor with age recommendations.
Ashrama and Purushartha.
The Ashramas system is one facet of the complex Dharma concept in Hinduism. It is integrated with the concept of Purushartha, or four proper aims of life in Hindu philosophy, namely, Dharma (piety, morality, duties), Artha (wealth, health, means of life), Kama (love, relationships, emotions) and Moksha (liberation, freedom, self-realization). Each of the four Ashramas of life are a form of personal and social environment, each stage with ethical guidelines, duties and responsibilities, for the individual and for the society. Each Ashrama stage places different levels of emphasis on the four proper goals of life, with different stages viewed as steps to the attainment of the ideal in Hindu philosophy, namely Moksha.
Neither ancient nor medieval texts of India state that any of the first three Ashramas must devote itself solely to a specific goal of life ("Purushartha"). The fourth stage of "Sannyasa" is different, and the overwhelming consensus in ancient and medieval texts is that "Sannyasa" stage of life must entirely be devoted to "Moksha" aided by "Dharma".
"Dharma" is held primary for all stages. "Moksha" is the ultimate noble goal, recommended for everyone, to be sought at any stage of life. On the other two, the texts are unclear. With the exception of Kamasutra, most texts make no recommendation on the relative preference on Artha or Kama, that an individual must emphasise in what stage of life. The Kamasutra states,