Brahmacharya, The Celibate Stage, where one regulates his senses and learns the Vedas and the Vedangas.
Gruhastha, when one gets married and discharges the duties of a Householder,
Vanaprastha, one having performed his duties as a Family Man, retires to the forest, either with the wife or without, in this case handing over the wife to be looked after by his sons,
and Sanyasa, when one relinquishes everything and contemplates on the Self, Reality.
When does one know when he has reached the stage of Vanaprastha?
““When a householder sees his skin wrinkled and his hair white, and sees the birth of his grandsons, then he may resort to the forest …. either committing his wife to his sons or accompanied by her”
“At this stage one gives his property to his heirs or donates it, goes into seclusion, and does penance. One becomes inward looking. He still contributes with his experience, through advising and teaching. Having fulfilled his desires in the previous ashrama, one is expected to win over senses and sensuous pleasures. Thus his work is also more dispassionate and detached, as he does not seek any specific result from the work. It will be for the benefit of society alone. Though one is supposed to celibate, he is not required to renounce or live alone. One can take his wife or live with any other person. One is also permitted to earn his livelihood though not to save/accumulate. But unless there is a specific need, he does not enter the city – usually people needing a vanaprasthi’s advice go to him instead of him visiting people.
One still has debts towards rishis and gods at this stage, and does teaching as well as performs sacrifices to propitiate the devatas. His primary debt towards pitris is cleared as he obtains progeny and raises them in grhastha ashrama, though he continues giving oblations to pitris during vanaprastha (Manu 6.1-32).”
How does one follow this in the present age?
Vanaprastha in essence means detached attachment.
The difference between this and Sanyasa is that Sanyasa is total detachment.
Detached Attachment.
Not resorting to philosophical deliberations, it is this.
When children have their own Family, parents must not expect that every decision is referred to them for approval nor should they expect to be consulted with the clear view that we, as parents have had a run of our and their life for quite some time and let them perform.
Avoid unsolicited advice.
Do not expect your advice to be followed.
Do what is expected of you in Varnasrama Dharama by remaining at Home, ensuring that your essential needs are met, as far as possible without disturbing others.
The term Pandya means ‘very Old'(பண்டைய) as against Cholas who were classified as new.
The Pandyas were in close liaison with the Pandavas of the Mahabharata.
Pandyan Kings took part in the Mahabharata War .(Karna Parav 20.25)
Arjuna and Krishna married Pandyan princesses and had children through them.
During the period of Ramayana, Sugriva advises his monkeys to search for Sita in the Kingdoms of Chera, Chola and Pandyas.
‘
And, O Yudhishthira, in the country of the Pandyas are the tirthas named Agastya and Varuna! And, O bull among men, there, amongst the Pandavas, is the tirtha called the Kumaris. Listen, O son of Kunti, I shall now describe Tamraparni. In that asylum the gods had undergone penances impelled by the desire of obtaining salvation. In that region also is the lake of Gokarna which is celebrated over the three worlds, hath an abundance of cool waters, and is sacred, auspicious, and capable, O child, of producing great merit. That lake is extremely difficult of access to men of unpurified souls. Mahabharatha 3:88[28]
And similarly, Pandya, who dwelt on the coast-land near the sea, came accompanied by troops of various kinds to Yudhishthira, the king of kings. Mahabharatha 5:19
Steeds that were all of the hue of the Atrusa flower bore a hundred and forty thousand principle car-warriors that followed that Sarangadhwaja, the king of the Pandyas. Mahabharatha 7.23.
References abound in Tamil Classics about the relationship between Sanatana Dharma and the Tamil Kings.
First reference of the Pandyas is the Parantaka Pandya who fought with Karikal Chola.
The Forty Kings mentioned before Karikala are not found to be recorded.
Yet references are found in the Ithihasa and Puranas about the Pandyas.
My inference is that Pandya Kingdom at Then Madurai then, was swallowed by a Tsunami and records might have been lost.
One surviving record is that Ravana signed a Peace Treaty with a Pandya King.
Please read my Post on this.
So, both the Chola and Pandya Dynasties date back to Ramayana period, if not earlier, for there are refernces in the Vedas about Tamil Nadu spices.
Probably Cholas and Pandyas belong to the same Family Tree of Manu, albeit descended from Cousins.
Yet another proof that Tamil and Sanatana Dharma walked hand in hand, nailing the canard perpetrated by the Aryan Invasion Theorists and followed by the Dravidian Parties.
The Kings of Tamil Nadu were democratic and conducted elections regularly at the Village level.
Paranthaka Chola Inscription in Tamil,Uthiramerur
This was organized systematically with Qualification for the Candidates, election observers.
This dates at least 1000 years ago!
I shall be posting about this in detail in a separate article.
Here we shall see how learning the Vedas and at least well versed with one of the commentaries of the Vedas, apart from other qualifications.
This is evident from the Inscriptions of the Chola Kings in Uthiramerur,Tamil Nadu.
”
Uttaramerur Inscriptions of Parantaka Chola I (முதலாம் பராந்தகன் )
Location: Uttaramerur, Kanchipuram Taluk, Kanchipuram District, Tamil Nadu, India
Chola Emperor: Parantaka Chola I (முதலாம் பராந்தகன்) (907 – 956 AD.)
Regnal Years: 12th Regnal year (919 AD) inscription 12 lines and 14th Regnal Year (921 AD) inscription 18 lines
Inscription Language: Tamil
Inscription Script: Tamil Grantha of 10th century
Uttaramerur, an ancient Chola village once known as Chaturvedimangalam, is located about 85 km from Chennai. This village, developed on the canons of the agama texts, has the village general assembly aka. mahasabha mandapa at the centre. The three temples well known for its architecture, sculptures and epigraphy i.e, 1. Kailasanatha Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, 2. Sundara Varadaraja Perumal Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu and 3. the Balasubramanya temple dedicated to Lord Subramanya, are oriented with reference to the mandapa. ..
Resolution of the Assembly and the Settlement
The village general assembly of the Uttaramerur Chaturvedimangalam met in the general assembly hall of the village, where it deliberated the resolution:
The village general assembly of the Uttaramerur Chaturvedimangalam was convening the committee as directed in royal order and was resolved and settled as per the terms given in the royal letter. Accordingly it was resolved to choose the member for the ‘Annual Committee,’ (ஸம்வத்ஸர வாரியம்) ‘Garden Committee,’ (தோட்ட வாரியம்) and the ‘Water bodies Committee’ (ஏரிவாரியம்) commencing from this year. (உத்திரமேருச்சதுர்வேதிமங்கலத்து சபையோம் இவ்வாண்டுமுதல் எங்களூர் ஸ்ரீமுகப்படி ஆஞையினால் தத்தனூர் மூவேந்த வேளான் இருந்து வாரியமாக ஆட்டொருக்காலும் ஸம்வத்ஸர வாரியமும் தோட்ட வாரியமும் ஏரிவாரியமும் இடுவதற்கு வ்யவஸ்தை செய்த பரிசாவது..)
Village ward or Kudumbu’ (குடும்பு)
According to the inscriptions, each village was divided into wards or Kudumbu’ (குடும்பு), and each ward or Kudumbu’ (குடும்பு) could send one representative to the general assembly.
There shall be thirty wards in Uttaramerur Chaturvedimangalam; (முப்பதா முப்பது குடும்பிலும் )
..
Those who wanted to contest:
1. Must own more than a quarter veli (One Veļi = 6.17 acre 6.17 ஏக்கர் ஒரு வேலி Tamil Wikipedia) tax-paying land (காணிலத்துக்கு மேல் இறை நிலமுடையான் );
2. Must own a house built on a legally-owned site (தன் மனையிலே அகம் மெடுத்துக் கொண்டிருப்பானை );
3. Must be above 35 years of age and below 70 years (எழுபது பிராயத்தின் கீழ் முப்பத்தைந்து பிராயத்தின் மேற்ப்பட்டார் );
4. Must have knowledge of ‘Mantrabrahmana’ (Mantra Text) as well as experience in teaching the same to others (மந்த்ர பிராமணம் வல்லான் ஒதுவித்தறிவானைக் );
5. Can own only one – eighth (1 / 8) veli of land and must have learned one Veda and one of the four Bhashyas and experienced in explaining them to others, then he shall be eligible to contest i.e, voters write his name on the pot-ticket (ballot) to be cast into the pot (ballot pot) (அரக்கா நிலமே யுடையனாயிலும் ஒரு வேதம் வல்லனாய் நாலு பாஷ்யத்திலும் ஒரு பாஷ்யம் வக காணித்தறிவான அவனையுங் குட வோலை எழுதிப் புக இடுவதாகவும்);
6. Must be among those possessing qualifications such as expertise in business and are known for their virtues (அவர்களிலும் கார்யத்தில் நிபுணராய் ஆகாரமு டையாரானாரை யேய் கொள்வதாகவும்);
7. Must be among those who possess honest earnings and pure mind; (அர்த்த சௌசமும் ஆன்ம சௌசமும் உடையாராய்);”
Of late I have been researching into the connection between Tamil and Sanatana Dharma, though I have posted a few articles on the subject earlier.
I have been able to confirm to myself the following.
1.The Tamil, Dravida and the Sanatan Dharma were closely connected and people were interacting with each other.
Kaala Chakra, world Tie Line by Rig Veda.
2.Historical Characters like Krishna, Sahadeva and Arjuna traveled to the South and Krishna and Arjuna married Dravidian women, had children through them.
3.The Tamil Kings were held in such high esteem that one of them Udiyan Cheralathan was in charge of feeding both the Kaurava and Pandava Armies during the Mahabharata Battle.
3.Sage Agasthya , who is presumed to have founded the Tamil Language is the same one who wrote the Rig Vedic Hymns 166 to 190.
4.Agasthya crossed the Vindhyas to enter Dravidian Territory.
5.Kumari Kandam is not a figment of Tamil Imagination.
6.Various references about Tamil in the Vedas,Puranas,Ramayana and Mahabharata and by Tamil in Tholkaapiyam,Silappadikaara and Manimekalai about Sanatana Dharma check out.
I have been able to check the dates and events with the help of Astronomical Data found in Tamil and Sanskrit Literature,Vedas, Puranas, Ramayana and Mahabharata.
This has been done with the help of Star Canopus, called Agasthya, mentioned in Tamil Classics and Sanskrit.
I wanted to cross verify this with the help of references found on Time in the Rig Veda.
Rig Veda , the earliest literature known to Man speaks of Time as a Wheel, thereby denoting that Time is Cyclic.
I have posted a detailed article on ‘Time, Non-Linear, Cyclic’
Seven {sapta} are yoked {yuñjanti} to the Chariot {ratham} with a single-wheel {ekacakram} and a single horse {eko aśvo} with seven people (seven names) {saptanāmā} inside it. The wheel has three navels {trinābhi}. It is ageless {ajaram} and un-decaying {anarvam}. On it are staying {tasthuh} all the beings of the world {viśvā bhuvanādhi}.
The seven yoked entities mentioned here represents the seven days of the week constituting the first quarter of a fortnight. It is also represented in Epics and Puranas as the seven horses of the Chariot of Surya (the Sun) alluding to the seven rays of the sun (seven colors in sunlight). The seven people who rides the chariot could be an indirect references to the Seven Sages (Saptarshis). The Chariot here represent the Sun whose apparent motion in Earth’s sky is what facilitates the time measurements done using the wheel of time. The Chariot could also represents the constellation of the seven stars (Big Dipper;- Saptarshi constellation) which also helps to measure long units of time.
The ‘navel’ of the wheel mentioned here represents ‘gear’. Thus the wheel is envisaged as a machinery with three gears to change the three levels of time measurement using the same wheel of time viz. 1) hours in the day, 2) months and seasons in the year and 3) twelve zodiacal ages and four (or eight) Yugas in the Great Year (axial precession period, 25,776 years). The beings of the world depends on this wheel since the daily, yearly and precessional changes in the time indicated by this wheel of time affect all beings.
In this Chariot {ratham}, resides {tasthuh} the seven {sapta}. It has seven-wheels {saptachakram} and is driven by seven horses {sapta vahanty aśvāḥ}. The Seven sisters { sapta svasāro} praises the Cow {gavāṃ} and the seven people (seven names) {sapta nāma}.
This verse again describes the Seven Sages (Seven Names) residing in the Chariot (the Sun) this time mentioned as having seven horses (like in Epics and Puranas) and as having seven wheels. The Seven Sisters represent river Sarasvati and the nearby rivers and is a theme repeated in Vedas. The Cow represents the Year. The significance of seven wheels is unknown. It could mean the seven zodiacal ages that had elapsed during the composition of this hymn.
rvs.1.164.11:-
RV_1,164.11a dvādaśāraṃ nahi taj jarāya varvarti cakram pari dyām ṛtasya |
RV_1,164.11c ā putrā agne mithunāso atra sapta śatāni viṃśatiś ca tasthuḥ ||by length of time,
By Universal-Order {ṛtasya} this wheel {cakram} of time having twelve-spokes {dvādaśāraṃ} revolves {varvarti} in the sky {dyām}, without ever weakening or aging {nahi taj jarāya}. O Agni {agne}, On it stays, in pairs {mithunāso}, 720 sons {putrā}.
The word Rta, means Universal Order, Universal Law, the Laws of Physics or the Laws of Cosmology. Here the wheel is mentioned as having twelve spokes, to measure out twelve months in a year and twelve ages in a Great Year (25,776 years). The strange number 720 mentioned here as number of sons attached to the wheel is interesting. As per Graham Hancock this could mean the 72 years taken by the wheel to move 1 degrees (71.6 approximated as 72). However 720 is also twice 360. The meaning here thus represent 720 spokes which are paired, each spoke representing 1/2 degree (36 years) and a pair of spokes representing 1 degree (72 years).
Similarly in a human lineage, if 720 sons are born at an interval of 36 years (ie father begets a sun at his 36th age, on an average) then the total duration would be 720 x 36 = 25920 years, very close to the precession period of 25,776 yeas. Due to this simplicity, the number 72, its half 36 and its half 18 with or without zeros are frequently found in the Vedas, Epics and Puranas. Similarly the multiples of 72 like 144, 216, 432 with or without zeros too are found. Besides 36 + 72 = 108 is a very special number in ancient Indian traditions.
The number of Parvas in Mahabharata is 18; number of days Kurukshetra War is fought is 18. The time gap between Kurukshetra War and submergence of Dwaraka is 36. Duration of ChaturYuga mentioned in Shanti Parva of Mahabharata is 4,320,000.
rvs.1.164.48:-
RV_1,164.48a dvādaśa pradhayaś cakram ekaṃ trīṇi nabhyāni ka u tac ciketa |
RV_1,164.48c tasmin sākaṃ triśatā na śaṅkavo ‘rpitāḥ ṣaṣṭir na calācalāsaḥ ||
Twelve {dvādaśa} are the major-spokes {pradhayaś}, and the wheel {cakram} is single {ekaṃ}; three {trīṇi} are the naves {nabhyā}. Who hath understood it {ka u tac ciketa}?
On it are set together 360 spokes, which cannot be loosened {na calācalāsaḥ}.
Here the Wheel of Time with 12 spokes to define 12 zodiac signs is mentioned as having 360 sub-spokes for measuring each each day of the year and each degree of movement of Vernal Equinox in every 72 years. It is mentioned as having three naves (gears of modes of operation, to measure hours in a day, months in a year and zodiacal ages in a Great Year). The verse generate curiosity in the mind of reader or reciter asking if they have any understanding of it.
Rig Veda also mentions frequently about the Cow and the Calf when it discusses about the wheel of time. Cow represent a year and Calf the residual time that is left which needs adding of few days after the expiry of few years to correct the calender. This residue is a by product of approximation of the year as 360 days, 365 days, 365.25 days or as 365.2522 days. Hence the year is rightly called the Cow and the residue the Calf.
Eg:- RV_1,164.05c (the yearling Calf {vatsa}); RV_1,164.09c the Calf {vatsa} lowed, and looked upon the Mother, the Cow.
References of the Wheel of Time in Mahabharata are subsequent to those found in the Vedas. They often supplement the references in the Vedas and increase their clarity.
Three hundred and sixty cows represented by three hundred and sixty days produce one calf between them which is the year. That calf is the creator and destroyer of all. Seekers of truth following different routes, draw the milk of true knowledge with its help. Ye Aswins, ye are the creators of that calf!
The 360 cows thus represents 360 degrees and erroneously to 360 days in a year. The calf represent the residual time to complete one year. The residue in case of 360 days will be 5 days, in case of 365 days will be 1/4 day, in case of 365.25 days will be 11 minutes and so on and this chase will lead one to the secret knowledge about the precession of equinox and the wheel of time.
The History of World as known with the help of Rig Veda has been provided in this post at the Top.
Mr. Ramani,
Its Pyramid 2 in Egypt but the tablet was immediately taken to British Museum and no photographs can be found online)