According to Hindu Dharma, there are four stages of life known as Ashrams: Brahmcharya, Grihastha, Vanaprastha, and Sannyasa. The Brahmcharya Ashram represents the student phase, which ideally ends by the age of 25. While one can continue to study beyond this age, marriage is generally expected to follow. The Grihastha Ashram begins at 26 and lasts until around 50, during which individuals are expected to marry and build a family. Vanaprastha, the stage from 50 to 75, is a time for preparing for the final stage of life, Sannyasa.
During Vanaprastha, individuals are expected to fulfill their familial responsibilities, such as marrying off their daughters and helping their sons become self-sufficient. They should also start preparing for Sannyasa by engaging in meditation and rituals. Sannyasa, which starts at around 76 and continues until death, involves renouncing worldly attachments and living a life of asceticism. Sannyasis, or renunciates, do not stay at home but reside in monasteries, which are available in every Indian city, where they live free of cost.
To become a Sannyasi, individuals must perform various rituals, the most significant being the symbolic renunciation of their physical body. They often stand naked in the river while reciting mantras, symbolically discarding their worldly self. Though they remain physically alive, they perform all the rites usually done posthumously, signifying their detachment from earthly life. Consequently, Sannyasis’ bodies are never cremated; instead, they are submerged in the river. Once they have entered Sannyasa, they are bound by strict rules.
These include prohibitions against handling money, dealing with fire, cooking, and consuming flavorful food. They must beg for their sustenance, purify their food by washing it, and repeat the name of Lord Ram 21,000 times daily. They traditionally wear orange clothing, symbolizing their devotion to Hinduism. Brahmin Sannyasis carry a staff, which is also submerged with their body upon death; no other caste members receive this staff. Sannyasis typically reside in monasteries with other Sannyasis, dedicating most of their time to repeating the name of Lord Ram.
They might receive occasional visits from their families, but generally lead solitary lives. During my work with researchers, I met numerous Sannyasis, and their stories were consistently surprising. Most expressed a profound eagerness for death, often stating that they hope to meet their end soon. I once spoke with a 70-year-old woman who had lived in a monastery for 30 years, waiting for death. She was the first female Sannyasi I had encountered. She explained that while females do not undergo the same rigorous rituals as males, they follow similar rules and live in separate sections of the monasteries.
She came to Varanasi with her husband, who had tuberculosis. After his death, she continued to live in the monastery, awaiting her own. Despite the unconventional nature of her life, she was deeply content and looked forward to her final moment. In contrast, I also spoke with a male Sannyasi, around 70 years old, who had embraced Sannyasa at 35 due to personal tragedies. Though he appeared quite ill, he too was happy discussing his impending death. I found it intriguing how people could be so content discussing their end.
Another Sannyasi I met had turned to Sannyasa to escape legal consequences. Accused of multiple murders, he sought refuge in Varanasi and became a Sannyasi to evade the authorities. He continued to live a relatively comfortable life, with family visits and monetary support, which was contrary to the austere image of Sannyasa. My experiences with various Sannyasis revealed a wide range of motivations and circumstances. Many seemed to view Sannyasa as a form of penance or a path to liberation. Despite a recent decline in the number of Sannyasis, Varanasi remains a unique destination where people come to conclude their earthly journeys.
i want to become sanyasi, ill follow all the rules strictly, iam 26 now , please advise on the same
Geetanjali Ji,
I think you should postpone the decision of becoming a Sanyasi for now. As per Hindu religion, you have just come out of Bramcharya which means you are ready for Grihasth. You are only 26, you have your whole productive life coming up. You are in the age of beginning not ending. Better have a life rather than ending it. Once you become Sanyasi, you will be stuck limitations. I won’t really recommend you to become a Sanyasi. Anyways, if you want to discuss more about the issue then please feel free to write me – nandan@groovyganges.org and I will try to help you in any way possible.
It may be End of life at one end and simultanously start a new life. The ultimate purpose of GOD realization is the aim of a true spritual seeker . That seeker may be in GRAHASTHA or in SANYASI form . In real sense , a sanyasi having a big role to play than a ordinary man .
Mr. Rahul,
Thanks for comment. If a sanyasi has a big role to play than an ordinary man then what are we waiting for? What are you waiting for? Why don’t we become a sanyasi and play a big role? In my understanding, as a 30 years old person my role is bigger than a sanyasi in my society. There is an age and time for everything. If you think about Geetanjali, a 26 years old girl, do you think it is right time for her to become a Sanyasi? I think God has sent us to solve the problems of our society, to do something productive, to make this world a better place to live and not to keep our eyes closed and think about him and recite his name all the time. I believe that if the God wanted me to recite his name, worship him, become a Sanyasi then he would have just kept me with himself rather than sending me in this world. I don’t know what is the truth and this is what I believe.
Please share your thoughts,
Im just 16 years ols and Im fed up of this Scary Society and want to end my Life as a normal Human and start an extraordinary Life as a Sanyasi. Im being reminded again and again by GOD that I have to become a Sanyasi and it’s the Ultimate Goal of my Life so can I be a Sanyasi?
i am 27yrs old may be it is very young age to become a sanyasi but i am ready to become a sanyasini, and i want to do seva also after becoming a sanyasini, so can you please give any advice where to join and lead rest of my life
Im shilpa 24yrs old….I want to become saniyasi…..i hate this world..i loved someone he cheated me….he didnt knw how to care i realised so much now i decided to saniyasi…i didnt know how to change his character but he is nt with me..i lost my life everything
Shilpa Ji,
Why do you want to become a Sanyasi and end your life? Look at your age. There are so many beautiful things in the world. Such things like cheating by your boyfriend is not unusual at all. I think you should try to be brave and happy. Just try to get yourself busy with other things you like and believe me you will be happy again very soon. Boys say never regret if you miss a girl or a train because there is always the next one, and next one could be a better one:) Why can’t girls have such thinking? I am telling you this because most of the comments I get on this post are by girls. I can imagine your pain but it doesn’t that you start to hate the whole world only because something bad was done by one person (your boyfriend), You should be thankful to the God that your boyfriend showed his reality this early. Imagine what would have happened if you married him and then you come to know about his reality.
I will definitely suggest you to not think about becoming a Sanyasi at the moment. If fact as per Hindu mythology you become Sanyasi only once you have fulfilled your social responsibilities. If you are born here on the earth then you definitely owe something to it, try to payback and get yourself involved in the process of life. Don’t end it. If you need any other help or suggestions then feel free to write me on my email- nandan@groovyganges.org. And yes, please keep me updated with how you are dealing with your life.
Nandan
I m 27 i am a total failure in life i have lots of debts to repay , from the age i understood life i was in debt and repaying everyone but my family is not like me they all are good people and very respectable i m the evil in their family , i m a failure i have accepted it and tried to commit suicide even but tht didnt helped so jus want to leave my family so tht they can be happy for the rest of their life and become a sanyasi ….please help me with procedure
I m 27 . I m borring in my life i want become sanysi no one love me plz help me become a sanysi and i want see god i m mad for god hey krishna where r u i want meet u hey krishna ……….
Sanyasam is not an option to live with various difficulties. Life has to go on with all possible points. Common peoples after cheating are not good for this. Sanyasam is not a way to do the revenge. It is a pure path of creating the self awareness and go near to God. Never think about take sanyasa as the remaining part of cheating or like that. Do the Grihasta works, then think about the Sanyasa with Vanaprastha. Dont jump in to Sanyasa without purification of mind. It will give bad result to body and mind. Involve in good thoughts only.
i am Ayush 20 year old ca student but i want to tapasya… but i want some guidance of spritiual master …..i just want to meet lord…….
Iam boopalan , I have interest to learn about siddhar and yogi .In my real life my sister have two sons.both of them were handicap . for them and other child who r handicap for them also i am ready to sacrify my life. plz give ur opinion
i am 17 years old… i want to become sanyasi and leave this world…plz some on help me..
Mr. Vignesh,
I have no idea what you are talking about. Sanyasis also live in this world where we live, right?
This Nandan doesnot know anything about Gita,moksh,
liberation, he just speak bla bla bla……go out of this page….enjoy ur desires, dont block the paths of others that leads to God
Jyotish Ji,
Of course I don’t know anything about Sanyaysa. I am a researcher, not a Sanyasi or not some one who ever studied Sanyasa or anything related to it. I wrote this article after talking with a few Sanyasis in Varanasi when I was working with another Anthropology researcher. I have just shared my experience and nothing else. I don’t run a Sanyasi class or something. As you can see by other comments that I am motivating people to live rather than killing themselves. I believe in energy and life rather than dark death. I don’t see any reason of becoming Sanyasi at the age of 20 or something.
You are a Jyotish, right? Would you consider helping people who want to become Sanyasi? If yes, then I can easily refer those guys to you who contact me asking questions about how to become a Sanyasi. If you can see that I don’t know anything and just speak bla bla bla then you must be knowing the reality. Would you consider writing the truth? If possible then please write down the reality, correct my bla bla bla, and post it on this post as a comment. And yes, don’t forget to share your email address so that people could contact you.
A person who have enough family support never become a sanyasi. Live with them till a specific age. After that decide to become a sanyasi. There are various thoughts are related with it. A sanyasi dont have a self thought. No “Aham” is inside in sanyasi. Only the thought of God.
If any young man is interested in living a God-centered life, please feel free to contact me.
Most of us do not understand the real meaning of sanyas. Generally people take sanyasa to escape from police search, do not willing to accept life’s challenges. Taking sanyas without good reasons will neither support the sanyasi nor set good examples to others. Taking sanyasa at young age is accepted provided the mind-set of the person is towards spiritualism. Otherwise, people over and above 65 years can renounce worldly pleasures and take sanyasa and that too after fulfilling all their responsibilities as houlders.
Nandan,
Even my mind have crossed several times to become sannyasi but i don’t have any knowledge about it. Can you please throw some light on the process and place.
Dear all,
its just about how do we spend the life..
to know it, first we shall be knowing
who are we..?
‘ what is life all about’?
what is the purpose, god has send us in to this world..?
where are we coming from and where are we heading to..?
what is our relation with the entity called god..?
these are to name a few..
we need to initiate or spark our true realization.. and for that this world seems a good place..
you need to study a lot, so much has been written about this eternal quest of mankind …
READ, READ… and READ… till the time you have your own thought process started..
let your curiosity be your guiding force..mix it with meditation…
plunge in to the ocean of knowledge.. and sail through to your OWNNESS..
MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALL !
I want to become sanyasee because i hate this wold and i want to live this life
I am in 27 year i want to became a sanyasi………….kya karo life is so bad.
Dear Mr. Nandan,
Can you put some more light on these sanysasis. About there daily chores. Where are these ashrams found in India.
regards,
pradeeep
There is no use in becoming a sanyasi if there are deeds that you need to perform, Like the debt of parents, teachers/preachers and wife. Once you finished this debts than go for sanyasi roop. Otherwise try to detach yourself from your life and you can be a sanyasi even in grastha ashram. Like the example is purely life of Shiva.. rest is all myth that you will attain nirvana by becoming a sanyasi Read geeta and research yourself to understand the real meaning of life and detachments… rest you can reach me at prakash.delhi.2011@gmail.com
Hello readers,
One should accept sanyas for the love of the humanity and to serve the humanity. I read most of your stories/questions, and I have only one answer to all your concerns – One need not accept sanyas just to run away from the life situations, pain or problems. One need to be in the middle of all these situations and need to learn to be positive.
Love,
Devansh
me sanyashi banana chahta hoo muje contact karo plz sirious.
Dear Mr. Nandan,
I have seen your comments on sanyas and advices given to many people. I would like to tell you something about sanyasa. There is no true sanyasi in this world who strictly follow the rules of sannyas laid out by the Sages like Aadi Sankara. As far as I know, almost all sannyasis who took to that way of life fearing to face the actuality of life. May be a very few people are there in the opposite. Sannyas is a process of running away from one’s duty to the world in which one lives. I am not an atheist. But I do not believe people who run away from their duties.What I understand is that everybody can always do a little bit for the betterment of the society without becoming a sannyasi till his death.
Namaste Mr. Kutty,
Thank you so much for posting a comment. I can understand if someone becomes a Sanyasi after fulfilling his social responsibilities, I know that it never ends, but still… But when I see a young Sanyasi then it seems like a serious pain to me. I don’t see any reason of becoming Sanyasi at an early age. There are thousands of ways to solve the problems, we just need to work on it. I believe that if there is a problem which can be solved then we should work on solving it. If there is a problem which can not be solved then we should forget about it and think about other issues. I just mean that we should be productive and contribute in society.
Hiiii,
I am 19 years old and I want to become a sanyasini. I feel being a part of any relationship is making my life even more complicated and is taking me away from my true purpose. I have to find my true purpose, the reason why I am born again. I think any sort of relation or materialistic want is taking me away from it.
Please tell me where and whom exactly should I contact to become a sanyasini.
To be a sanyasi is not so easy as we think. First you think about these
1. Is your mind and thinking is in your control?
2. Do you feel anger ,jealous,love ,attraction,uncomfort?
3. Do you have desires ?
If any of these ans is yes please do not try to sanyas. Sanyas is to forget your identity you are only a human being seeking the SHANTI ,your MAAN and your SOLE should be clear, transparent and infinietly calm. If you achieve this you can call yourself sanyasi whether you are in social life or not.
Sanyas is stage of mind when no desires or ambitions are left. All the materialistic things are useless for sanyasi. Only aim is left to find truth,max GYAAN and peace of soul. Sanyasi will give and give without any take. Clothes ,guru,any indentification or sign can not be proof of sanyasi. Why,what,and to whom a sanyasi has to prove? He has no identity and only GOD knows about him
I am 30 year single man currently in in Australia but from Nepal.i have seen a lot to this world and money now I don’t have any desire of money I just want to go out this crowed and money minded world.i have only one desire in my life that is to live end up my life peacefully so plz so me the way to become sanyasi.i will be greatful to you.
I’m 20 year old and studying engineering. I am hindu and i respect my religion. Im wexed of the lyf which im leading at present. With respect to parents, love, brother, even friends also. My parents dont like me, even they dont like my birth also. So daily they give torture to me. Bt i bear because i respect them. Where as my frnds like me very much. Bt, i love a person who loves me alot. Bt he is a sadist and a pesimist too. So my frnds hate him. He alsohate my frnds. I suffered a lot between both of them. Finally i loose my frnds. The only person remaining for me in this world is my lover. Bt i cant bear his sadism. And as a indian. I cant leave him and cant able to lead my life with some other. So i decided to become a sanyasini. I know that the reason fr which i want to become a sanyasini is apt. Bt, please tell me how to become a sanyasini or where to become a sanyasini?
I want to take Sanyas in Varanasi as i am a Brahman. Do you know any one who gives Dikhsa to Brahman?
my guru Sri Mata Amritanandamayi devi, people get attracted to the divine love emanating from her and decide to follow her.
But not everybody are ripe enough for sanyasa and staying with group is not so easy. Meditation and chantng is done but main focus is on doingselfless se a. some people leave after a while but some people stay .
I read a lot of post here peole wanting to become Sanyasis.. young people.
May be they should join such groups and start wit selfless seva and practicing meditation , yo see whether it is their path. Hope it helps.
i am 26 old got married 2years ago repeatedly getting hurt from family members and society in return i am trying to take revenge on them by hurting them too i know this is not a right thing and i am controlling my mind lot not to behave like this still i cant really i am getting afraid with this scary world and dont know how many more sins i may do in future because of this so i want to live a peaceful life by chanting the name of god, doing seva, meditations and dont want to keep any relation with my family members so please suggest me what should i do for this
I want to take sanyas because i am not fit to serve my duties as i perform.plz Suggest me how i become a good sanyasi.
m 28 year old ,, and i also want to become a sanyasi.. there is no problem in my life my elder brother got married , my sister also got married ,, my family is happy..now i feel ,, everything is settle in family,, n i have a strong eager to live sanyasi.. i don’t want anything in my life for myself.. i also want to do seva and serve poor people..to make there life better ,, i don’t know how i will proceed.. any input from u. ?
I am 29 years old, female married. I have one daughter 6years old and 3 years old son. I don’t want live in my family, I don’t like anything in this world. I want to become sanyasi.please suggest me about this, I am happy in this.i am a house wife.
kindly see the quotes taken from the book ” Talk with sri ramana mahrishi” it is a discussion b/w Raman maharhi & disciple
.
D.: Is it necessary to take to sanyasa for Self-Realisation?
M.: Sanyasa is to renounce one’s individuality. This is not the same as tonsure and ochre robes. A man may be a grihi; yet, if he does not think he is a grihi, he is a sanyasi. On the contrary a man may wear ochre robes and wander about: yet if he thinks he is a sanyasi he is not that. To think of sanyasa defeats its own purpose.
Anyone can become sanyasi at any age. Sanyasi is a perfect human being. So, I will suggest you to practice in your real life to be perfect human being for few years. Once you are confident enough go on. During practice try to learn more about Hinduism, Upanishads, Vedas etc. Also study the life of Vivekananda. I am sure it will help you in realisation.
Nature has gifted thinking to human beings only. It is human nature to think and create utility out of the material gifted by nature. Nature has made physical life bearing material ) pairs (male and female) and this pairs get attracted after certain period of time to join together and live together extend its own breed. There are three majors parts, soul plus body( childhood), soul plus body plus developing mind( developing youth) and soul plus body plus developed spiritual, commercial, political and scientific mind ( developed youth). Affer certain age beyond 55 years, everything depend on human-made Physical well-being as in early age physical well-being is but natural barring certain incidental and accidental happenings during the life span. Mental well being depend on physical well being. Mental is non-visible material in life body whereas mind plus material is visible body just like scientific machines working for providing comforts to human being as well as other being. Thoughts converted into words just like mythology may give human being the idea of good and bad. One earn through three items soul, body and mind. Mind and soul are housed in the body. Mind and body take energy from outside whereas soul remains inside and never come outside and soul always try to check and balance the activities coming from outside through mind. To conclude I would say that well being of body is first, soul requires no maintenance as it is permanently maintained by nature whereas check and balance is required for the energy coming from outside through mind for which all the social rules, governmental rules, spiritual rules and commercial rules have been formulated so as to regulate the mind energy coming from outside as outside energy may come from any source good or bad and its regulation is essential for the well being of human life which is made for the well being of all.
Thanks
I want to become sanyasi I’ll follow all the rules strictly, am 26 now please advise on the same premanand
sir, i am 55 years old and doing public sector job. i want to spend my life as sanyasi after retirement. please advise me to whom i should treated as GURU and from which saint i should take GURU MANTRA. if every thing will go in my favour,i am difinately deciding for sanyas. kin dly advise me.
Respected sir,
I am 27 years old …I don’t like to married anyone ,now hating marriage life ,what am excepting it’s not happing in my life.I can’t able to sacrifice my life to someone. I was chooses one guy for my life partner but our horoscope was not matched so my parents are not agree to marry that guy…same situation in his family also ,now am help us.. We both can’t able to do anything …so I decided to take sanyasam….
Respected sir,
I am 27 years old …I don’t like to marrie anyone ,now am hating marriage life ,what am excepting it’s not happening in my life.I can’t able to sacrifice my life to someone. I was chooses one guy for my life partner but our horoscope was not matched so my parents are not agree to marry that guy…same situation in his family also ,now am help less….We both can’t able to do anything …so I decided to take sanyasam….
Myself nithin rao veeramneni, am 21 i want to take sanyas kidly mention the steps.
am renjith, 24 frm kerala….. am happy, no problems.. but i worry lot about life of others.. i wana pray for goodness to wipe all evil frm every living being,,,,,, i want to pray….. i want to be near god……..