Varnashrama finds mention in the Saurapurana, a Saiva Upapurana dated to the 10th century. It refers to the regulation, pertaining to the ‘four varnas and four ashramas’. According to this text, upholding the duties associated with varnashrama-dharma is described as bringing prosperity and spiritual advancement in both the present life and the hereafter, whereas neglecting these duties results in hardship and punishment in the afterlife.

Varna The classical Indian literature presents society as organised into four major social categories: Brahmana, Ksatriya, Vaishya, and Sudra. Dharmashastra texts regularly use the term ‘varna’ to refer to these groups and outline the responsibilities linked to each of them.

Ashrama The term ‘ashrama’ is derived from the Sanskrit root ‘sram’, meaning ‘to exert’ or ‘to make an effort’, and traditionally refers to a phase of life requiring dedicated discipline. Since the earliest dharma texts, four such stages have been recognised: (i) brahmacharya, the stage of study; (ii) grihastha, the stage of household life; vanaprastha, the period of semi-retirement and withdrawal; and (iv) sannyasa, the stage of renunciation focused on liberation.