{"product_id":"the-asrama-system-the-history-and-hermeneutics-of-a-religious-institution-9780195083279","title":"The Asrama System: The History and Hermeneutics of a Religious Institution","description":"\u003cp\u003e • Author(s): Patrick Olivelle\u003cbr\u003e • Publisher: Oxford University Press\u003cbr\u003e • Publisher Imprint: Oxford University Press\u003cbr\u003e • BISAC: Hinduism - General\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe lesser known and explored of the two pillars of Hinduism--\u003cem\u003eāśrama\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003evarṇa\u003c\/em\u003e--\u003cem\u003eāśrama\u003c\/em\u003e is the name given to a system of four distinct and legitimate ways of leading a religious life: as a celibate student, a married householder, a forest hermit, and a world renouncer. In this, the first full-length study of the \u003cem\u003eāśrama\u003c\/em\u003e system, Olivelle uncovers its origin and traces its subsequent history. He examines in depth its relationship to other institutional and doctrinal aspects of the Brahmanical world and its position within Brahmanical theology, and assesses its significance within the history of Indian religion. Throughout, he argues that the \u003cem\u003eāśrama\u003c\/em\u003e system is primarily a theological construct and that the system and its history should be carefully distinguished from the socio-religious institutions comprehended by the system and from their respective histories.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Oxford University Press","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":46893474840727,"sku":"9780195083279","price":27775.0,"currency_code":"INR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0666\/3471\/1191\/files\/9780195083279.webp?v=1770316569","url":"https:\/\/atlanticbooks.com\/products\/the-asrama-system-the-history-and-hermeneutics-of-a-religious-institution-9780195083279","provider":"Atlantic Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}