Sannyasa is the life stage of renunciation within the
Hindu philosophy of four age-based life stages known as
ashramas, with the first three being
Brahmacharya (bachelor student),
Grihastha (householder) and
Vanaprastha (forest dweller, retired). Sannyasa is traditionally conceptualized for men or women in late years of their life, but young
brahmacharis have had the choice to skip the householder and retirement stages, renounce worldly and materialistic pursuits and dedicate their lives to spiritual pursuits (
moksha).
