Life and Culture in Ancient Indian Ashramas and Hermitages

The present study has made it clear that Ashramas in ancient India were the seat of learning just like the modern universities. The teachers and students used to lead a very simple and austre life. That is why, the seats of learning were called Ashramas. The ashramites excercized lot of shrama (penances) in gaining and imparting the metaphysical and physical knowledge. The training given in spiritual methods in Ashramas made students eligible to be an ideal social and human beings in society. They used to be asset for the society.