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The words maTham and ASramam.

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champakam • November 29, 2002 


This is in response to the question raised by Smt. Bhooma on the 
difference between the words ASramam and maTham.  

Purely based on the meanings given in the dictionary, and looking at 
the derivation of the words from their roots, it seems that both the 
words ASrama and maTham refer to hermitages of sages.  The word 
ASramam is derived from the root Srama – to be strained or fatigued.  
One of the amara koSa vyAkhyAna-s describes that this is a place 
where one rests as a result of the fatigue resulting from the  
observance of one's sva-dharam (sva-dharma sAdhana kleSAt).  

The dictionary meaning for ASramam is as follows:

ASramam – a hermitage, hut, cell, dwelling or abode of ascetics.
                 - a stage, order, or period, of the religious life 
of a brAhmaNa.  
-	a wood or thicket where ascetics practice penance.

The word maTham is derived from the root maTh – nivAsayoh – to dwell, 
to inhabit.  The dictionary meaning given for the word math is as 
follows:

maTham -  The hut of an ascetic, a small cell or room, 
                   A monastery, convent, 
                   A seminary, college, place of learning
                
It is unclear to me as to why certain sanyAsins' dwelling or 
hermitage has been called ASramam, and others have been called 
maTham, based on the above.  

-Krishnamachari
===========================>From:  "gbhooma"  
>Date:  Wed Nov 27, 2002  8:09 am
>Subject:  

>Can someone explain the difference between madam and asramam, please.
>Regards
>Bhooma
 




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