India has always cherished the past as the pattern of the present and future. The highest effort of ancient Indians was directed towards training human beings for a state of spiritual perfection. India has been the centre for the spread of the truth in the world all through the ages, through a galaxy of spiritual personalities who have inspired and guided mankind with a sublime vision of the divine and also to achieve Moksha. To achieve Moksha or deliverance, a very high degree of morality was insisted upon. This can be seen in the Ashrama theory of ancient times, which later on became the model for monastic institutions of all other religions on India. Thus, the idea of asceticism has its source in Brahmanism. Such spiritual leaders are known as sages, saints, ascetics, mystics, gurus and the dwelling places of these holy men are called Ashramas or Mathas among Hindus, Viharas and Chaityas among Buddhist and Basadis among Jains.