[bix6]

I’ve only ever heard these sequentially so was interesting to read they need not be.

“while in the original system presented in the early Dharmasutras the Asramas were four alternative available ways of life, neither presented as sequential nor with age recommendations.”

[aprilthird2021]

Almost everything in Hinduism is not prescribed strictly because Hinduism is really an amalgamation of many separate beliefs systems / traditions / ritual / books, etc. which were followed by local cohorts.

That's why many books contradict each other. Some books prescribe an age and order for such steps, others don't, etc. They weren't meant to be all collected, all studied, and all chosen piecemeal by one observer. But over time it has evolved into a much different thing than when it started