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Samskaras (Samskrit : संस्काराः) are the rites prescribed by the vaidika and dharmika texts either for purification (removal of a papa) or generating or infusing some qualities by which a person becomes eligible to perform some more rites. In other words Saṃskāras are for cleansing the mind and body and leading consequently to a healthy, happy and peaceful life in this world and Mokṣa after death. Of the worldly beings, man is the only creature, who has the ability to do good and bad karma (papa and punya karmas) with the direction of Viveka-Buddhi.  

Samskaras (Samskrit : संस्काराः) are the rites prescribed by the vaidika and dharmika texts either for purification (removal of a papa) or generating or infusing some qualities by which a person becomes eligible to perform some more rites. In other words Samskaras are for cleansing the mind and body and leading consequently to a healthy, happy and peaceful life in this world and Moksha after death. Of the worldly beings, man is the only creature, who has the ability to do good and bad karma (papa and punya karmas) with the direction of Viveka-Buddhi.  

== Introduction ==

== Introduction ==

Indian tradition firmly stands on four pillars, viz. Dharma, Artha (money and other mundane matters), Kāma (married life) and Mokṣa (renouncing the world and studying about Brahman to arrest the cycle of birth and death). The ultimate purpose of Saṃskāras is simply to generate Vividiṣā (a desire / taste in Vedānta and attain Mokṣa). Except in Vivāha (marriage) Vedic mantras are not to be used for a girl child.

Indian tradition firmly stands on four pillars, viz. Dharma, Artha (money and other mundane matters), Kama (married life) and Moksha (renouncing the world and studying about Brahman to arrest the cycle of birth and death). The ultimate purpose of Cis simply to generate Vividisha (a desire / taste in Vedānta and attain Moksha). Except in Vivaha (marriage) vedic mantras are not to be used for a girl child.

== Definition ==

== Definition ==

The term Saṃskāra is pregnant with meaning and hence untranslatable. Saṃskāra here refers to any rite prescribed by scriptures either for purification (removal of papa) or generating / injecting some qualities by which a person becomes eligible / qualified to perform some rites. Vīramitrodayam defines a Saṃskāra thus:<blockquote>आत्मशरीरान्यतरनिष्ठः अतिशयविशेषः संस्कारः। ātmaśarīrānyataraniṣṭhaḥ atiśayaviśeṣaḥ saṃskāraḥ ।</blockquote>A special virtue / quality that is connected with mind or body is called Saṃskāra (the rite for such a virtue / quality is also called Saṃskāra).

The term Samskara is pregnant with meaning and hence untranslatable. Samskara here refers to any rite prescribed by scriptures either for purification (removal of papa) or generating, injecting some qualities by which a person becomes eligible or qualified to perform some rites. Viramitrodayam defines a Samskara thus:<blockquote>आत्मशरीरान्यतरनिष्ठः अतिशयविशेषः संस्कारः। ātmaśarīrānyataraniṣṭhaḥ atiśayaviśeṣaḥ saṃskāraḥ ।</blockquote>A special virtue or quality that is connected with mind or body is called Samskara (the rite for such a virtue or quality is also called Samskara).

'''Number of Saṃskāras'''  

'''Number of Samskaras'''  

There is difference of opinion as to the number of Saṃskāras. Gautama in his Smṛti (Dharmaśāstram) enumerated forty Saṃskāras, including five Mahāyajñas, seven Pākayajñas, seven Haviryajñas and seven Somayāgas. Finally, it is decided in Saṃskāradīpikā that the following sixteen Saṃskāras are essential:<blockquote>आधानपुंसवनसीमन्तजातनामान्नचोलकाः। मौञ्जीव्रतानि गोदानसमावर्तनविवाहकाः॥</blockquote><blockquote>ādhānapuṃsavanasīmantajātanāmānnacolakāḥ।mauñjīvratāni godānasamāvartanavivāhakāḥ॥</blockquote><blockquote>अन्त्यं चैतानि कर्माणि प्रोच्यन्ते षोडशैव तु। antyaṃ caitāni karmāṇi procyante ṣoḍaśaiva tu ।</blockquote>They are  

There is difference of opinion as to the number of Samskaras. Gautama in his Smṛti (Dharmaśāstram) enumerated forty Samskaras, including five Mahayajnas, seven Pākayajñas, seven Haviryajñas and seven Somayāgas. Finally, it is decided in Samskaradipika that the following sixteen Samskaras are essential:<blockquote>आधानपुंसवनसीमन्तजातनामान्नचोलकाः। मौञ्जीव्रतानि गोदानसमावर्तनविवाहकाः॥</blockquote><blockquote>ādhānapuṃsavanasīmantajātanāmānnacolakāḥ।mauñjīvratāni godānasamāvartanavivāhakāḥ॥</blockquote><blockquote>अन्त्यं चैतानि कर्माणि प्रोच्यन्ते षोडशैव तु। antyaṃ caitāni karmāṇi procyante ṣoḍaśaiva tu ।</blockquote>They are  

# [[Garbhadhanam (गर्भाधानम्)|गर्भाधानम् ॥ Garbhadhanam]]  

# [[Garbhadhanam (गर्भाधानम्)|गर्भाधानम् ॥ Garbhadhanam]]  

# [[Pumsavana (पुंसवनम्)|पुंसवनम् ॥ Pumsavana]]

# [[Pumsavana (पुंसवनम्)|पुंसवनम् ॥ Pumsavana]]

# [[Vivaha (विवाहः)|विवाहः॥ Vivaha]]

# [[Vivaha (विवाहः)|विवाहः॥ Vivaha]]

# [[Antyesti (अन्त्येष्टिः)|अन्त्येष्टिः॥ Antyesti]]

# [[Antyesti (अन्त्येष्टिः)|अन्त्येष्टिः॥ Antyesti]]

It should be noted that the three Saṃskāras, viz. Garbhādhānam, Puṃsavanam and Sīmantonnayanam, have to be performed before the birth of the child. Since they are for Garbhaśuddhi (cleansing of the womb and embryo), they need not be repeated.

It should be noted that the three Samskaras, viz. Garbhadhanam, Puṃsavanam and Simantonnayanam, have to be performed before the birth of the child. Since they are for Garbhashuddhi (cleansing of the womb and embryo), they need not be repeated.

== The Purpose of Ṣoḍaśasaṃskārakarmas ==

== The Purpose of Shodasha Samskarakarmas ==

The very purpose of each Saṃskāra is explained in the following verses:<blockquote>निषेकात् बौजिकं चैनः गार्भिकं चापमृज्यते। क्षेत्रसंस्कारसिद्धिश्च गर्भाधानफलं तथा॥</blockquote><blockquote>गर्भे भवेच्च पुंसूतेः पुंस्त्वस्य प्रतिपादनम्। निषेकफलवत् ज्ञेयं फलं सीमन्तकर्मणः॥</blockquote><blockquote>गर्भाम्बुपानजो दोषः जातात्सर्वोऽपि नश्यति। आयुर्वर्चोऽभिवृद्धिश्च सिद्धिर्व्यवहृतिस्तथा॥</blockquote><blockquote>नामकर्मफलं त्वेतत् समुद्दिष्टं मनीषिभिः। अन्नाशनान्मातृगर्भमलाशादपि शुद्ध्यति॥</blockquote><blockquote>बलायुर्वर्चोवृद्धिश्च चूडाकर्मफलं स्मृतम्। उपनीतेः फलं त्वेतत् द्विजतासिद्धिपूर्विका॥</blockquote><blockquote>वेदाधीत्यधिकारस्य सिद्धिरृषिभिरीरिता। देवपित्रर्णापगमः विवाहस्य फलं स्मृतम्॥</blockquote><blockquote>niṣekāt baujikacainaḥ gārbhikaṃ cāpamṛjyate। kṣetrasaṃskārasiddhiśca garbhādhānaphalaṃ tathā॥</blockquote><blockquote>garbhe bhavecca puṃsūteḥ puṃstvasya pratipādanam। niṣekaphalavat jñeyaṃ phalaṃ sīmantakarmaṇaḥ॥</blockquote><blockquote>garbhāmbupānajo doṣaḥ jātātsarvo'pi naśyati। āyurvarco'bhivṛddhiśca siddhirvyavahṛtistathā॥</blockquote><blockquote>nāmakarmaphalaṃ tvetat samuddiṣṭaṃ manīṣibhiḥ। annāśanānmātṛgarbhamalāśādapi śuddhyati॥</blockquote><blockquote>balāyurvarcovṛddhiśca cūḍākarmaphalaṃ smṛtam। upanīteḥ phalaṃ tvetat dvijatāsiddhipūrvikā॥</blockquote><blockquote>vedādhītyadhikārasya siddhirṛṣibhirīritā। devapitrarṇāpagamaḥ vivāhasya phalaṃ smṛtam॥</blockquote>Meaning : Niṣeka and Garbhādhāna (both mean the same – the first physical union of wife and husband) would remove the impurities related to sperm, blood and cleanses the womb. Puṃsavanam is for having a male child. Sīmanta (parting) is as good as Garbhādhānam. Jātakarma (the rite performed to a son just born) kills the bad affects born out of consumption of the water of the womb by the child.  

The very purpose of each Samskara is explained in the following verses:<blockquote>निषेकात् बौजिकं चैनः गार्भिकं चापमृज्यते। क्षेत्रसंस्कारसिद्धिश्च गर्भाधानफलं तथा॥</blockquote><blockquote>गर्भे भवेच्च पुंसूतेः पुंस्त्वस्य प्रतिपादनम्। निषेकफलवत् ज्ञेयं फलं सीमन्तकर्मणः॥</blockquote><blockquote>गर्भाम्बुपानजो दोषः जातात्सर्वोऽपि नश्यति। आयुर्वर्चोऽभिवृद्धिश्च सिद्धिर्व्यवहृतिस्तथा॥</blockquote><blockquote>नामकर्मफलं त्वेतत् समुद्दिष्टं मनीषिभिः। अन्नाशनान्मातृगर्भमलाशादपि शुद्ध्यति॥</blockquote><blockquote>बलायुर्वर्चोवृद्धिश्च चूडाकर्मफलं स्मृतम्। उपनीतेः फलं त्वेतत् द्विजतासिद्धिपूर्विका॥</blockquote><blockquote>वेदाधीत्यधिकारस्य सिद्धिरृषिभिरीरिता। देवपित्रर्णापगमः विवाहस्य फलं स्मृतम्॥</blockquote><blockquote>niṣekāt baujikacainaḥ gārbhikaṃ cāpamṛjyate। kṣetrasaṃskārasiddhiśca garbhādhānaphalaṃ tathā॥</blockquote><blockquote>garbhe bhavecca puṃsūteḥ puṃstvasya pratipādanam। niṣekaphalavat jñeyaṃ phalaṃ sīmantakarmaṇaḥ॥</blockquote><blockquote>garbhāmbupānajo doṣaḥ jātātsarvo'pi naśyati। āyurvarco'bhivṛddhiśca siddhirvyavahṛtistathā॥</blockquote><blockquote>nāmakarmaphalaṃ tvetat samuddiṣṭaṃ manīṣibhiḥ। annāśanānmātṛgarbhamalāśādapi śuddhyati॥</blockquote><blockquote>balāyurvarcovṛddhiśca cūḍākarmaphalaṃ smṛtam। upanīteḥ phalaṃ tvetat dvijatāsiddhipūrvikā॥</blockquote><blockquote>vedādhītyadhikārasya siddhirṛṣibhirīritā। devapitrarṇāpagamaḥ vivāhasya phalaṃ smṛtam॥</blockquote>Meaning : Niṣeka and Garbhadhana (both mean the same – the first physical union of wife and husband) would remove the impurities related to sperm, blood and cleanses the womb. Puṃsavanam is for having a male child. Simanta (parting) is as good as Garbhadhanam. Jatakarma (the rite performed to a son just born) kills the bad affects born out of consumption of the water of the womb by the child.  

Nāmakarma (naming a child) is for increased longevity and brightness and to pronounce name during rites as well as mundane day to day transactions. Annaprāśana (feeding rice for the first time) purifies the child from the defects of eating the bad material while in the womb. Cūḍākarma (cutting of hair on the head for the first time) is meant for increased strength, longevity and brightness. Upanayanam is for attaining Dvijatva (second birth) that is essential to get eligibility to learn Veda and perform different rites. The four Vedavratas, viz. Āgneya, Saumya, Vaiśvadeva and Prājāpatya are performed before the beginning of the learning of Veda for injecting more power into the Veda that is learnt. Vivāha (marriage) is for paying back the debt of deities and father.

Namakarma (naming a child) is for increased longevity and brightness and to pronounce name during rites as well as mundane day to day transactions. Annaprāśana (feeding rice for the first time) purifies the child from the defects of eating the bad material while in the womb. Chudakarma (cutting of hair on the head for the first time) is meant for increased strength, longevity and brightness. Upanayanam is for attaining Dvijatva (second birth) that is essential to get eligibility to learn Veda and perform different rites. The four Vedavratas, viz. Agneya, Saumya, Vaisvadeva and Prajapatya are performed before the beginning of the learning of Veda for injecting more power into the Veda that is learnt. Vivaha (marriage) is for paying back the debt of deities and father.

== Eligibility ==

== Eligibility ==

The Saṃskāras from Jātakarma to Cūḍākarma are to be performed in the case of a male child of Dvijas, viz. Brāhmaṇas, Kṣatriyas and Vaiśyas. In the case of the female child of a Dvija, only marriage (Vivāha) has to be performed with Vedamantras. Saṃskāraprakāśa rules that there cannot be any Saṃskāra for a Klība (impotent child).

The Samskaras from Jatakarma to Chudakarma are to be performed in the case of a male child of Dvijas, viz. Brahmanas, Kshatriyas and Vaishyas. In the case of the female child of a Dvija, only marriage (Vivaha) has to be performed with Vedamantras. Samskaraprakasa rules that there cannot be any Samskara for a Klība (impotent child).

Nirṇayasindhu, by quoting Smṛtis, says that Śūdras are entitled to perform six Saṃskāras, viz. Jātakarma, Nāmakaraṇam, Niṣkramaṇam (bringing the child into sunshine for the first time), Annaprāśanam, Cūḍā and Vivāha and the daily Pañcamahāyajñas (Devayajñaḥ, Pitṛyajñaḥ, Bhūtayajñaḥ, Manuṣyayajñaḥ and Brahmayajñaḥ). Śrāddhakarma (death ceremony) and other Saṃskāras for Śūdras have to be performed with verses from Purāṇas and not Vedic mantras. Varāhapurāṇa says that for a Śūdra, the Brāhmaṇa can repeat the Mantras.

Nirṇayasindhu, by quoting Smrtis, says that Shudras are entitled to perform six Samskaras, viz. Jatakarma, Namakaranam, Niskramanam (bringing the child into sunshine for the first time), Annaprasanam, Chuda and Vivaha and the daily Panchamahayajnas (Devayajñaḥ, Pitṛyajñaḥ, Bhūtayajñaḥ, Manuṣyayajñaḥ and Brahmayajñaḥ). Shraddhakarma (death ceremony) and other Samskaras for Shudras have to be performed with verses from Puranas and not Vedic mantras. Varahapurana says that for a Shudra, the Brahmana can repeat the Mantras.

 

[[Category:Samskaras]]

[[Category:Samskaras]]