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→Moral Purpose: adding personality development
=== Moral Purpose ===
=== Moral Purpose ===
From the material purpose of Samskaras, in course of time the moral and ethical purposes emanated. Gautama after enumerating the forty samskaras gives, 'eight good qualities of the Atma' namely, daya (compassion) towards all beings, kshanti (forbearance), freedom from envy, soucha (purity), calmness, right behaviour, and freedom from greed and covetousness.<blockquote>दया सर्वभूतेषु क्षान्तिर् अनसूया शौचम् अनायासोमङ्गलम् अकार्पण्यम् अस्पृहेति ॥ (Gaut. Dhar. Sutr. 8.24)</blockquote>The Samskaras themselves were never regarded as ends in themselves. The rituals involved gradual ripening of the moral values. Thus samskaras were not just mindless rituals as mentioned in modern interpretations; they prescribed specific rules of conduct for man in different stages of life, inculcated ethical values and morally uplifted a person towards the ultimate goal of life, namely Moksha. They were holistic in that they motivated a person to perform karma for worldly sustenance along with upliftment for moksha. <blockquote>यस्य तु खलु संस्काराणाम् एकदेशोऽप्य् अष्टाव् आत्मगुणा अथ स ब्रह्मणः सायुज्यं सालोक्यं चगच्छति ॥ (Gaut. Dhar. Sutr. 8.26)</blockquote>Gautama adds that one who performs the samskaras, and develops the eight good qualities will attain Brahman.<ref name=":5" />
From the material purpose of Samskaras, in course of time the moral and ethical purposes emanated. Gautama after enumerating the forty samskaras gives, 'eight good qualities of the Atma' namely, daya (compassion) towards all beings, kshanti (forbearance), freedom from envy, soucha (purity), calmness, right behaviour, and freedom from greed and covetousness.<blockquote>दया सर्वभूतेषु क्षान्तिर् अनसूया शौचम् अनायासोमङ्गलम् अकार्पण्यम् अस्पृहेति ॥ (Gaut. Dhar. Sutr. 8.24)</blockquote>The Samskaras themselves were never regarded as ends in themselves. The rituals involved gradual ripening of the moral values. Thus samskaras were not just mindless rituals as mentioned in modern interpretations; they prescribed specific rules of conduct for man in different stages of life, inculcated ethical values and morally uplifted a person towards the ultimate goal of life, namely Moksha. They were holistic in that they motivated a person to perform karma for worldly sustenance along with upliftment for moksha. <blockquote>यस्य तु खलु संस्काराणाम् एकदेशोऽप्य् अष्टाव् आत्मगुणा अथ स ब्रह्मणः सायुज्यं सालोक्यं चगच्छति ॥ (Gaut. Dhar. Sutr. 8.26)</blockquote>Gautama adds that one who performs the samskaras, and develops the eight good qualities will attain Brahman.<ref name=":5" />
=== Personality Development ===
The Samskaras cover the full span of life, from birth to death of man. They influence and impress the individual through the Atmagunas and the after-life thereby supporting the siddhanta of reincarnation, one of the unique aspects of Sanatana Dharma. Covering each important step in the life of a human being they produce suitable impressions from the very beginning of one’s life. The Samskaras give a physical, mental and social guidance that directed the personality of an individual according to his growth. So a Hindu was required to live a life of discipline and his energies flowed into a well-guarded and purposive channel.
The Garbhadhana Samskara was performed at the proper time when the couple were physically fit and in a healthy condition, when they knew each other’s heart and had intense desire for possessing a child. Their energies where wholly concentrated towards the art of procreation. The yajnas and veda mantras provided a pure and congenial atmosphere, an act which was according to the norms of the nature or Prkrti. The greater goal of a couple's union is for the creation of a good citizens who served the society.
Throughout pregnancy the wife is guarded and protected against evil influences and her conduct was regulated to influence the growing child. It has been scientifically proven that the state of mind of the mother influences the unborn child in shaping his personality. At birth the father conducts Jatakarma, wishing for the new-born to be firm, strong and grow into an intellectual man. Every milestone of the child's development is an occasion of joy and felicitation in the family. Optimism and appreciation are thrown into the atmosphere of the budding child gradually shaping his or her mental faculties. These faculties are further enhanced with the Chudakarma and educational samskaras. The child is prescribed his duties and responsibilities are explained prior to his mind and body being encumbered with book knowledge and school discipline.<ref name=":5" />
== Why Samskaras? ==
== Why Samskaras? ==