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The Samskaras in the strict sense fall within the purview of the Grhyasutras. They generally deal with the bodily samskaras beginning with Vivaha and ending with Samavartana, a majority of them omit the funeral. Only the Paraskara, Ashvalayana and the Baudhayana describe the funeral. The number of samskaras given in the Grhyasutras range from eleven to eighteen, with a few name changes, omisions and additions.<ref name=":1" />

The Samskaras in the strict sense fall within the purview of the Grhyasutras. They generally deal with the bodily samskaras beginning with Vivaha and ending with Samavartana, a majority of them omit the funeral. Only the Paraskara, Ashvalayana and the Baudhayana describe the funeral. The number of samskaras given in the Grhyasutras range from eleven to eighteen, with a few name changes, omissions and additions.<ref name=":1" />

==== Dharmasutras ====

==== Dharmasutras ====

These texts are primarily associated with laws and customs, they do not elaborate much on Samskaras. They contain rules about the [[Upanayana (उपनयनम्)|Upanayana]], [[Vivaha (विवाहः)|Vivaha]], [[Upakarma (उपाकर्म)|Upakarma]], [[Utsarjana]], [[Anadhyayana (अनध्ययनम्)|Anadhyayanas]] and [[Asoucha (आशौचम्)|Asoucha]].<ref name=":1" />  

[[Dharmasutras (धर्मसूत्राणि)|Dharmasutras]] are texts that are primarily associated with laws and customs, hence they do not elaborate on Samskaras. They contain rules about the [[Upanayana (उपनयनम्)|Upanayana]], [[Vivaha (विवाहः)|Vivaha]], [[Upakarma (उपाकर्म)|Upakarma]], [[Utsarjana]], [[Anadhyayana (अनध्ययनम्)|Anadhyayanas]] and [[Asoucha (आशौचम्)|Asoucha]].<ref name=":1" />  

Gautama Dharmasutra enumerated forty Samskaras along with the eight Atmagunas. The samskaras include five Mahayajnas, seven Pākayajñas, seven Haviryajñas and seven Somayāgas.  

Gautama Dharmasutra enumerated forty Samskaras along with the eight Atmagunas. The samskaras include five Mahayajnas, seven Pākayajñas, seven Haviryajñas and seven Somayāgas. <blockquote>चत्वारिंशत् संस्कारैः संस्कृतः ॥ (Gaut. Dhar. Sutr. 1.8.8)</blockquote>Here the distinction between bodily Samskaras and Shrauta yajnas is not clearly demarcated. All the Shrauta yajnas described in the [[Brahmana (ब्राह्मणम्)|Brahmana]] texts and the [[Shrautasutras (श्रौतसूत्राणि)|Shrauta Sutras]] are intermixed with the Samskaras in the list given below.  

चत्वारिंशत् संस्कारैः संस्कृतः ॥ (Gaut. Dhar. Sutr. 1.8.8)

Haarita gives a classification where the yajnas described are to be taken as Daiva Samskaras and the other bodily samskaras at various occasions in human life are to be considered as Brahma Samskaras.<ref name=":1" /> Only the latter are to be taken in the sense of Samskaras. While the yajnas are indirectly purificatory in nature as mentioned in Bhagavadgita, their direct purpose was propitiation of devatas in different seasons. <blockquote>यज्ञो दानं तपश्चैव पावनानि मनीषिणाम् ॥१८- ५॥ (Bhag. Gita. 18.5)

Here the distinction between bodily Samskaras and Shrauta yajnas is not clearly demarcated. All the Shrauta yajnas described in the [[Brahmana (ब्राह्मणम्)|Brahmana]] texts and the Shrauta Sutras are intermixed with the Samskaras in the list given below.  

संस्कारार्थं शरीरस्य यथाकालं यथाक्रमम् । । २.६६ । । (Manu. Smrt. 2.66)</blockquote>The main objective of the bodily Samskaras was to sanctify the personality of the recipient. Many seasonal yajnas such as Chaitri and Asveyuji gradually transformed into popular feasts and rejoicings.<ref name=":1" />

 

Haarita gives a classification where the yajnas described are to be taken as Daiva Samskaras and the other bodily samskaras at various occasions in human life are to be considered as Brahma Samskaras.<ref name=":1" />

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* 34-40. Sapta Somayajna (Agnistoma, Atyagnistoma, Uktha, Shodasi, Vajapeya, Atiratra, Aptoryama)

* 34-40. Sapta Somayajna (Agnistoma, Atyagnistoma, Uktha, Shodasi, Vajapeya, Atiratra, Aptoryama)

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अन्त्यं चैतानि कर्माणि प्रोच्यन्ते षोडशैव तु। antyaṃ caitāni karmāṇi procyante ṣoḍaśaiva tu ।</blockquote>They are  

 

 

Finally, it is decided in Samskaradipika that the following sixteen Samskaras are essential:<blockquote>आधानपुंसवनसीमन्तजातनामान्नचोलकाः। मौञ्जीव्रतानि गोदानसमावर्तनविवाहकाः॥ ādhānapuṃsavanasīmantajātanāmānnacolakāḥ।mauñjīvratāni godānasamāvartanavivāhakāḥ॥ 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]]