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[[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" />  

[[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. <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.  

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. 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) 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" />

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* 1. Garbhadhana

* 1. Garbhadhana

* 2. Pumsavana

* 2. Pumsavana

==== Smrtis ====

==== Smrtis ====

In the Smrti texts we see the gradual decline of the mention of [[Shrauta Yajnas (श्रौतयज्ञाः)|Shrauta yajnas]] as well as the Daiva samskaras. We find the clear application of the term Samskaras to those bodily sacramental rites that were performed for sanctifying the personality of an individual. Some smrtikaras however include the [[Pakayajnas (पाकयज्ञाः)|Pakayajnas]] in their list of samskaras. According to Manu, the Smarta Samskaras or the Samskaras proper are thirteen in number from conception to death of a human being.<ref name=":1" />

In the Smrti texts we see the gradual decline of the mention of [[Shrauta Yajnas (श्रौतयज्ञाः)|Shrauta yajnas]] as well as the Daiva samskaras. We find the clear application of the term Samskaras to those bodily sacramental rites that were performed for sanctifying the personality of an individual. Some smrtikaras however include the [[Pakayajnas (पाकयज्ञाः)|Pakayajnas]] in their list of samskaras. According to Manu, the Smarta Samskaras or the Samskaras proper are thirteen in number from conception to death of a human being.<ref name=":1" />

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* 1. Garbhadhana

* 1. Garbhadhana

Many of them eg., the pre-natal samskaras and few of the childhood are not generally performed at present; so, they have become a thing of the past. The rest are performed at present by a few orthodox families only and, in a distorted form. The only current Samskaras are the Upanayana (Initiation ), not performed by all the Dvijas today, the Vivaha (Marriage ceremonies) and the Antyeshti (Funeral Ceremonies).<ref name=":1" />  

Many of them eg., the pre-natal samskaras and few of the childhood are not generally performed at present; so, they have become a thing of the past. The rest are performed at present by a few orthodox families only and, in a distorted form. The only current Samskaras are the Upanayana (Initiation ), not performed by all the Dvijas today, the Vivaha (Marriage ceremonies) and the Antyeshti (Funeral Ceremonies).<ref name=":1" />  

Antyesti or the funeral Samskara is not enumerated by Gautama 'in his long list of forty-eight Samskaras, it has been generally omitted by the Grhyasutras, the Dharmasutras and the Smrtis and neglected by later works bn the Samskaras. The reason underlying this exclusion or indifference was that the funeral was regarded as an inauspicious ceremony and it should not be described with auspicious ones. It was, perhaps, also due to the fact that the life history of an individual closes with the advent of death and the post-mortem ceremonies had no direct bearing on the cultivation of personality. Nevertheless, Antyesti was recognised as a Sarnskara Some Grhyasutras describe it, Manu, Yajnyavalkya, Jatukarnya enumerate it in the list of the Samskaras.<ref name=":1" />  

Antyesti or the funeral Samskara is not enumerated by Gautama 'in his long list of forty-eight Samskaras, it has been generally omitted by the Grhyasutras, the Dharmasutras and the Smrtis and neglected by later works bn the Samskaras. The reason underlying this exclusion or indifference was that the funeral was regarded as an inauspicious ceremony and it should not be described with auspicious ones. It was, perhaps, also due to the fact that the life history of an individual closes with the advent of death and the post-mortem ceremonies had no direct bearing on the cultivation of personality. Nevertheless, Antyesti was recognised as a Samskara. Some Grhyasutras describe it, Manu, Yajnyavalkya, Jatukarnya enumerate it in the list of the Samskaras.<ref name=":1" />  

=== Shodasa Samskaras ===

=== Shodasa Samskaras ===

Finally, in the recent times, as mentioned in Samskaradipika, the following sixteen Samskaras have been deemed essential:<blockquote>आधानपुंसवनसीमन्तजातनामान्नचोलकाः। मौञ्जीव्रतानि गोदानसमावर्तनविवाहकाः॥ ādhānapuṃsavanasīmantajātanāmānnacolakāḥ।mauñjīvratāni godānasamāvartanavivāhakāḥ॥ अन्त्यं चैतानि कर्माणि प्रोच्यन्ते षोडशैव तु। antyaṃ caitāni karmāṇi procyante ṣoḍaśaiva tu ।</blockquote>They are  

Finally, in the recent times, as mentioned in Samskaradipika, the following sixteen Samskaras have been deemed essential:<blockquote>आधानपुंसवनसीमन्तजातनामान्नचोलकाः। मौञ्जीव्रतानि गोदानसमावर्तनविवाहकाः॥ ādhānapuṃsavanasīmantajātanāmānnacolakāḥ।mauñjīvratāni godānasamāvartanavivāhakāḥ॥ अन्त्यं चैतानि कर्माणि प्रोच्यन्ते षोडशैव तु। antyaṃ caitāni karmāṇi procyante ṣoḍaśaiva tu ।</blockquote>They are