Changes

=== Ayurveda's perspective ===

=== Ayurveda's perspective ===

Ayurveda treatises have described the technical procedures done under Samskaras. Ayurveda acharyas have focused on the health benefits of samskaras and proposed certain details of the procedures performed under Samskaras that are designed to help that life (a body-mind-energy complex) accommodate to the new upcoming phase of the life. For example, a newborn baby struggles to adjust from intra-uterine to the extrauterine life immediately after birth. Therefore under Jatakarma Samskara, Acharya Charaka and Sushruta discuss about the ways for initial stabilization of a baby. Some of the procedures discussed under [[Jatakarma (जातकर्म)|Jatakarma samskara]] in [[Charaka Samhita (चरक संहिता)|Charaka Samhita]] and [[Sushruta Samhita (सुश्रुतसंहिता)|Sushruta Samhita]] are similar to neonatal resuscitation interventions performed at the time of birth to support the establishment of breathing and circulation of a newborn. Most of the samskaras performed in prenatal period comprise of using specific herbs or procedures to promote the wellbeing of a baby in womb, prevent pregnancy related complications and get a superior quality progeny. A systematic and scientific way of introducing new things in the world to the child has bed proposed e.g in Annaprashana Samskara, Ayurveda acharyas have clearly described which types of foods should be introduced and what should be the sequence etc. Thus Ayurveda looks at samskaras as the right time for interventions that enable that individual develop necessary qualities to adopt to the new phase of life or changes that are going to happen for the 1st time in the life.  

Ayurveda treatises have described the technical procedures done under Samskaras. They have primarily focused on the health benefits of samskaras. One can find details of the procedures performed under Samskaras in Ayurveda samhitas. These techniques, methods and details are designed with an aim of enabling the person undergoing samskaras to adopt to the new upcoming phase of the life. Since Ayurveda considers any perosn as not just a physicla body abut a union of body-mind and life energy, the processes have been planned asnd designed considering all the 3 components. For example, a newborn baby struggles to adjust from intra-uterine to the extrauterine life immediately after birth. Therefore under [[Jatakarma (जातकर्म)|Jatakarma Samskara]], Acharya Charaka and Sushruta discuss about the ways for initial stabilization of a baby. Some of the procedures discussed under [[Jatakarma (जातकर्म)|Jatakarma samskara]] in [[Charaka Samhita (चरक संहिता)|Charaka Samhita]] and [[Sushruta Samhita (सुश्रुतसंहिता)|Sushruta Samhita]] are similar to neonatal resuscitation interventions performed at the time of birth to support the establishment of breathing and circulation of a newborn. Most of the samskaras performed in prenatal period comprise of using specific herbs or procedures to promote the wellbeing of a baby in womb, prevent pregnancy related complications and to get a superior quality progeny. A systematic and scientific way of introducing new things in the world to the child has been proposed e.g in [[Annaprasanam (अन्नप्रासनम्)|Annaprasana Samskara]], Ayurveda acharyas have clearly described which types of foods should be introduced and what should be the sequence etc. Thus Ayurveda looks at samskaras as the procedures that will enable that individual develop necessary qualities to adopt to the new phase of life or changes that are going to happen for the 1st time in the life.  

== Why Samskaras? ==

== Why Samskaras? ==

We see an interesting explanation of why should a person undergo Samskaras.<ref name=":0">Pt. Madhavacharya Shastri and Pt. Shrikanth Shastri (1952) ''[https://archive.org/details/whykyondharmadigdarsanpurvardhamadhavacharyashastri1952_248_E Kyon? Dharma Digdarshan, Purvardha.]'' Delhi: Madhav Pustakalay (Page 302 - )</ref> Many followers of Sanatana Dharma believe that Samskaras are a part of expression of human nature, the various emotions, the joys, felicitations and sorrows in different times of human life. They are a part of man's nature. Man receives many things from nature, but he does not use everything as it is. To make it useful for his purpose it becomes necessary to remove the faults (Doshas) it contains. Further to use it he adds some values (Gunas) into it to overcome its inherent limitations. Thus we have three specific goals with which we embellish a particular thing (Samskarana), namely,  

We see an interesting explanation of why should a person undergo Samskaras.<ref name=":0">Pt. Madhavacharya Shastri and Pt. Shrikanth Shastri (1952) ''[https://archive.org/details/whykyondharmadigdarsanpurvardhamadhavacharyashastri1952_248_E Kyon? Dharma Digdarshan, Purvardha.]'' Delhi: Madhav Pustakalay (Page 302 - )</ref> Many followers of Sanatana Dharma believe that Samskaras are a part of expression of human nature, the various emotions, the joys, felicitations and sorrows in different times of human life. They are a part of man's nature. Man receives many things from nature, but he does not use everything as it is. To make it useful for his purpose it becomes necessary to remove the faults (Doshas) it contains. Further to use it he adds some values (Gunas) into it to overcome its inherent limitations. Thus we have three specific goals with which we embellish a particular thing (Samskarana), namely,  

=== Ayurveda's understanding ===

=== Ayurveda's understanding ===

The term Samskara is used in Ayurveda in the context of processing of the drugs. Therefore it is widely used in the pharmaceutical branch in reference to the developing different formulations of herbs. However the meaning of the term remain the same in whatever reference it may be used. Especially in reference to the shodasha samskaras the same meaning of samskara is suitable. Ayurveda samhitas describe the term Samskara as below,<blockquote>करणं पुनः स्वाभाविकानां द्रव्याणामभिसंस्कारः|

The term Samskara is more commonly used in the context of pharmaceutical procedures in Ayurveda. Processing of any raw herb or food material and transform its properties such that it becomes suitable for use, is known as Samskara. However actual meaning of the term remains same in whatever context it may be used. This is equally applicable to the term Samskara used in reference to the Shadasha Samskaras. Ayurveda samhitas describe the term Samskara as below,<blockquote>करणं पुनः स्वाभाविकानां द्रव्याणामभिसंस्कारः|

संस्कारो हि गुणान्तराधानमुच्यते|

संस्कारो हि गुणान्तराधानमुच्यते|

ते गुणास्तोयाग्निसन्निकर्षशौचमन्थनदेशकालवासनभावनादिभिः [१] कालप्रकर्षभाजनादिभिश्चाधीयन्ते (२)|२२| (Char. Samh. 1.22)<ref>Charaka Samhita ([https://niimh.nic.in/ebooks/ecaraka/?mod=read&h=guNAntarA Vimanasthanam Adhyaya 1 Sutra 22])</ref></blockquote>Meaning: Karana (processing) is the making or refinement of the ''dravya,'' or the ''samskara'' that are added to the properties of those substances. These properties are imparted by contact of water and fire, by cleansing, churning, place, time, infusing, steeping, etc. and also by the medium used for storage or processing (e.g., copper vessel, or earthen pot), etc.

ते गुणास्तोयाग्निसन्निकर्षशौचमन्थनदेशकालवासनभावनादिभिः [१] कालप्रकर्षभाजनादिभिश्चाधीयन्ते (२)|२२| (Char. Samh. 1.22)<ref>Charaka Samhita ([https://niimh.nic.in/ebooks/ecaraka/?mod=read&h=guNAntarA Vimanasthanam Adhyaya 1 Sutra 22])</ref></blockquote>Meaning: Karana (processing) is the making or refinement of the ''dravya,'' or the ''samskara'' that are added to the properties of those substances. These properties are imparted by contact of water and fire, by cleansing, churning, place, time, infusing, steeping, etc. and also by the medium used for storage or processing (e.g., copper vessel, or earthen pot), etc.

Therefore in general, through the term Samskara, Ayurveda suggests change of original [[Gunas or Qualities : An Ayurvedic perspective (आयुर्वेदे गुणाः)|Gunas]] or properties and development of new desirable properties in a substance in order to make it suitable for some desired activity. With this link, Shadasha Samskaras are considered as the tools (procedural) used to bring about certain qualities in a person to make him capable of facing new changes or challeges of life and pass through them effortlessly rather with better outcomes.  

Therefore in general, through the term Samskara, Ayurveda suggests change of original [[Gunas or Qualities : An Ayurvedic perspective (आयुर्वेदे गुणाः)|Gunas]] or properties and development of new desirable properties in a substance in order to make it suitable for some desired activity. With this link, Shadasha Samskaras are considered as the tools (procedural) used to bring about certain qualities in a person to make him capable of facing new changes or challenges of life and pass through them effortlessly rather with better outcomes.  

== Material Aims of Samskaras ==

== Material Aims of Samskaras ==