Changes

* Manu calls a samskara as a purifying act, a dharmik injunction or a sanctifying procedure (Manu 2.26)<ref name=":3" />

* Manu calls a samskara as a purifying act, a dharmik injunction or a sanctifying procedure (Manu 2.26)<ref name=":3" />

 

Cleansing or purification is the ulterior goal of Samskaras. The activities (rituals, rites, siddhantas) which ultimately lead to the Atmashuddhi of a person by purification of sharira or body (includes the pancha-karmendriyas and pancha-jna-indriyas) and manas or antahkarana (chittashuddhi) are called Samskaras.<ref>''Sanskar Tattva'' by Shri. Shashinath Jha in Sanskar Ank of Kalyan Series. Gorakhpur: Gita Press (Pages 176-</ref>Grhyasutras classify the entire domestic rituals under the names of different classes of yajnas. The bodily samskaras are included in the list of the '''[[Pakayajnas (पाकयज्ञाः)|Pakayajnas]]''', for example, Paraskara Grhyasutra divides the Pakayajnas into four classes, the huta (हुतः), the ahuta (अहुतः), the prahuta (प्रहुतः) and praashita (प्राशित).<ref name=":1" /><blockquote>चत्वारः पाकयज्ञा हुतोऽहुतः प्रहुतः प्राशित इति १ catvāraḥ pākayajñā huto'hutaḥ prahutaḥ prāśita iti 1  पञ्चसु बहिःशालायां विवाहे चूडाकरण उपनयने केशान्ते सीमन्तोन्नयन इति २ (Para. Grhy. Sutr. 1.4.1-2) </blockquote>Where the offerings are offered into the fire it is called '''Huta class of pakayajna'''. This class includes the Samskaras from [[Vivaha (विवाहः)|Vivaha]] to the [[Simantam (सीमन्तः)|Simantonnayana]] (hair-parting). Where after making the offerings to the fire, gifts are given to the Brahmans and others it is called '''Prahuta class of pakayajna'''. This group contains the Samskaras from the Jatakarma (birth ceremonies) to the Chaula-karma (tonsure). The yajnas where after making offerings to the fire and giving gifts to the Brahmans, one receives presents from others are classified under '''Ahuta class of pakayajna'''. The Upanayana and Samavartana samskaras are included in this list.<ref name=":1" /> Thus here what are later on, called the Samskaras, are treated as Pakayajnas.   

Grhyasutras classify the entire domestic rituals under the names of different classes of yajnas. The bodily samskaras are included in the list of the '''[[Pakayajnas (पाकयज्ञाः)|Pakayajnas]]''', for example, Paraskara Grhyasutra divides the Pakayajnas into four classes, the huta (हुतः), the ahuta (अहुतः), the prahuta (प्रहुतः) and praashita (प्राशित).<ref name=":1" /> <blockquote>चत्वारः पाकयज्ञा हुतोऽहुतः प्रहुतः प्राशित इति १ catvāraḥ pākayajñā huto'hutaḥ prahutaḥ prāśita iti 1  पञ्चसु बहिःशालायां विवाहे चूडाकरण उपनयने केशान्ते सीमन्तोन्नयन इति २ (Para. Grhy. Sutr. 1.4.1-2) </blockquote>Where the offerings are offered into the fire it is called '''Huta class of pakayajna'''. This class includes the Samskaras from [[Vivaha (विवाहः)|Vivaha]] to the [[Simantam (सीमन्तः)|Simantonnayana]] (hair-parting). Where after making the offerings to the fire, gifts are given to the Brahmans and others it is called '''Prahuta class of pakayajna'''. This group contains the Samskaras from the Jatakarma (birth ceremonies) to the Chaula-karma (tonsure). The yajnas where after making offerings to the fire and giving gifts to the Brahmans, one receives presents from others are classified under '''Ahuta class of pakayajna'''. The Upanayana and Samavartana samskaras are included in this list.<ref name=":1" /> Thus here what are later on, called the Samskaras, are treated as Pakayajnas.   

== Number of Samskaras ==

== Number of Samskaras ==

The Paddhatis and the Prayogas also deal with only the Brahma Samskaras and leave the Daiva Samskaras altogether, partly because they have now become obsolete and partly the current Pakayajnas are described elsewhere. The funeral is always treated separately. The usual number of the Samskaras in them is from ten to thirteen (from Garbhadbana to Vivaha). Many of the Paddhatis are actually called “The Dashakarma-Paddhati" (of Ganapati, Narayana, Prthvidhara, Bhudeva etc) or ‘The Manual of Ten Ceremonies.’’ The funeral is always treated separately.<ref name=":1" />  

The Paddhatis and the Prayogas also deal with only the Brahma Samskaras and leave the Daiva Samskaras altogether, partly because they have now become obsolete and partly the current Pakayajnas are described elsewhere. The funeral is always treated separately. The usual number of the Samskaras in them is from ten to thirteen (from Garbhadbana to Vivaha). Many of the Paddhatis are actually called “The Dashakarma-Paddhati" (of Ganapati, Narayana, Prthvidhara, Bhudeva etc) or ‘The Manual of Ten Ceremonies.’’ The funeral is always treated separately.<ref name=":1" />  

=== Classification of Samskaras ===

== Classification of Samskaras ==

Samskaras can be grouped under the following heads broadly based on the age and stage of person he is in life.

Samskaras can be grouped under the following heads broadly based on the age and stage of person he is in life.