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Samskaras (
'''Introduction'''
Indian tradition firmly stands on four pillars, viz. Dharma, Artha (money and other mundane matters), Kāma (married life) and Mokṣa (renouncing the world and uniting Jīvātmā with Paramātmā to arrest the cycle of birth and death). The ultimate purpose of Saṃskāras is simply to generate Vividiṣā (a desire / taste in Vedānta and attain Mokṣa). Except in Vivāha (marriage) Vedic mantras are not to be used for a girl child.
The term Saṃskāra is pregnant with meaning and hence untranslatable. Saṃskāra here refers to any rite prescribed by scriptures either for purification (removal of sin) or generating / injecting some qualities by which a person becomes eligible / qualified to perform some rites. Vīramitrodayam defines a Saṃskāra thus:
आत्मशरीरान्यतरनिष्ठः अतिशयविशेषः संस्कारः।
ātmaśarīrānyataraniṣṭhaḥ atiśayaviśeṣaḥ saṃskāraḥ ।
A special virtue / quality that is connected with mind or body is called Saṃskāra (the rite for such a virtue / quality is also called Saṃskāra).
In other words Saṃskāras are for cleansing the mind and body and consequently a healthy, happy and peaceful life in this world and Mokṣa after death.
[[Category:Samskaras]]
[[Category:Samskaras]]