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== व्युतपत्तिः ॥ Etymology and Definition ==

== व्युतपत्तिः ॥ Etymology and Definition ==

The term Samskara is pregnant with meaning and hence untranslatable. Samskara in the present article refers to any rite prescribed by scriptures either for purification (removal of papa) or generating, infusing some qualities by which a person becomes eligible or qualified to perform some rites. Viramitrodayam defines a Samskara thus:<blockquote>आत्मशरीरान्यतरनिष्ठः अतिशयविशेषः संस्कारः। ātmaśarīrānyataraniṣṭhaḥ atiśayaviśeṣaḥ saṃskāraḥ ।</blockquote>A special virtue or quality that is connected with mind or body is called Samskara (the rite for such a virtue or quality is also called Samskara). Samskaras refine, condition and purify the psychosomatic processes.<ref name=":1" />   

The term Samskara is pregnant with meaning and hence untranslatable. Samskara in the present article refers to any rite prescribed by scriptures either for purification (removal of papa) or generating, infusing some qualities by which a person becomes eligible or qualified to perform some rites. Viramitrodayam defines a Samskara thus:<blockquote>आत्मशरीरान्यतरनिष्ठः विहित क्रिया जन्य: अतिशयविशेषः संस्कारः।। (Viramitrodaya, Vol. 1, Page 132)</blockquote>Rites and observances aiming at producing a peculiar (an indefinable kind of merit) virtue or quality that is connected with mind or body is called Samskara (the rite for such a virtue or quality is also called Samskara). Samskaras refine, condition and purify the psychosomatic processes.<ref name=":1" />   

The term Samskara is defined in various ways according to the context in which it is used based on the subject matter. Basically a Samskara is a मानसकर्म्म इति मेदिनी ॥ an activity pertaining to the manas (mind) according to Medini.<ref name=":2">Shabdakalpadhruma ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%B8 See संस्कारः])</ref>   

The term Samskara is defined in various ways according to the context in which it is used based on the subject matter. Basically a Samskara is a मानसकर्म्म इति मेदिनी ॥ an activity pertaining to the manas (mind) according to Medini.<ref name=":2">Shabdakalpadhruma ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%B8 See संस्कारः])</ref>   

[[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. 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" />

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" />  <blockquote>द्विविधः संस्कारो भवति ब्राह्मो दैवश्च । गर्भाधानादिः स्मार्तो ब्राह्मः। (Harita Dharmasutra) </blockquote>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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