In the Sanatana Dharma, human life is a precious gift. Every aspect of life is sacred and auspicious and every stage of life has to be celebrated with all due formalities. The steps marking the passage of a human being to different levels or stages of life, from conception to cremation are known as samskaras. The rituals are followed as given in our scriptures. These samskaras are the milestones of a person’s life. They purify the body and mind and make him into a true human being. Our rishis who were spiritual scientists found that these samskaras have a positive influence on our subconscious minds which will bring stability and peace throughout our lives.
The word samskara means “culture” or “refinement” in Sanskrit. The Vedas identify forty samskaras. Out of these the most important ones which are normally observed are only sixteen and are known as the shodasha samskaras. Modern life has cut down these to even less than sixteen and of course those who go abroad and are totally influenced by western culture tend to pour scorn on the entire concept! But the time has come to bring them all to the perception of our younger generation since there seems to be a true opening of the minds of the youth to the precious gifts of our culture.
1.The first samskara is Garbhadana. This literally means the “giving of wealth to the womb”. This is normally performed immediately after the wedding and begins before conception. This ensures harmony between the couples so that there will be no problems during conception. Many rituals are done while the child is still in the womb since there was a great insistence in bringing forth a child who would be a boon to society and to its parents!
2. Pumsavana is a ritual conducted in or after the third month of pregnancy before the foetus starts moving inside the womb. The ceremony celebrates the first trimester when the mother should be given certain special foods and herbs that will help in the proper development of the foetus and reduce the risk of mis-carriage.
3. Simantonnayana or Simantam as it is generally known is usually performed in the fifth or seventh month of pregnancy, when the husband ‘parts the hair’ of his wife. This samskara is similar to modern baby showers where the relatives of the couple bring gifts, sweets, savouries and items that the child might need after its birth. The mother is clad like a bride and is kept on a swing and songs are sung to ensure the long life and health of both mother and child.
CHILDHOOD SAMSKARAS
4. Jatakarma: Natal rites
This samskara helps to fuse the bond between the father and baby just after its birth. According to the scriptures, the father performs this samskara before cutting off the umbilical cord of the new-born child from that of the mother. Following the traditional Jatakarma ritual, the father welcomes the baby by touching its lips with honey and ghee.
5.Namakarana: Naming the child
The ancient Vedic ceremony of naming a child is usually done in the eleventh or twelfth day after birth. On this day, the parents announce the formal name of the child, which is decided by the nakshatra and rashi in which it is born. This ceremony takes place in the presence of family members and relatives and gives a separate identity to the new-born.
6.Nishkramana: First outing.
The literal meaning of nishkramana is “going out, coming forth.” In the fourth month after the baby’s birth, parents take the baby out of the home, generally to a nearby temple. The baby formally meets the world for the first time. Impressions in the child’s mind are formed based on what it sees and hears in this world. This ritual marks the beginning of the baby’s mental growth.
7. Annaprashna: First feeding with cooked rice.
The Annaprashna ceremony is performed in the sixth month when there is some visible growth of the first teeth. It marks the first time that a baby eats solid food, especially cooked rice. Until now, the baby was nourished only through breast milk if possible. This ceremony is done to bring good health, radiance, and physical strength to the child. Normally kheer or rice and milk cooked together is given. The rice should be very soft. The kheer should be offered to the deities first or into the fire if a havan (fire ceremony) is being performed. This prasad should be given to the baby. The baby should be kept on the lap of the father or mother who should sit facing east. The parent should pray to Annapurneshwari, the goddess of food and ask her to take care of the child. A drop pf honey, a few drops of Ganga water and a tulsi leaf should also be put into the kheer. A tiny portion of the kheer should be taken in a silver spoon or with one’s hands and given to the baby. Normally they will relish this and start sucking and gurgling. The grandparents and other relatives may also offer a tiny bit of the kheer to the baby.
Food plays a very significant role in our lives, as it nourishes our body and gives us strength. This ceremony respects the significance of food. The day a baby starts having food properly, it is believed that half the success of his life has been achieved. Hence, this ceremony should be performed in a holy ambience with all the step-by-step Annaprashan Vidhi (rituals), as it is one of the most important part of your baby care. At the end, everyone should bless the baby. The ceremony should end with the distribution of prasad to everyone.
8.Chudakarana: Cutting of the first tuft or hair.
This is also known as mundan and it marks the child’s first haircut. This samskara represents a new phase of life where the baby’s hair is cut and nails trimmed. This removes the baby hair and the start of a strong, thick new growth.
Apart from enhancing the appearance, hair also gives protection to the scalp.
9.Karnavedha: Piercing the earlobes.
Karnavedha means piercing the ear. This samskara also has a scientific explanation. Ear lobes are important acupressure points. Modern research has shown the link between earlobes and the two hemispheres of the brain.
Piercing the ears, therefore, helps in developing intelligence and enhancing immunity against respiratory infections and also from diseases such as hydrocoele and hernia. This used to be done for both sexes not just for girls as we do now.
EDUCATIONAL SAMSKARAS
10.Vidyarambha: Start of education.
This is a most important samskara and is usually performed at the age of five. It celebrates the child’s first step towards acquiring knowledge. In the Vedic tradition, Saraswati is the goddess of learning and knowledge. In the Vidyarambha ceremony, she is worshipped to seek blessings for the child. There are many temples in Bharat that undertake this ceremony which is usually done on the 10th day of the Navaratri which is known as the day of victory which is the day when the goddess Saraswati is worshipped.
11.Upanayana: Holy thread ceremony.
It is regarded as the supreme samskara. This is the first time that the Gayatri Mantra is given to the child by the father or the guru. He is also invested with the sacred thread which creates the bond with the divine. "Upa" means ‘close’ and "Nayana" means ‘to bring’. Hence Upanayana literally means to bring closer to the Divine. During the Vedic Age, Upanayana was performed for girls also but was discontinued a few centuries ago due to social norms. According to the guru shishya parampara, the child would be sent to the Gurukulam after this to learn all aspects of knowledge. He was required to live the life of a brahmachari with the guru, as a part of his family with his mind focused on acquiring knowledge and gaining wisdom.
12.Praishartha: First study of the Vedas
Vedārambha means ‘beginning of the learning of the Vedas’. While Upanayanam marked the beginning of education, Vedarambha refers to the initiation of the Vedic study. In this samskara, students are made to by heart and chant the Vedic mantras since the study of the Vedas was always an oral one.
13.Keshanta/ Ritusuddhi: Cutting the hair
‘Kesh’ means hair, and ‘anta’ means the end. This samskara involves the first shaving of the fuzz which starts to grow on a boy when he attains maturity. Similarly, for girls, the Ritushuddi ceremony is performed when she starts her menses for the first time.
This samskara marks the significant transition from childhood to adulthood. At this juncture of life, the student recognizes and acknowledges the changes that have occurred both physically and psychologically.
14.Samavartana: Graduation ceremony
Samavartana marks the return of the student from the guru’s house. Earlier, when the gurukul system of education was a norm, the student left his guru and gurukul on completion of his studies. This departure was known as samavartana samskara. The student was now fit to move on to the next stage of life. This marks the end of his brahmacharya ashrama.
15.Vivaha: Marriage
Vivaha means “marriage”. This is the start of the second part of a person’s life and is known as Grihastashrama or the life of a householder. The wedding rites and ceremonies generally start with the engagement of a couple and end with the Praavisya Homam or Nishekam ceremony. The colourful celebrations may extend for several days.
16.Antyeshti: Funeral
Antyeshti rites are the last of the samskaras in a series that ideally begins at the moment of conception and is performed at each important stage of life.
At the approach of death, relatives and Brahman priests are summoned, mantras and sacred texts are recited, and ceremonial gifts are prepared. After death the body is removed as soon as possible to the cremation grounds, which are normally located on the banks of a river. The eldest son of the deceased and the officiating priest perform the final cremation rites. For ten days thereafter, the mourners—the immediate family members—are considered impure and are subject to certain taboos. During this period they perform rites intended to provide the jivatma with a new spiritual body with which it may pass on to the next life. Ceremonies include the giving of milk and water and offering rice balls mixed with til seeds. At a prescribed date, the bones are and ashes are immersed in the Ganga or a holy river or an ocean. Rites honouring the dead, called shraddh, continue to be performed by the children at specified times.
Although all these shodasha samskaras are of great significance, in modern times, only four of them, namely jatakarma, upanayana, vivaha, and antyeshti, are commonly followed. As with all Hindu rituals all of them mark a special point in the life of a human being in his journey from birth to death!
Aum Tat Sat
Sooo beautiful and enlightening. i feel sad we seem to have lost most of our samskaras related to the Brahmachari - studying ashram along with all this ancient wisdom. Inexpressible gratitude to You Maa for helping us learn and take little steps to live in line with this the wisdom of the rishis. Thank YOU!
I have always been curious about why many men in the Punjab region have one or both ears pierced. This explanation provides great insight into the origins of this practice.