ABOUT SAMSKARAS 

A samskara is a rite of passage, and virtually every world culture has such ceremonies. Rites of passage are ceremonies that mark important events in the life of an individual. A Baptism, a wedding, a Bar Mitzvah, a Confirmation, and a funeral are all examples of rites of passage. Such important events generally include pre birth ceremonies, birth ceremonies, life ceremonies, death ceremonies and even after life ceremonies. In Sanskrit the word samskara literally means, “making perfect” or “refining,” and so a samskara is a ceremony of refinement, which is to say, refining or raising an individual beyond his or her mere physical existence and marking a higher spiritual existence. Samskaras bind an individual into his or her social group.

In Hinduism, as with most religious cultures, samskaras are sacred ceremonies performed with the help of a priest and in the presence of family and friends. Traditionally there are twelve samskara, but some later traditions raise this number to sixteen. In practice, however, there are only about eight samskaras that are regularly performed. This number varies from family to family and from region to region. The most common ceremonies are a pre-birth ceremony (Simantoyannayanam), the name giving ceremony (Nama Karana), a first grains ceremony (Anna Prashanna), the first hair cutting (Mundan), starting school (Vidyarambhana), the thread giving ceremony (Upanayana), marriage (Vivaha) and the funeral (Antyesthi). As I briefly describe these ceremonies, be aware that there is a lot regional variation, and how a ceremony may be preformed in one community may vary a lot from how it is performed in another community.

There are 42 samskaras one has to do in his/her life:

01. Garbhadana 

02. Pumsavanam 

03. Seemantonnayana (Baby Shower)

04. Jatakarma 

05. Namakarnam (Name Giving) 

06. Nishkramana   

07. Annaprashanam (First Solid Food)

08. Choulam (First Hair Cut)

09. Upanayanam (Thread Ceremony)

10. Veda Vratham - Prajapatya   

11. Veda Vratham - Sowmya   

12. Veda Vratham - Aagneya 

13. VedaVratham - Vaishvadeva

14. Samavartanam(Snanam) 

15. Vivaham(Marriage) 

16. Antyeshti (Funeral)

17. Pancha Maha Yagyam - DevaYagya 

18. Pancha Maha Yagyam - Pithru Yagya 

19. Pancha Maha Yagyam - Bhota Yagya 

20. Pancha Maha Yagyam - Manushya Yagya 

21. Pancha Maha Yagyam - Bhrama Yagya 

22. Sapta Paka Yagyas - Ashtaka 

23. Sapta Paka Yagyas - Parvana Stalipaka 

24. Sapta Paka Yagyas - Masika Shraaddha 

25. Sapta Paka Yagyas - Shravani 

26. Sapta Paka Yagyas - Aagrhayani 

27. Sapta Paka Yagyas - Chaitree 

28. Sapta Paka Yagyas - Aashvayuji 

29. Sapta Soma Yagyas - Agnishtomam 

30. Sapta Soma Yagyas - Atyagnishtomam 

31. Sapta Soma Yagyas - Ukthyam 

32. Sapta Soma Yagyas - Shodashi 

33. Sapta Soma Yagyas - Vajapeyam 

34. Sapta Soma Yagyas - Aptoryamam 

35. Sapta Soma Yagyas - Atirattram 

36. Sapta Havir Yagyas - Agni Aadheyam 

37. Sapta Havir Yagyas - Agnihotram 

38. Sapta Havir Yagyas - Darshapoornamasam 

39. Sapta Havir Yagyas - Aagrhayanam 

40. Sapta Havir Yagyas - Chaturmasyam 

41. Sapta Havir Yagyas - Nirudha Pashu Bandham 

42. Sapta Havir Yagyas - Soutramanee