Lect 7: Samskaras: Vedic Purification Rituals/

Consecrations for Human Life

 Just like Christianity has
sacraments..Hindus have samskaras..
• The following are the seven sacraments of the
Roman Catholic Church, here listed in the order given in the
Catechism:
• Baptism (Christening),
• Confirmation (Chrismation)
• Holy Eucharist
• Penance (Confession)
• Anointing of the Sick (known prior to the Second Vatican
Council as Extreme Unction (or more literally from Latin:
Last Anointing), then seen as part of the "Last Rites")
• Holy Orders
• Matrimony (Marriage)
All rites involve priest chants purifying
mantras and performs a fire sacrifice.
 List Of Sixteen Samskaras
Pre-natal Samskaras
(1) Garbhadan (Conception)
(2) Pumsavana
(Engendering a male issue)
(3) Simantonayana (Hair-
parting)
Childhood Samskaras
(4) Jatakarma (Birth rituals)
(5) Namakarana (Naming)
(6) Nishkrama (First outing)
(7) Annaprashana (First
solid food feeding)
(8) Chudakarma (or Chaul)
(Shaving of head)
(9) Karnavedh (ears pierced)
Educational Samskaras
(10) Vidyarambha (Learning
the alphabet)
(11) Upanayana (Sacred
thread initiation)
(12) Vedarambha
(Beginning Vedic study)
(13) Keshant (Godaan)
(Shaving the beard)
(14) Samavartan (End of
studentship)
Marriage Samskara
(15) Vivaha (Marriage
Ceremony)
Death Samskara
(16) Antyeshti (Death rites).
1.Garbhadana
" the first
samskara, means
"purification of the
womb," and takes
place prior to
conception. Hindu
scriptures state
that the mental
states of both
husband and wife
is key to the type
of soul that enters
the womb.
2) Pumsavana
(Engendering a male child)
*Performed in the 3rd or 4th month
of pregnancy when the moon is in a
male constellation.

•For the first pregnanacy in general

during . Simantoyannayanam (baby
shower).

*Ancient rishi of Ayurveda

recommended certain herbs mixed
with milk instilled in the right nostril
to prevent congenital malformations
and death of fetus.Also prescribed
certain diet for the ritual.
 3.Simantoyannayanam
or "Shreemanth.“
"Valaikaapu
Taking place in the sixth
or eighth month of a
-Performed for the
protection and health of
the mother and the
fetus.
- it involves the husband
placing vermilion in the
parting of her hair. Now
husband should be
involved in the care of
pregnant wife for daily
routine too.
4.Jatakarma
" welcomes the baby
into the world. The
father places a small
amount of gold,
ghee and honey on
the baby's tongue
and whispers the
Holy name of God in
his ear. Some may
use a gold spoon to
create an "aum"
shape on the
tongue.
 5.Jatakarma
& Namakarna
Whispering in the
ear Baby name,
rashi, gayatri
mantra etc.

A birthchart is
made.
5.Namakarana"
is the name-
giving ceremony
where the
parents dress
the baby in new
clothes and the
family astrologer
announces the
child's
horoscope.
 (6) Nishkrama
(First outing)
-first ceremonial step out of the
house,

-child is about three or four months

old

-more aware (social smile)of its

surroundings.

- The family prays to Isvara in the

form of the sun, the moon, and the
eight directions so that the child
will be protected at all times and in
all places after entering the wider
world
(7) Annaprashana
(First solid food
feeding)
- sixth month for a male child
and the seventh for a female

-mark the child's weaning

and first bite of solid food
(usually a mixture of ghee,
curds, rice and honey)

- child's first acceptance of

prasadam (fo
od that is ritually offered to
Isvara
(8) Chudakarma (or
Chaul) (Shaving of
head)Mundan
-child's third year

-shaving of the child's

head, leaving only a
tuft sikha.

-- The shaven hair are

offered to Lord
symbolizing the
surrendering of one’s
countless binding
desires
Mundan-
(9) Karnavedh (ears pierced)
(10) Vidyarambha
(Learning the
alphabet)
-Also referred to as
aksharaabhyasa,

-child is five years

-teacher and the child

trace out the symbol Om
onto a plate of rice.

--student presents gifts to

the acharya, such as a
pagh
(11) Upanayana
(Sacred thread
initiation)
-teacher gives the child the
Gayatri mantra and the
sacred thread janoi or
yagnopavit and takes
responsibility for the child's
life.
-The sacred thread is made
of three strings, which
represent one's debts to the
gods, the rishis and one's
ancestors.
-Student must ceremonially
seek bhiksa (alms) from his
mother
-no longer a child being fed
by his parents but a student
who must live an austere life
 A Tulu Madhwa Brahmin boy during his upanayana ritual. The thin,
yellowed,Yajnopavita thread runs from left shoulder to waist. Note the munja
grass girdle around the waist. The peepal tree twig in his right hand marks his entry
into the Brahmacharya stage of life.
(12) Vedarambha
(Beginning Vedic
study
according to his
lineage, masters
his own branch
of the Vedas
from teachers

-Brahmacharya
needed.
(13) Keshant (Godaan) (Shaving the beard)
 (14) Samavartan (End of
studentship)

-performed at the end

) of the brahmacharya
phase - the end of
studentship

-This involves a ritual

sacrificial bath known
as Awabhruth Snan.

-Student offers
gurudakshina to
teacher.
(15) Vivaha (Marriage Ceremony)
16. Antyeshti
is the act of burning the
body after death. In India a
funeral is generally
performed before the sun
sets on the day of passing.
It may be that the rituals
are mainly for hygiene as a
body can quickly begin to
decay in hot countries.
Offering sacred water of
Ganga and a Tulasi leaf
into the mouth of a dying
person usually takes place
prior to the cremation.
A period of contamination
affects the family of the
deceased and they cannot
visit a temple or perform
deity worship during this
period.