Life’s Crucial Junctures

The best rendering of samskara

in English is made by the word

sacrament, which means “religious

ceremony or act regarded as an

outward and visible sign of inward

and spiritual grace.” Sacrament

also means “confirmation of

some promise or oath; things of

mysterious significance, sacred

influence and symbol.”

Sri Raj Bai Pandey, Hindu Samskaras

For the hindu, life is a sacred journey;

and every step from birth to death is

marked, and thus acknowledged, through

traditional ceremony, called samskara. A samskara

is an enduring impression etched into the malleable

substance of a person’s mind at a psychological

point in life. During these Hindu rites of passage,

a temple or home ceremony deeply influences

the soul and directs life along the path of dharma.

There are many types of samskaras,

from the rite

prior to conception to the funeral ceremony. Each

one, properly observed, empowers spiritual life,

preserves religious culture and establishes bonds

with inner worlds as the soul consciously accepts

each succeeding discovery and duty in the order

of God’s creation. Religious samskaras serve

two purposes. First, they mark clearly within our

minds the occasion of an important life transition.

Second, they solicit special blessings from

the devas and Deities, society and village, family

and friends. These blessings and feelings of

love have a markedly positive effect, stabilizing

the mind so that the deeper meanings of life can

unfold within us. Of the many Hindu samskaras,

eight are illustrated and described in this chapter.

Namakarana, Name-Giving

(Pictured at left) The Hindu name-giving

rite, namakarana samskara, is one of the

essential rites of passage. It is performed

in the home or the temple, usually when

the child is 11 to 40 days old. The father

whispers the infant’s name in his right ear.

Anna Prasana, First Solid Food

During the anna prasana samskara, solid food is fed to

the child for the first time. This is done by the father

or the mother in the temple or at home. The choice

of food, such as rice, offered to a child at this crucial

time of life is said to help forge his or her destiny.

Karnavedha, Ear-Piercing

The ear-piercing ceremony, for both boys and girls, is

performed in the temple or the home, generally on the

child’s first birthday. Health benefits are said to derive

from this ceremony.

Chudakarana, Head-Shaving

Ceremonial head-shaving is usually performed before the

end of the third year in the home or temple. The shaven

head denotes purity and egolessness and is said to mitigate

past life karma.

Vidyarambha, Learning Commencement

The official beginning of the child’s education is performed

in the home or temple, during the fourth year,

when he or she writes the first letter of the alphabet in a

tray filled with uncooked rice.

Upanayana, Initiation

The ceremonial presentation of the sacred thread is performed

in the temple or home between the ages of 9 and

15, when a boy begins the study of the Vedas. Thereafter,

he is considered “twice-born.”

Antyesti, Funeral

The funeral ceremony is performed or arranged by the

relatives according to local traditions. It includes preparation

of the body, cremation, rites of mourning, purification

and remembrance

Vivaha, Marriage

The marriage ceremony is performed in a temple or special

hall around the sacred homa fire. Lifetime vows and

seven steps before God and the Gods consecrate the holy

union of husband and wife

Seven Other

Rites of Passage

In addition to the primary personal

ceremonies, there is a rich collection of other

traditional samskaras. Here is a sampling.

Keshanta Kala

When a boy first shaves his facial hair, this indication that

he has come of age is celebrated in the temple or at home

with the keshanta samskara. It is a joyous time of gift-giving,

yet it is serious as well. Often a vow of brahmacharya

(celibacy) is taken at this same time.

Ritu Kala

As puberty dawns for a young girl, the ritu kala homeceremony

is performed to acknowledge her first menses.

New clothing, jewelry and her first sari are given as she

joyously and openly joins the young adult community.

Samavartana

This ceremony—literally, “returning home from the house

of the guru”—marks the end of studentship and indicates

formal closure to the brahmacharya period of life. The

young person now must choose one of two paths: the grihastha

path (family life) or the renunciate path (monastic life).

Nishchitartha or Vagdana

This is the betrothal ceremony in which a man and woman

are declared formally engaged by their parents with the

exchange of jewelry and gifts. Based on this commitment,

they and their families begin planning a shared future.

Punsavana

The literal meaning of the term punsavana is “the quickening

of a male child.” Not practiced today, this ceremony

was performed by the husband for the wife beseeching the

birth of a son, primarily as an assurance for the continuance

of the family line.

Simantonnayana

This is the “hair-parting” rite. Not commonly practiced today,

this ancient ceremony of parting the hair of the pregnant

wife was performed to bring cheer as well as ward off

evil spirits.

Jatakarma

During the later days of pregnancy, a woman may have the

jatakarma samskara performed. This rite, based on a verse

from the Atharva Veda written specifically to assure safe

childbirth, was designed to yield blessings for life as well as

protection from harm for both mother and child.

 




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