Keshanta - 13th Shodasa Samskara

When a boy grows into his teens he attains maturity. Sprouts of hair appear on his chin and upper lip. The Keshānta Samskārā is performed in the sixteenth A Tamil Hindu girl (center)  in 1870 wearing a half-saree,  flowers and jewelry from her  Ritu Kala Sanskara rite of passage. year for boys. An auspicious day is selected and worship of Lord Ganesha and family deities performed. With the chanting of mantras the boy’s hair...

Read More

Vedarambha - 12th Shodasa Samskara

Vedārambha means ‘beginning of learning Vedas’ and is performed on an auspicious date after the Upanayana. The Samskārā is elaborate and performed with Yagnās and chanting.  This is the day when the child starts studying the Vedas under the Guru. Traditionally in the Guru Shishya Parampara, the student would learn the Vedas living with the Guru as part of his family.  In the Vedārambha ceremony, the sacred fire is lit and the student...

Read More

Upanayana - 11th Shodasa Samskara

Upanayana is one of the most important Samskārās in a person’s life. "Upa" means ‘close’ and "Nayana" means ‘to bring’. Upanayana means to bring closer to the Guru or Divine. The Upanayana ceremony is best done between the ages of six to eight years for boys although many perform it at a later age. It symbolizes spiritual rebirth and moving into the Brahmacharya stage of life. Traditionally Upanayana was done for women also but was discontinued...

Read More

Vidyarambha - 10th Shodasa Samskara

Good education is a vital aspect in a child’s life. Every parent wants to see their children excel in studies and do well in all activities. Vidya means knowledge and ārambha is beginning. In the Vedic tradition, Saraswati is the goddess of learning and knowledge. In the Vidyārambha ceremony Saraswati Pooja is performed to seek the blessings for the child. The child sits on the father’s lap and writes “ॐ” the primordial sound in a plate filled...

Read More

Karnavedha - 9th Shodasa Samskara

Wearing earrings is a common practice in many ancient cultures. The ear lobes have an important acupressure point. Neurologists in the west have done research linking the earlobes to two hemispheres of the brain. Piercing ears is believed to help in developing intelligence and enhancing immunity against respiratory infections. Often in India when prostrating to Lord Ganesha, we gently tug at our ear lobes while doing sit-ups. This ancient practice...

Read More

Hindu Wisdom: 7 things you didn’t know about ear piercing

It is  a common practice in India to have one’s child’s ears pierced when they are very young. According to Vedic rites, parents usually get their child’s ears pierced when they are merely a few days old. While the custom seems quite a painful process and it looks like quite a terrible thing to do to your baby, the tradition does have some health benefits for your child. Here 7 facts about ear piercing that you should know. Maintains...

Read More

Chudakarma/Mundana - 8th Shodasa Samskara

Our hair on the head is often called the crowning glory. It gives us protection from the elements and enhances beauty. Chudākarma or Mundana is the Samskārā where the child’s hair is cut for the first time. The Chudākarma ceremony marks a new phase of life for the child. It symbolizes cleansing, renewal and new growth. It is also said that the new hair that grows is strong and clean. Mantras are chanted as the child is given blessings of long life,...

Read More

Annaprashana - 7th Shodasa Samskara

There is a popular saying in Hindi that says “jaisa ann vaisa mann” which means as “as is the food, so is the mind”. The food we eat nourishes us physically and also affects our mind. Annaprāshana is an important ceremony performed in the sixth month. The child is fed solid food for the first time. This ceremony is done to bring good health, radiance and physical strength in the child. Relatives and friends are invited to a feast specially prepared...

Read More

Nishkramana(first outing of newborn) - 6th Shodasa Samskara

Impressions in the child’s mind are formed based on what we see and hear in this world. Nishkramana is the first outing of the child where it is shown good and auspicious symbols. This is usually done after the first month the child is born. The child is taken for a visit to the temple and shown the moon at night. According to the Grihyasutras and the Smritis   this Samskara may take place either in the third or in the fourth month...

Read More

Namakarana - 5th Shodasa Saskara

The fifth ceremony after Jatakarma ceremony is called naming ceremony(Namakarana). In this ceremony the child is given a name. All the activities in the world are carried on the basis of name. Every parent has the duty to give a nice name to the child, which reminds the child of some goal or objective in the life.  In the Hindu Dharma, the child is frequently named after an avatar, deity, sacred place or river, saint, etc., as a constant...

Read More

Jatakarma (Birth rituals) - 4th Shodasa Samskara

These rituals are performed at the birth of the child. It is believed that the moon has a special effect on the newly born. In addition, the constellation of the planets - nakshatras - also determine the degree of auspiciousness. If birth occurs during an inauspicious arrangement, the jatakarmas are performed to ward off their detrimental effects on the child. The father would also request the Brahmanishtha Satpurush for blessings. The main objective...

Read More

Simantonayana - 3rd Shodasa Samskara

Simantonayana sanskaar (The ritual for the mental development of foetus) ‘Seemant’ - this vernacular word literally means brain, while ‘Utnayan’ literally means development. The word Simantonayana thus acquires the meaning of - a ritual in which the mother focuses her attention to brain development of the child. The previous ritual (Punsavan sanskaar) is for physical development while this Simantonayana sanskaar caters...

Read More

Pumsavana - 2nd Shodasa Samskara

All conscious parents wish that the child in the womb - whether son or daughter - should be full of strength and vigor; should be healthy, disease-free, long-lived, intelligent and goodlooking. The second ritual - the Punsavan sanskaar - is performed with this objective, two to three months after the foetus is placed in the mother's womb. Once pregnant, the mother has to take precautions for the protection, growth and development of the womb. The...

Read More

Garbhadan (Conception) - 1st Shodasa Samskara

'Garbha' means womb. 'Dan' means donation. In this the man places his seed in a woman. The Gruhyasutras and Smrutis advocate special conditions and observances for this, to ensure healthy and intelligent progeny. Procreation of children was regarded as necessary for paying off debts to the forefathers.  Another reason for having progeny is given in the Taittiriya Upanishad. When the student ends his Vedic studies, he requests permission to...

Read More

Shodasa Samskaras - The 16 main rituals of a Hindu's life and their significance

Since eternity man has strived to improve his own self. This realization, unique only to mankind, has led him to think deeper about his physical, mental and spiritual well being. Towards this end, the Vedic seers prescribed a set of observances, known as Samskaras. (Though pronounced Sanskaras in Gujarati, we shall use the original Sanskrit form.) The nearest English word for samskara is sacrament, related to the phrase 'rite of passage'....

Read More

The Hindu Marriage - Vivaha Sanskara

Booking the hall, deciding on caterers, choosing the mandap and decorations, sending out the invitations, finding photographers, choosing the Priest – music, bridal outfits, nails, makeup, jewellery, matching colour schemes, groom’s outfit — Aaaaaaaah!! As the stress levels escalate and we strive to organise the wedding of the year, how much time do we get to step back and think about the rituals we are about to perform and appreciate the true...

Read More