SIXTEEN SANSKARAS
(Sacraments)
(i) Meaning of Sanskara (Sacrament)
What is sanaskara? Sanskara means the act of purifying, reforming or bringing out refinement. Every person wishes to see that his child grows up to be a person who is cultured and of good character. The religious ceremonies that are intended to ensure that the individual follows the path of righteousness in life are called sanskaras. There are sixteen sanskaras.
Sanskara also means the act of making an impression that would determine the future quality of life. The influence of the environment and associations affect the character of the child. Good influences are conducive to right living while undesirable influences have an adverse effect on character. The sixteen sanskaras are intended to ennoble the life of an individual and prevent him from joining undesirable company, and influence him to become a useful citizen.
(ii) Importance of Sanskaras
When one wants a comfortable chair one does not nail together pieces of rough and badly shaped wood from the forest. The rough wood is cut, stripped, rounded, smoothed, polished and made into an attractive article of furniture for the house.
We sweep and polish and dust our homes. We wash and keep our clothes clean. We are not happy if our home and clothes are not clean.
We also keep our body clean by taking our daily bath. Thus it becomes a part of our nature to keep ourselves clean for we know that if we don't do this, the body will emit unpleasant odours and it will invite disease-carrying germs. We will thereby bring harm to ourselves. We are therefore mindful of keeping our home, our clothes and our body clean. External cleanliness forms only a part of one's life but purity of mind, intellect and the atma (soul) are more important. The mind must show an eagerness to seek the truth; one's heart must become kind and liberal; the intellect must be characterized by purity; and the soul must be free of all sins. In this way human life can be raised to a nobler place.
For the achievement of the higher ideal of purity of the mind, intellect and soul, the rishis have formulated a system of religious ceremonies known as sanskaras. There are sixteen of them. The initial sanskara marks the beginning of life and the final sanskara is performed at the time of death. The sanskaras are meant to invoke the blessings of God to make the individual an embodiment of truth and goodness. The sanskaras form a system of elevated status of a truly noble person.
THE SIXTEEN SANSKARAS
1. Garbhadana
This sanskara follows the wedding ceremony when the couple decide to be blesses with a child. In this sanskara they pray for a healthy and noble child.
2. Punsavana
Three months after conception, the Punsavana sanskara is performed. The parents pray for the grace of God to ensure the sound development of the child in its embryo stage.
3. Simantonnayana
This sanskara is performed at the end of the sixth or eighth month after conception for the full developments of the organs.
4. Jatakarma
On the day of birth the child is welcomed into the world with the Jatakarma sanskara.
5. Namakaran
On the eleventh day after birth the Namakaran sanskara is performed and the child is given a name. The name chosen is intended to be a source of inspiration in the life of the individual.
6. Nishkramana
After the fourth month the Nishkramana sanskara is performed and the child is taken out in the open air for its acquaintance with nature. The child is exposed to the health-giving rays of the sun and there is a prayer for long life. From now onwards, the child would be nurtured in the lap of nature.
7. Annaprashana
The time for this sanskara is when the teeth begin to appear between the sixth and eighth month. It is at this stage that the child is introduced to solid food.
8. Choodakarma
From the first to the third year is the period for this sanskara, when all the hair from the child's head is removed for the first time. At this time there is a prayer for good health and sound mental development.
9. Karnavedha
When the child is three years of age, this sanskara is performed by piercing the lower lobes of his ears, and a prayer is said for the child's physical well-being.
10. Upanayana
This sanskara is performed any time from the age of five to eight years. Upanayana means getting closer to someone. With this sanskara, the child is placed in the care of the guru (teacher). It is given yajnopavit (sacred thread), which consists of three separate strands. The sacred thread symbolizes the vow of the child to follow a path of life as laid down by the scriptures. Brahmacharya, or celibacy, is of prime importance in the life of a student. He has to exercise self-restraint and abstain from all forms of indulgence. The formal education commences immediately after this sanskara. The three strands of the sacred thread represent the three letters of AUM. They also denote the three disciplines of life, namely, knowledge, action and devotion. The student adopts a rigorous code of conduct for the attainment of life that is virtuous and noble.
11. Vedarambha
Immediately after the Upanayana the Vedarambha sanskara is performed. At this stage he commences with the study of spiritual knowledge as contained in the Vedas and Shastras. All the branches of knowledge including science become his field of interest and study. In this way he prepares to seek progress in the material world while at the same time strengthening his spiritual life. The teacher explains to him the Gayatri Mantra and its significance. The student fervently prays for the attainment of a sound intellect.
12. Samavartana
This sanskara is performed between the twenty-first and twenty-fifth year, when the student has completed his studies. The guru confers the appropriate degree on him. The graduate of the Gurukul is then on threshold of a new life of self-reliance and independence. Henceforth he participates fully in the social and the economic life of the community.
13. Vivaha (marriage)
After having completed the stage of Brahmacharya, the student may decide to marry and move to the next stage in life, which is that of the householder (Grihastha ashrama). It is at this time that the Vivaha sanskara is performed. The male is expected to be about twenty-five years of age while the female should have attained the age of sixteen years. Two individuals who had lived who had lived independently now form a life-long companionship. It becomes a life of unity based on perfect harmony. After marriage when children are born of them the continuity of the family tree is maintained.
14. Vanaprastha
This sanskara marks the completion of the Grihastha ashrama at the age of fifty-one years and the commencement of the Vanaprastha ashrama. A person renounces all occupations from which personal benefits accrue. He hands over all his family responsibilities to his son and thus makes way for the succeeding generation. He is then free to follow a life of austerity and meditation. There is no limit, however, to the actions he may perform in the service of mankind.
15. Sannyasa
Although the holy order of a Sannyasa is taken at the age of seventy-five years, a person could enter the Sannyasa ashrama whenever his self-discipline and spirituality enable him to renounce all worldly attachments. At the time of the sanskara, he renounces his wealth, family ties and desire for fame. The saffron robe of a sannyasi is a symbol of a life of austerity. He does not belong any more to a particular family or community and he has no fixed abode. His outlook becomes completely universal.
16. Antyeshti
When a person dies his body is cremated. This takes the form of the Antyeshti sanskara. The soul is immortal. When the body is consumed by the fire, the five elements, namely, earth, water, fire, air and ether once more become a part of nature. The prayers that are recited are for the peace of the departed soul and for the comfort of the members of the bereaved family. Cremation is the best way for the disposal of the dead body.
