Samskara (rites)
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In Hinduism, Samskaras or Sanskaras are ritualistic practices a Hindu is expected to follow at various stages of his or her life. Gautama Dharmasutras specify 40-48 samskaras, though the later Smritis brought down this number to 16 (Shodasha Samskaras). These are as follows:
Pre-natal
- Garbhadharana: Conception
- Pumsavana: Rite for consecrating a male child in the womb
- Simantonnayana: Rite for parting the hair of a pregnant woman
Childhood
- Jatakarma: Birth ceremony
- Namakarana: Naming ceremony
- Nishkarmana: First outing
- Annaprasana: First feeding(solid)
- Chudakarana, or Mundan ceremony: First tonsure
- Karnavedha: Piercing of the ear lobes
Educational
- Vidhyarambha: Starting of education
- Upanayana: Thread ceremony(Initiation)
- Vedarambha: Starting of the study of the Vedas
- Keshanta or Godana: First shaving of the beard
- Samaavartana or Snaana:Ending of studentship
Adulthood
- Vivaha: Marriage
- Anthyesthi: Funeral rites
[edit] Other usages
- In Hinduism, the Samskaras are also the purificatory rites to be performed by a person during rites of passage.
