What a sanskara is
A sanskara is a rite that "refines" or "shapes" — the word comes from the same root as Sanskrit, the "refined" language. The Grihya Sutras and Dharmashastras describe a series of household rites that sanctify each major turning point of life. Lists vary between texts (some give more, some fewer), but the best-known count is sixteen — the shodasha sanskara.
The sixteen, in order
Before birth
- Garbhadhana — the rite of conception, a prayer for a worthy child.
- Pumsavana — in the third month of pregnancy, for the health of the foetus.
- Simantonnayana — parting the mother's hair in the later months, for her protection and well-being (the root of the godh bharai / baby shower).
Childhood
- Jatakarma — at birth: welcoming the newborn, touching honey and ghee to its lips, whispering prayers.
- Namakarana — the naming ceremony, usually on the 11th or 12th day.
- Nishkramana — the baby's first outing, to see the sun and the moon (around the fourth month).
- Annaprashana — the first solid food, usually rice-kheer, around the sixth month.
- Chudakarana (Mundan) — the first haircut, in the first or third year.
- Karnavedha — piercing the ears.
Education
- Vidyarambha — beginning to learn the alphabet; widely done on Vijayadashami or Vasant Panchami. See Vidyarambh Sanskar Vidhi.
- Upanayana — the sacred thread ceremony and initiation into the Gayatri mantra; the "second birth".
- Vedarambha — beginning Vedic study with a guru.
- Keshanta (Godana) — the first shave, at the threshold of adulthood.
- Samavartana — the ritual bath and return home at the end of student life.
Adult life and death
- Vivaha — marriage, entering the householder stage; the most elaborate sanskara.
- Antyeshti — the last rites, cremation and the rites for the departed, continued in shraddha.
Which are still common
Most families today perform namakarana, annaprashana, mundan, vidyarambha, vivaha and antyeshti, and many keep upanayana and the pregnancy rites in some form. The others survive in fewer families or are folded into larger ceremonies. Practice varies widely by region and community.
Frequently asked questions
What are the sixteen sanskaras?
Garbhadhana, Pumsavana, Simantonnayana, Jatakarma, Namakarana, Nishkramana, Annaprashana, Chudakarana, Karnavedha, Vidyarambha, Upanayana, Vedarambha, Keshanta, Samavartana, Vivaha and Antyeshti.
Why are some lists of sanskaras different?
Different Grihya Sutras and Dharmashastras give different numbers and orders; sixteen is the most widely used count.
When is the naming ceremony done?
Usually on the 11th or 12th day after birth, though families vary.
Which sanskara is the last?
Antyeshti, the funeral rites, continued afterwards through shraddha for the ancestors.
What is the mundan sanskara?
Chudakarana, the child's first haircut, usually in the first or third year.