Hindu Rites Of Passage

There are 16 traditional rites of passage that occur in a Hindu’s life.

In western culture we might have birth, first day of school, marriage, and death. In Hinduism there are several more, many of them connected to childhood.

I’ve heard it said that we have so many life rituals because we see all moments of life as sacred and these markers help remind us of that.

These are called Samskaras.

1.	Garbhadan	The first coming together of the husband & wife for bringing about conception.
2.	Pumsvan	Ceremony performed when the first signs of conception are seen, and is to be performed when someone desires a male child.
3.	Seemantonayan	A ceremony of parting of the hairs of the expectant mother to keep her spirits high & positive. Special music is arranged for her.
4.	Jatakarma	After the birth of the child, the child is given a secret name, he is given taste of honey & ghee, mother starts the first breast-feeding after chanting of a mantra.
5.	Nama-karana	In this ceremony the child is given a formal name. Performed on the 11th day.
6.	Nishkramana	In this the formal darshan of sun & moon is done for the child.
7.	Annaprashana	This ceremony is performed, when the child is given solid food (anna) for the first time.
8.	Chudakarana	Cuda means the ‘lock or tuft of hair’ kept after the remaining part is shaved off.
9.	Karna-vedha	Done in 7th or 8th month. Piercing of the ears.
10.	Upanayan & Vedarambha	The thread ceremony. The child is thereafter authorized to perform all rituals. Studies of Vedas begins with the Guru.
11.	Keshanta	Hairs are cut, guru dakshina is given
12.	Samavartan	Returning to the house
13.	Vivaha	Marriage ceremony
14.	Vanprastha	As old age approaches, the person retires for a life of tapas & studies.
15.	Sanyas	Before leaving the body a Hindu sheds all sense of responsibility & relationships to awake & revel in the timeless truth.
16.	Antyeshthi	The last rites done after the death.
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http://www.ashramgita.com/en/images/samskara-mundan.jpg

I will be examining each one of these in detail in their own posts over at The White Hindu Premium channel. We’ve looked at Garbhadan already.

Hindu Rites of Passage

1.

Garbhadan

The first coming together of the husband & wife for bringing about conception.

2.

Pumsvan

Ceremony performed when the first signs of conception are seen, and is to be performed when someone desires a male child.

3.

Seemantonayan

A ceremony of parting of the hairs of the expectant mother to keep her spirits high & positive. Special music is arranged for her.

4.

Jatakarma

After the birth of the child, the child is given a secret name, he is given taste of honey & ghee, mother starts the first breast-feeding after chanting of a mantra.

5.

Nama-karana

In this ceremony the child is given a formal name. Performed on the 11th day.

6.

Nishkramana

In this the formal darshan of sun & moon is done for the child.

7.

Annaprashana

This ceremony is performed, when the child is given solid food (anna) for the first time.

8.

Chudakarana

Cuda means the ‘lock or tuft of hair’ kept after the remaining part is shaved off.

9.

Karna-vedha

Done in 7th or 8th month. Piercing of the ears.

10.

Upanayan & Vedarambha

The thread ceremony. The child is thereafter authorized to perform all rituals. Studies of Vedas begins with the Guru.

11.

Keshanta

Hairs are cut, guru dakshina is given

12.

Samavartan

Returning to the house

13.

Vivaha

Marriage ceremony

14.

Vanprastha

As old age approaches, the person retires for a life of tapas & studies.

15.

Sanyas

Before leaving the body a Hindu sheds all sense of responsibility & relationships to awake & revel in the timeless truth.

16.

Antyeshthi

The last rites done after the death.

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