samskara

samskara
   Samskaras (from the Sanskrit samskri, refined, the source of the word SANSKRIT) are ritual ceremo-nies that mark and purify life cycle events. Every samskara requires a BRAHMIN priest to preside and includes prayers, oblations, offerings, and a fire ritual.
   Rituals are performed to encourage impreg-nation and to obtain a male child. A special rite is performed at birth. The annaprashana is usually performed at the sixth month after birth to mark the feeding of the first solid food. The investiture of the SACRED THREAD, the upanayana ceremony, is performed for twice-born (high-caste) Hindu males when they are between ages eight and 12.
   Perhaps the two most important samskaras for Hindus are the wedding ceremony and the sraddha, or death ceremony. The sraddha can be performed only by a male child. It ensures that a soul does not remain as a ghost but goes on either to liberation or to its next birth. A yearly ritual is performed to feed the deceased, in particular Brahmins, lest they fall from heaven. This ancient ritual of feeding the ancestor seems to conflict with the belief that nearly everyone is reincar-nated, and that few proceed directly to heaven.
   Further reading: R. B. Pandy, Hindu Samskaras: Socio-Religious Study of the Hindu Sacraments (Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 1969); Prem Sahai, Hindu Marriage Sams-kara (Ahmedabad: Wheeler, 1993).

Encyclopedia of Hinduism. . 2007.

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  • Samskāra — Saṃskāra Pour les articles homonymes, voir Xing (homonymie). Samskāra (sanskrit ; pāli : samkhāra ; chinois : xing ; japonais : gyō ) , formations karmiques, ou activités volitionnelles, voire créations. Sommaire 1 …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Samskara — may refer to: * Saṃskāra, Hindu rites * Saṃskāra (Sanskrit; Pali: Saṅkhāra), in Buddhism, mental and volitional formations * Samskara (Ayurvedic), a technique in Ayurvedic medicine * Samskara (film), an Indian film in the Kannada languageee also* …   Wikipedia

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  • Saṃskāra — Pour les articles homonymes, voir Xing (homonymie). Saṃskāra[1] (sanskrit, devanāgarī: संस्कार; pāli : samkhāra ; chinois : xing ; japonais : gyō ) , formations karmiques, ou activités volitionnelles, voire créations …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Saṃskāra — Samskaram (Sanskrit IAST|saṃskāraṃ accomplishment, embellishment, consecration ; Hindi Sanskar) are Vedic rites of passage finding varied acceptance among religious adherents of Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism and some schools of thought in… …   Wikipedia

  • Samskara — Die Samskaras (Sanskrit, m., संस्कार, saṃskāra) sind die Übergangsrituale im Hinduismus. Die Tradition kennt bis zu vierzig Samskaras, von denen die Schriftgelehrten zwölf besonders beachtet haben. Drei sind für alle Zweimalgeborenen… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • samskara — In Hinduism, any of the personal sacraments traditionally observed at every stage of life, from the moment of conception to the scattering of one s funeral ashes. The observance of the samskaras is based on custom and on such texts as the Puranas …   Universalium

  • samskara — [sʌm skα:rə] noun Hinduism a purificatory ceremony or rite marking a major event in one s life. Origin from Sanskrit saṃskāra a making perfect, preparation …   English new terms dictionary

  • samskara — n. Ind. Philos. 1 a purificatory ceremony or rite marking an event in one s life. 2 a mental impression, instinct, or memory. Etymology: Skr. samskara a making perfect, preparation …   Useful english dictionary

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