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ગુજરાતી: સંસ્કારનો હેતુ શું છે? – ષોડશ સંસ્કાર (૨)
हिंदी: संस्कार का हेतु क्या है – षोडश संस्कार (२)
Human life is extremely precious. It is our good fortune that we have been born as humans instead of as animals or birds. Our Indian, Vedic culture believes that this human body is received after hundreds of births. Along with this human birth, God, society, family and nature have certain expectations from us. So it is our responsibility to make the coming generation – every being that takes a human birth – more cultured, strong, clean, pure and beautiful.
God created a beautiful universe and adorned it further with mountains, rivers and lovely valleys. He did not stop at trees and plants, but also created fragrant, colourful flowers that delight the mind. In the same way, if the being born into this world is made virtuous, of good character, intelligent and sensitive through various sanskars, human life becomes meaningful. Not only that – it is also our responsibility to raise the being God has given us in such a way that God, creation and society are happy and pleased.
Which parents do not wish that their child be virtuous, of good character, capable and noble like Rama, Krishna, Hanuman, Lakshmana, Bharata or Nachiketa? But that requires effort. Making doodhpak needs more than milk alone – the milk has to be “refined” with sugar, cardamom, nutmeg and mace, and only then does the best doodhpak result. Likewise, an ordinary being can live an excellent life only when refined by various sanskars. Such effort is necessary for the future of society and the nation, for peace, happiness and contentment in personal life, and to pass sanskars on to coming generations.
Our Vedic literature describes many such sanskars, and they are time-tested. Our sages only expected us to understand them and try to follow them. For shaping and nurturing sanskars, it is the parents who must first prepare themselves.
Charaka’s Definition of Sanskar
करणं पुनः स्वाभाविकानां द्रव्याणामभिसंस्कारः।
संस्कारो हि गुणान्तराधानमुच्यते ॥ (च.वि. अ.१)
Sanskar can change the qualities of a substance and even its nature; so in human life too, sanskar can naturally bring results. Today agricultural science makes many inventions and efforts to produce the best vegetables, fruits and flowers, expecting better taste, fragrance and higher yield. Then for our children – who are part of our life, our family and our society – we should not be indifferent to excellence; we should insist on an excellent life.
The child given by God is like a line sketch, which we can make beautiful by filling it with many colours. Removing faults and bringing out virtues are the main aims of sanskar. Even a person who is disgraced or wicked in society wishes that his own child becomes cultured and virtuous. Spiritually every person is connected with God, and that is why the desire to become good lives in every mind.
The Vedic Vision Behind Sanskars
The emergence of these sanskars shows the high psychological understanding of the Vedic seers. That is why sanskars are given the main place even in Vedic rituals. The purpose of these sanskars is to obtain desired and excellent offspring, and for the child to be virtuous, prosperous and healthy.
The Sixteen Sanskars
The scriptures describe many sanskars from birth to death, of which sixteen are the main ones:
- Garbhadhan sanskar
- Pumsavana sanskar
- Simantonnayana sanskar
- Jatakarma sanskar
- Namakarana sanskar
- Nishkramana sanskar
- Annaprashana sanskar
- Chaula (Chudakarma) – Upanayana sanskar
- Four kinds of Vedavrata sanskars
- Keshanta
- Samavartana
- Vivaha (marriage) sanskar
The sanskars from Garbhadhan to Simantonnayana are meant for obtaining an excellent child; they begin before the child is born and are performed on the mother. From Jatakarma to Upanayana the sanskars are performed on the child himself, while those from Upanayana to Samavartana used to be performed by the teacher (acharya). The marriage sanskar is performed between a healthy and mature young man and woman in the presence of elders and loved ones; its aim, besides continuing culture and lineage, is the birth of excellent and virtuous children.
In this way, with the feeling that a healthy child should be born, remain healthy throughout life and through him a strong society and nation should be built, I am trying to place the description of these sanskars before you.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What does the word “sanskar” mean?
According to Charaka Samhita, “samskaro hi gunantaradhanam uchyate” – sanskar is the process that changes the qualities of a substance or person and makes it better.
What is the main aim of sanskars?
Removing faults and bringing out virtues is the main aim of sanskars, so that the child becomes virtuous, prosperous and healthy.
Which are the sixteen sanskars?
Garbhadhan, Pumsavana, Simantonnayana, Jatakarma, Namakarana, Nishkramana, Annaprashana, Chaula–Upanayana, the four Vedavrata sanskars, Keshanta, Samavartana and Vivaha are the sixteen main sanskars.
Which sanskars are performed before the child is born?
The sanskars from Garbhadhan to Simantonnayana are performed on the mother before the child’s birth, to obtain an excellent child.
What is the aim of the marriage sanskar?
The aim of the marriage sanskar is to carry the lineage forward while giving birth to excellent and virtuous children.
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