annaprashana: (Sanskrit) "Feeding." The childhood sacrament of first solid food. See: samskaras of childhood.

(See also: Annaprashana, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

annaprashana: (Sanskrit) "Feeding." The childhood sacrament of first solid food. See: samskaras of childhood.

(See also: Annaprashana, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

samskaras of childhood: From naming to education.

-       namakarana: "Name-giving" and formal entry into one or another sect of Hinduism, performed 11 to 41 days after birth. The name is chosen according to astrology, preferably the name of a God or Goddess. At this time, guardian devas are assigned to see the child through life. One who converts to or adopts Hinduism later in life would receive this same sacrament.

-       annaprashana: (Sanskrit) "Feeding." The ceremony marking the first taking of solid food, held at about six months. (Breastfeeding generally continues).

-       karnavedha: "Earpiercing." The piercing of both ears, for boys and girls, and the inserting of gold earrings, held during the first, third or fifth year.

-       See: earrings.

-       chudakarana: (Sanskrit) "Head-shaving." The shaving of the head, for boys and girls, between the 31st day and the fourth year.

-       vidyarambha: (Sanskrit) Marks the beginning of formal education. The boy or girl ceremoniously writes his/her first letter of the alphabet in a tray of uncooked rice.

-       upanayana: Given to boys at about 12 years of age, marks the beginning of the period of brahmacharya and formal study of scripture and sacred lore, usually with an acharya or guru.

-       samavartana: Marks the end of formal religious study.

See: samskara, samskaras.

(See also: Samskaras of childhood, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

Hinduism Lexicon on A

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samskara: (Sanskrit) "Impression, activator; sanctification, preparation."

1)    The imprints left on the subconscious mind by experience (from this or previous lives), which then color all of life, one's nature, responses, states of mind, etc.

2)    A sacrament or rite done to mark a significant transition of life.

These make deep and positive impressions on the mind of the recipient, inform the family and community of changes in the lives of its members and secure inner-world blessings. The numerous samskaras are outlined in the Grihya Shastras. Most are accompanied by specific mantras from the Vedas.

-       samskaras of birth

-       samskaras of childhood

-       samskaras of adulthood

-       samskaras of later life

See: mind (five states of mind), sacrament, samskaras.

(See also: Samskara, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

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Hinduism Dictionary - A

Aadheenam, Abhasa, Abhaya, Abhinavagupta, Abhisheka, Abhor, Abide, Abjuration, Ablution, Abode, Abortion, Absolute, Absolution, Absorption, Abstain, Abyss, Accelerate, Accordant, Achara, Acharya, Acosmic pantheism, Actinic, Actinodic, Adept, Adharma, Adharma, Adhere, Adhyatma, Adhyatma prasara, Adhyatma vikasa, Adi Granth, Adinatha, Adinatha Sampradaya, Adisaiva, Adopt, Adore, Adorn, Adrishta, Adulate, Adultery, Advaita, Advaita Ishvaravada, Advaita Ishvaravadin, Advaita Siddhanta, Advaita Vedanta, Adversity, Advocate, Affirmation, Affirmation of faith, Aftermath, Agama, Agastya, Aghora, Aghorasiva, Aghori, Agni, Agnihotra, Agnikaraka, Aham Brahmasmi, Ahamkara, Ahimsa, Aikya, Aitareya Brahmana, Aitareya Upanishad, Ajita Agama, Ajna chakra, Akasha, Akshata, Allama Prabhu, Allegory, All-pervasive, Aloof, Altruistic, Alvar, Amardaka Order, Ambika, Amid, Amman, Amorphous, Amrita, Amritatman, Analogy, Analytical, Ananda, Ananda tandava, Anandamaya kosha, Anandamaya kosha, Anandamaya kosha, Anava mala, Anavopaya, Anbe Sivamayam Satyame Parasivam, Anchorite, Ancillary, Andal, Andhra Pradesh, Anekavada, Anekavadin, Anga, Aniconic, Animate-inanimate, Animism, Anjali mudra, Ankusha, Annamaya kosha, Annamaya kosha, Annaprashana, Annihilate, Antagonism, Antahkarana, Antarloka, Antarloka, Anthology, Antyavachanam, Antyeshti, Anu, Anubhava, Anugraha, Anugraha shakti, Anukramanika, Anupaya, Anxiety, Apad dharma, Apasmarapurusha, Apatya, Apex, Apex of creation, Appar, Apparent, Appaya Dikshita, Apprehend, Aranyaka, Arati, Arbhuta Tiru Antadi, Archana, Ardhanari Nateshvara Stotram, Ardhanarishvara, Ardra Darshana, Arduous, Arena, Aristotle, Arjava, Arjuna, Artha, Arthaveda, Arunagirinathar, Aruneya Upanishad, Aryaman, Asana, Ascent, Ascetic, Asceticism, Ash, Ashrama, Ashrama dharma, Ashrama dharma, Ashtanga pranama, Ashtavaranam, Ashuddha tattvas, Ashvaghosha, Ashvin, Assam, Assuage, Asteya, Astikya, Astral body, Astral plane, Astrology, Asura, Atala, Atattva, Atha, Atharva Veda, Atharvashikha Upanishad, Atheism, Atman, Atmartha puja, Atmasvarupa, Atmosphere, Attainment, Attitude, Augural, Aum, Aura, Auspicious, Austerity, Authenticity, Authority, Auvaiyar, Avantivarman, Avatara, Avidya, Awareness, Axiom, Axis, Ayurveda, Ayurveda vaidya, Ayyappan

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