Samskaras are tendencies inherited from previous births which form a person's propensities in this life. In Hinduism, the samskaras are the purificatory rites to be performed by a person during rites of passage. Category: Concepts in Hinduism ...

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Samskara:

Inborn desire. Mental impression of acts done in former state of existence. Purification ceremony or sacrament.

(See also: Samskara, Body Mind and Soul)

samskaras

Vedic purificatory rites of passage.

(See also: samskaras, Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Hinduism Rituals: Hindu Samskaras

Hinduism prescribes both ritual and spiritual practices for the final liberation of men. The ritual aspect is meant to make man more spiritual in the end, not vice versa. Each and every important event in the life a Hindu, who has chosen to lead a normal householder's life calls for the performance of certain rites. These rites are intended mainly to invoke the blessings of various gods and ensure success in the performance of his ordained duties. They are performed during various stages in his life for different ends. Some of the important rites of Hinduism are described here.

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Samskara Shuddhi is the Art of cleansing past impressions. experiences or relationships. The following article is a summary of the speach about Samskara Shuddhi that was delievered by RadhaKrishna Dasaji of the Golden Age Foundation at the Oneness Festival, 16-22 of February 2004.

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The rites that pertain to the stages of life of man are called Samskaras. The Samskaras are purificatory rites which sanctify the life of the Hindu. They give a spiritual touch to the important events in the life of the individual from conception to cremation. They mark the important stages of a mans life. Just as the outline of a picture is lighted up slowly with the filling in of many colours, so also is Brahmanya with scriptural Samskaras. There are the Samskaras of childhood, of boyhood, of manhood and of old age and death.

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Hindu Rituals: The Ten Scriptural Samskaras

Spiritual Psychology is based on an understanding of humans being multi-layered entities with a mind, body and Soul. How do we awaken the Soul Aspect of our being and how come we could meditate on a mountaintop for eons without significantly touching our underlying emotional traumas? Likewise, how come we could do psychoanalyze ourselves for a lifetime without moving a step closer to enlightenment. How do we reconcile this uneasy alliance between our emotional and spiritual selves?

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Krishnaraj Dasaji will introduce you to some of the basic principles of Samskara Shuddi and also share some of his personal experiences from his spiritual path

Read more here: » Enlightenment: Krishnaraj Dasaji about Samskarashuddhi

Olivia Mathis from Australia describes her experiences from attending Samskarashuddhi and Mukti 3 at The World University of Consciousness after The Oneness Festival August 2003. Olivia also received a diksha for Enlightenment from Kalki, The Founder of The Golden Age Foundation.

Read more here: » Enlightenment: Diksha for Enlightenment by Olivia Mathis

Chitta And The Control Of Prana

1. Chitta is the Subconscious mind. It is the mind-stuff. It is the store-house of memory. Samskaras or impressions of actions are imbedded here. It is one of the four parts of Antahkarana or inner instruments, viz., mind, intellect, Chitta and Ahankara or ego.

From "Kundalini Yoga" by Sri Swami Sivananda

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For many in the world, our lives are more fearful today than they were a year ago. For some it is the fear of terrorism. For several, it is the fear of a stock market collapse, and for many it is the fear that the earth herself will not survive these troubled times. We also have our personal fears around security and wellness, and those of our loved ones.

Read more here: » Spiritual Awakening: The many illusions of fear

Get up at 4 in the morning in Brahmamuhurta. It is very favourable for spiritual contemplation and to start worship of God. In the early morning the mind is calm pure and quite refreshed after slumber. The mind is like a blank sheet of paper and comparatively free from worldly Samskaras (mental impressions).

From "Easy Steps to Yoga" by Sri Swami Sivananda.

Read more here: » Meditation: Right Time for Meditation

The mission of The Golden Age Foundation is to bring humanity into a golden era. The work is to bring about a fundamental change in the nature of each and every one of us where our consciousness undergoes a transformation.

Read more here: » Enlightenment: Services of The Golden Age Foundation

In a conversation with his consort Parvati, Shiva is believed to have said that through self-knowledge, one can attain salvation. People are born as human beings due to their past good samskaras, but to attain liberation they will have to attain self-knowledge.

In ancient times, Parvati symbolised the spirit of enquiry. She would pose questions to Shiva, and Shiva's answers provided deep insight into the nature of spirituality. Parvati's questions are collectively known as the Nigama shastra. Shiva's answers are philosophical; they are also of great practical value.

(See also: Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

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)

samskaras of birth: From the rite of conception to the blessings of the new-born child.

-       garbhadhana: "Wombplacing." Rite of conception, where physical union is consecrated with the intent of bringing into physical birth an advanced soul.

-       punsavana: (Sanskrit) "Male rite; bringing forth a male." A rite performed during the third month of pregnancy consisting of prayers for a son and for the well-being of mother and child. A custom, found in all societies, based on the need for men to defend the country, run the family business and support the parents in old age. The need for male children in such societies is also based on the fact that women outlive men and leave the family to join their husband's family. -

-       simantonnayana: "Hair-parting." A ceremony held between the fourth and seventh months in which the husband combs his wife's hair and expresses his love and support.

-       jatakarma: "Rite of birth." The father welcomes and blesses the new-born child and feeds it a taste of ghee and honey.

See: samskara, samskaras.

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

samskaras of adulthood: From coming-of-age to marriage.

-       ritukala: (Sanskrit) "Fit or proper season." Time of menses. A home blessing marking the coming of age for girls.

-       keshanta: Marking a boy's first beardshaving, at about 16 years. Both of the above are home ceremonies in which the young ones are reminded of their brahmacharya, given new clothes and jewelry and joyously admitted into the adult community as young adults.

-       nishchitartha "Settlement of aim." Also called vagdana, "word-giving." A formal engagement or betrothal ceremony in which a couple pledge themselves to one another, exchanging rings and other gifts.

-       vivaha: Marriage." An elaborate and joyous ceremony performed in presence of God and Gods, in which the homa fire is central. To conclude the ceremony, the couple take seven steps to the Northeast as the groom recites: "One step for vigor, two steps for vitality, three steps for prosperity, four steps for happiness, five steps for cattle, six steps for seasons, seven steps for friendship. To me be devoted (Hiranyakeshi Grihya Sutras 1.6.21.2 VE)."

See: samskara, samskaras.

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

samskaras of later life: - vanaprastha ashrama: Age 48 marks the entrance into the elder advisor stage, celebrated in some communities by special ceremony.

-       sannyasa ashrama vrata: The advent of withdrawal from social duties and responsibilities at age 72 is sometimes ritually acknowledged (different from sannyasa diksha).

-       See: sannyasa dharma.

-       antyeshti: (Sanskrit) The various funeral rites performed to guide the soul in its transition to inner worlds, including preparation of the body, cremation, bone-gathering, dispersal of ashes, home purification.

See: cremation, death, pinda, shraddha, bonegathering, samskara, samskaras, shashtyabda purti, transition.

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

Sankhara is an important Pali term featuring prominently in the teaching of the Buddha. In Mahayana Buddhism, Hinduism and Raja Yoga it is known by its Sanskrit rendering Samskara. Sankhara is used in two senses as meaning either 'that which has been put together' or 'that which puts together'. In the first (passive) sense it can refer to any compound form in the universe whether a tree, a cloud, a human being, a thought or a molecule. All these are sankharas. The Buddha taught that all such things are impermanent, arising and passing ...

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The Upanayana is a Hindu samskara for children of the three highest castes. It is the beginning of serious study with a guru and also means that the child is fully a part of the religious community. Young male members of the Brahmin and Kshatriya caste may perform a coming of age ceremony, the Upanayana commonly known as Janoy, or the thread ceremony. The Janoy is many strings rolled together to resemble an umblical cord to symbolise the New birth as a student and from this day on he belongs to the ...

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