What is Samskara? How is it performed?

The purpose of samskaras (Vedic ceremonies or consecration) is to bring about a transformation in the human demeanour, character and qualities.

The samskaras prescribed in the vedas, the oldest sacred scripture of wisdom, are capable of transforming the entire human behaviour according to the desired need. The process of samskaras and their effects can be broadly classified into two categories.

The first category of samskaras is those which are performed before the birth of a child or pre-natal samskaras. The second category or the post-natal samskaras are those which are performed after the birth of the child and continue throughout his life.

The samskaras can suitably and beneficially influence the psychological and spiritual behaviour of the human being according to the desired environment.

It was in the above context that the ancient saints and intellectuals prescribed sixteen samskaras for a person which began before his birth and continued till his death.

Swami Dayanand Saraswati, an enlightened seer and spiritual reformer of the mid nineteenth century, has described in detail the method of performance of the sixteen samskaras in his book ‘Samskarar Vidhi’.

Three of the samskaras are pre-natal viz. (i) Garbhadhana, (ii) Pumsavana and (iii) Simantonnayana which suitably influences and structure the character and habit of the child to be born.

The Garbhadhana samsakara which is performed before the fertilisation of the ova in the mother’s womb has great significance.

All the samskaras are performed with the recitation of Vedic hymns (mantras) and offering sacrifices in the religious fire (yajna). The fuel (samidha) used in sacrifice are ghee (molten butter), camphor, saffron, guggul (gum), jaifal, javitri and sandalwood: which were offered to the sacrificial fire with the Vedic mantras.

The fire burns everything and converts the crude form to very subtle form, thus multiplying their strength, quality influence and capacity more than thousand times, which no longer remains confined to a limited space but spreads out in all directions in the atmosphere.

The ancient saints have declared that the ingredients of the sacrificial offerings, on being burnt, spread out in all directions in the entire solar system and their beneficial effects are increased manifold.