Samskaras .....

The Only Way Forward 

The word Samskaras (Sam-s-Karas) means Perfect Act or Deed.Objective of carrying out is to attain Purification and Sanctifying act is observed as a ceremony of Human Life.Series of actions in harmony with metaphysical rules accounting well that Gross senses cannot perceive the invisible reality in visible world.Santana Dharma is manifestation of these purification rituals to be carried out during a life in human form.It acquires relevance specially in this Iron Age (Kali Yug) when all Men & Women are born Sudra and even though Brahmans in this age are not qualified to carry the series of activities in the desired effective manner for various reasons mainly pertaining to qualifying a man to pursue human goals called Purusharthas for Dharma (Piety) ,Artha (economic development),Kama (Sense gratification),& Moksha (liberation from  cycles of birth & death) .

Principal Samskaras for a follower of Santana Dharma are as below :

1. Vivaha - (Not Marriage).Vivaha in Sanskrit is To Maintain ,To Uplift.
2. Garbhadhana  & Pumsavana- Conception Rite and rite for begetting healthy child
3. Simantonnayana -Parting the wife's hair by drawing a line for taping cosmic energies 
4. Jata - Karma & Niskramana - Birth & First outing of the Child
5. Nama Karana, Pausti-karma & Mundana - Name,Good Health and Cutting first hair
6. Anna-Prassana & Karna vedha - First eating of solid food and piercing of ears
7. Cuda-Karana -First Haircut
8. Vidyarambha - Begining of Schooling
9. Upnayana - Initiation
10. Anteyesti Kriya - Funeral rites

Samskaras are created by imprints registered in mind again & again of the external signals perceived & received by 5 senses.Material contamination is associated with every act from conception of human body and impurities retained are accumulated over many lifetimes.They can wake up at any time of birth-rebirth cycles. Defined Samskaras in Santana Dharma help to build and develop the personality on the physical,psychic and spiritual levels.They also protect from diseases which may be due to heredity.

Each of above ten Samskaras has defined the human life in a way that faithfulness,respect and gentleness become foundation of society with stable homes.The journey of human  life on a path to liberation is well defined in four ashrams -Brahamcharaya. Grahsthya,Vanaprastha and Sanyasa irrespective of birth in any of four varnas viz., Brahmans Kshatriya,Vaishya & Sudra ,decided by one's action following Dharma in this life not by birth.

Degeneration of modern society is a result of dilution of importance of each of the purification Samsakras and understanding the impact of same on individual and his family life and thus Society as whole.The knowledge of Vedas is lost in 1200 years of foreign rule.State,which has prime responsibility to ensure, has not supported a conducive environment for resurrection.Today Samskaras are being seen from local Pandit's view ,who themselves are struggling to meet two ends and found engaged in spreading twisted facts as they are ill trained and have compromised on Dharma defined for him.Society has failed to deliver a Government which allows spread of knowledge established after thousands of years of research by our Rishis & Munis in Vedas,Upanishads and Itihaasa.They have been declared Mythology(Study of Myths). We are following education system which discourages student Sanskrit and to learn ultimate goal of life with answer the question which west is trying to find after all materialistic achievement -Who Am I?Today there are more research & study circles in Western World on Vedic Sciences or Indic Studies than in our country.We will find ourselves  following them,as in rest of the cases,on same teachings of human life which are available to us as heritage.  

In subsequent issues we will cover each of 10 Samskaras with How part and their relevant importance in Modern society  in greater detail with the request for participatory interaction on subject .

Jai Sri Krishna !

||  OM SREE KRISHNAYA VASUDEVAYA HARYE PARAMATAMNE ,

    PRANAT KALESH NASHAYE GOVINDAYE NAMO NAMHA  ||