English Meaning of saṃskara

Meaning of 'saṃskara'

m (S) A common term for the essential and purificatory rites or ceremonies amongst the Hindus. These for males of the three first classes are sixteen; viz. garbhadhama Sacrifice on or before conception; puṃsavana Sacrifice on vitality in the fooetus; anavalobhana Sacrifice in the third month of pregnancy; visnubali Sacrifice in the seventh month; simantonnayana Sacrifice in the fourth, sixth, or eighth month; jatakarmma Giving the infant clarified butter out of a golden spoon before dividing the navel string; namakarana Naming the child on the tenth, eleventh, twelfth, or hundredth and first day; niskramana Carrying him out to be presented to the moon on the third lunar day of the third light fortnight; suryavalokana Carrying him out to be presented to the sun in the third or fourth month; annaprasana Feeding him with rice in the sixth or eighth month, or when he has cut teeth; cudakaryya Tonsure in the second or third year; upanayana Investiture with the string in the fifth, eighth, or sixteenth year; mahanamya Instruction in the Gayatri after the munja; samavarttana Loosening the Munj from the loins; vivaha Marriage; svarga- rohana Obsequies. Of the above upanayana, mahanamya, samavarttana apply not to Shudras. In Colebrooke's Digest, 3, 10, 4, a different enumeration of the saṃskara is given. 2 Purifying, sanctifying, consecrating; preparing by certain rites for holy and sacred offices or works: also any rite or act in purification or consecration. 3 Preparing, by any operation of cookery, or by compounding, infusing, baking &c. (a dish or an article of food, a medicine or a medicament). 4 Embellishing, polishing, finishing, perfecting; doing (of any act) well and thoroughly, or making (of any thing) complete and perfect. 5 Any operation or action upon: also any change or abiding effect accomplished upon.

Meaning of संस्कार

m (S) A common term for the essential and purificatory rites or ceremonies amongst the Hindús. These for males of the three first classes are sixteen; viz. गर्भाधाम Sacrifice on or before conception; पुंसवन Sacrifice on vitality in the foœtus; अनवलोभन Sacrifice in the third month of pregnancy; विष्णुबलि Sacrifice in the seventh month; सीमंतोन्नयन Sacrifice in the fourth, sixth, or eighth month; जातकर्म्म Giving the infant clarified butter out of a golden spoon before dividing the navel string; नामकरण Naming the child on the tenth, eleventh, twelfth, or hundredth and first day; निष्क्रमण Carrying him out to be presented to the moon on the third lunar day of the third light fortnight; सूर्यावलोकन Carrying him out to be presented to the sun in the third or fourth month; अन्नप्राशन Feeding him with rice in the sixth or eighth month, or when he has cut teeth; चूडाकार्य्य Tonsure in the second or third year; उपनयन Investiture with the string in the fifth, eighth, or sixteenth year; महानाम्य Instruction in the Gáyatrí after the मुंज; समावर्त्तन Loosening the Munj from the loins; विवाह Marriage; स्वर्गा- रोहण Obsequies. Of the above उपनयन, महानाम्य, समावर्त्तन apply not to Shúdras. In Colebrooke's Digest, 3, 10, 4, a different enumeration of the संस्कार is given. 2 Purifying, sanctifying, consecrating; preparing by certain rites for holy and sacred offices or works: also any rite or act in purification or consecration. 3 Preparing, by any operation of cookery, or by compounding, infusing, baking &c. (a dish or an article of food, a medicine or a medicament). 4 Embellishing, polishing, finishing, perfecting; doing (of any act) well and thoroughly, or making (of any thing) complete and perfect. 5 Any operation or action upon: also any change or abiding effect accomplished upon.

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