Hinduism - What Is The Keshanta Samskara?


Keshanta ("beard shaving") Samskara.

The thirteenth of the sixteen traditional life-cycle rites (samskaras).

A young guy at the brahmacharin (celibate student) stage of life conducted the rite, which marked the first time he shaved his beard.

This ritual was followed by the instructor receiving a gift, preferably a cow, according to custom.

The keshanta samskara marked the young man's new status by ritualizing his first shave.

Following that, he was accountable for keeping himself clean-shaven as part of the ceremonial purity regulations.

This ceremony is no longer practiced in contemporary times.

Also see shave. 


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