Vivaha ("strengthening") Samskara.   The fifteenth of the life cycle ceremonies (samskaras) is when a man and a woman become...

    Vedarambha (“beginning of Veda [study]”) Samskara.   T raditionally, the twelfth of the life cycle ceremonies (samskaras). In this...

  Upanayana (“bringing-near”) Samskara. The eleventh of the life cycle rituals (samskaras), in which a young man got a religious initiatio...

  The world is a ritually deadly place for many Hindus. Certain times of the day, days of the week, and seasons of the year are consider...

  The fourth of the traditional life-cycle rites is Jatakarma Samskara (samskaras). The first three were to be done before and throughout pr...

The soul, or self, which animates the body, withdraws from the physical form clothed in the astral and causal bodies at the time of physical...