SANSKARS (THE VEDIC RITUALS AT EACH LIFE STAGES)

Meaning of ‘sanskars’

The Vedic rituals performed since concept ion till death is called as Sanskars. The word ‘sanskar’ means to improve, to purify, and to remove shortcomings. 16 sanskars are performed.

Significance of Sanskars [1]

As per Vedic belief, there are 3 bodies viz. Physical body (which is cremated or buried after death), Psychic or subtle body (which is physical enough to interact with the physical body and non-physical enough to interact with the soul) and Causal body (which carries the seeds of Sanskars upon death when it goes with the soul).
The sanskars are offered to god to develop divine consciousness in the individual which help him to lead better life and to orient his sub-conscious mind for moksha. All sanskars are done through vedic mantras.

Description of Sanskars [2][3]

SNo	Sanskar	Age	Purpose
1	Garbhaadhaan (Conception)	Before Conception*	Desire to have good offspring.
2	Punsavan (Foetus Protection)	2-3 months after Conception	To have noble and healthy child.
3	Seemantonnayan (Well feed mother)	6 or 8 month of pregnancy	To protect mother and foetus from abortion.
4	Jaat-karma (Child birth)	On birth of child	To make the child safe, to invoke God and parental promise to guide the child.
5	Naamkaran (Naming)	On 11th day of birth, generally	To name the child appropriately so that proper personality of child develop.
6	Nishkraman (Taking outdoor)	4th month of birth	After this child is exposed to external environment. Upto 3 months, child is kept inside house.
7	Anna-Praashaan (giving solid food)	6th month of birth	After this solid food is given to child for growth of body and mind. This is done during teething period. Until then, milk is fed to child.
8	Mundan (Hair cutting)	1st, 3rd or 5th year of birth	To remove unholy hairs and for intellectual development. By this time, skull bone becomes safer.
9	Vidyaarambha	6th to 8th year of birth, generally	To start formal education
10	Karnavedh (Ear Piercing)		Ears are pierced. It is believed to have relationship with brain and acupuncture.
11	Yagyopaveet or upanayan (Sacred Thread Ceremony) and Vedarambha (study vedas)	8 to 12th year of birth	To bring child closer to teacher. 3 threads signify 3 obligations viz. Rishi rin, pitra rin and Dev rin. And to start study of vedas.
12	Sanaavartan (Farewell to education & return home)	14th year of birth	To enter into society after completion of study, instructions are given on code of conduct.
13	Vivah (Marriage)		To perform marriage ceremony. In marriage ceremonies, seven steps are taken (Sapt Padi – Food,      Physical Strength, Wealth, Happiness, Offspring, Togetherness in all circumstances and all weather conditions and       Friendship, Comradeship)
14	Vanprastha (Preparation for renunciation)	51st year plus	To detach from material possessions and to concentrate on aspects of social service.
15	Sanyas (Renunciation)		To detach from all actions and to do more of introspection, meditation and social service.
16	Antyeshti (Cremation)	Performed after death	Soul leaves the body at the time of death and takes the subtle and causal bodies with it.

*when married couple decide to have child.

Reference:

1. http://www.aryasamaj.com/enews/2013/july/4.htm

1. http://www.sanatan.org/en/a/341.html
2. https://hi.wikipedia.org/wiki/सनातन_धर्म_के_संस्कार