Namakarana Samskara: Name Giving

Long before the child is born, he or she has taken part in ceremonies through the expectant mother. Although Hindus believe that life begins at conception, the birth of the child and separation from the mother is considered a significant event towards giving the child an individual soul-body.

Eight days after birth, the child is taken to the temple and its new name is whispered into its right ear. This act invokes a guardian deva that will help and protect the child throughout life. It also introduces the child to the gods,devas, and sacred elemets.

The first syllable of the child's name is determined by his or her birth star. The birth star is calculated by the position of the child and the moon at the time the child is born. A straight line goes from the child, through the moon, and points directly to the birth star.

Anna prasana Samskara: First Feeding of Solid Food

The first feeding of solid food marks the end of infancy and the beginning of childhood. The choice of food offered is said to forge the child's destiny. It is fed in silver dishes to encourage the gods to bless the child with wealth and prosperity.

Karnavedha Samskara: Ear Piercing

Usually performed between the first and third birthdays, the ear-piercing ceremony reaps health, wealth, and spiritual benefits for both boys and girls. The child is often given a silver chain with charms to wear around the waist for one year at this ceremony.

Chudakarana Samskara: Head Shaving

This ceremony is performed in the temple for both boys and girls before the age of four. Hair is seen as an adornment. By shaving the head, the child confronts his or her bare ego. It teaches humbleness and devotion. Children with shaved heads are seen as innocent and holy and are treated with great respect. My husband described the ceremony as follows:

"One of my first memories was when I went to the temple to get my head shaved. It was peaceful as I leaned my head back into the man's hand and my parents sang mantras as he shaved my head. I felt very special all day."

This ceremony is often repeated for boys on their birthdays until puberty. Many grown men and women also complete this ceremony as a sign of humbleness, or thanks for an answered prayer. It is not uncommon for women to cut off several inches of their hair after the delivery of a healthy child or other positive event in their family life.

Vidyarambha Samskara: Writing the First Letter

Marking the beginning of formal education, the child traces the first letter of his or her native alphabet in a tray of unbroken rice. This ceremony honors Ganesha and encourages his guidance through the years of education.

Upanayana Samskara: The Sacred Thread

Performed between the ages of 9 and 15, the installment of the sacred thread marks initiation into Vedic study. After the thread ceremony, the youth is considered "twice born."

Another rite is given for boys and girls at puberty. For girls, this happens on their first menses. On this day, the girl is treated like a queen, given gifts of silver, jewels, and silks, and from that day forward, treated as an adult. Boys mark their entrance into adulthood with their first beard-shaving.

*This is a picture of Vinesh's friend Kaushik at his thread ceremony.

Vivaha Samskara: Marriage

When a Hindu man and woman come of age, they either choose monastic life or married life. If married life is chosen, this ceremony marks the union of two families and celebrates a new generation. By far the most elaborate of the eight rights of passage, it marks the first step of adult life. For most of their married life, the couple focuses on raising a family. At about age 75, the man and woman pledge to act as brother and sister, caring for each other until death.

Antyeshti Samskara: The Funeral Rite

Releasing of the soul from the body, this ceremony is marked by cremation of the body and dispersal of ashes. The soul rests, reflects, and prepares to be born again, to experience, learn, evolve, refine, and over many, many lives, eventually become merged with Life itself, which pervades through all cycles.

As one song reflects,

Falling to the Ocean