‘Sanskar’ is not just a religious ritual but is the basis of all-round development of human life. It provides a direction to the social, religious, moral and educational values of human life, on the basis of which a person leads a well-organized and cultured life along with physical and material development. Sanskars have been established in the supernatural background and the special contribution of human tendencies is considered in their origin, the basis of which is spiritual, social and cultural values.-Rajjan Kumar, Retired Professor
According to their nature, sanskars remain dynamic even after past life, present life and death. In Sanskrit literature, many types of rituals related to these various stages of human life are found. Although there is no unanimity among scholars regarding the types of rituals and their names, yet efforts have been made by scholars from time to time to bring uniformity in this direction. Only this effort made by scholars in this direction has been able to provide well-planned and practical value to the values. At present, the number of main rites is said to be 16 with some variations in name, such as – Garbhadhan, Punsavan, Seemantonnayan, Jaatkarma, Namkaran, Nishkraman, Chudakaran, Annaprashan, Karnavedha, Vidyarambh, Upanayan, Vedarambh, Keshant, Samavartan, marriage and funeral-Shraddha. Some of these sixteen sanskars still maintain their important place in the minds of Indian people. Among the rituals like Jaatkarma, Namkaran, Annaprashan, Karnavedha, Upanayana, marriage and funeral-Shraddha etc., Upanayana and marriage rituals have more importance for social life, but the lack of religious and spiritual value behind it is visible. Religious and spiritual values have primacy behind the rituals related to death or funeral. Therefore, it can be said that along with religious consciousness, the background of spiritual and social values has also been moving behind the acceptance of rituals related to rituals in the Indian mind. Therefore, we have no doubt in accepting that even today, as before, Sanskar continues to exist on the religious and social level.
The entire auspicious and inauspicious tendencies of a person’s life are subject to his sanskars. Some of these sanskars are brought by the person with his past life and some he acquires due to the circumstances of his present life and some sanskars remain active even after his death. In this way, we can say that sanskars remain dynamic even after past life, present life and death, which continue to have their own importance and value in human life.
Three types of bodies have been described in Indian culture – subtle body, gross body and causal or gender body. In these, the work done by the gross body is also completed by the subtle body after death. The meaning is that even after attaining a subtle body, the deeds done by the physical body do not get destroyed and after being born again, the person brings the sanskars of the subtle body into his field of action. Because all types of bodies are formed from the subtle elements of nature, which are physical in nature. Therefore, the body made of material substances needs physical pleasures. The actions performed by the subtle body are related to the gross body, which pervade our brain and the gross body, which are experienced by the gross body due to being together in other births.
Evidence of the existence of the subtle body is often found in the scriptures and without the physical body we know everything. For example, if a flower is brought in front of the nose and if we try to smell it through the ears by inhibiting the sense of smell, then the ear organ cannot absorb the fragrance of that flower. Yogis can separate the subtle body from the gross body and can also enter a new body again. In this way he naturally changes his sanskars also.
In Sanskrit literature, the traditions and beliefs related to rituals have been discussed at various places, which indicate that there are cosmic and supernatural powers in this world, between which there is an unbreakable relationship, which provides an inspiration to human life. Sanskar has developed here as a motivating factor, which infuses happiness and peace in a man’s life by equipping him with many types of worldly and supernatural powers. Sanskars are performed and organized on various occasions in life. Accordingly, these occasions and life provide importance and sanctity. Sanskar perhaps inspires to reduce the indifference prevailing within man towards the events of life and gives importance to the sequence of development of life and gives it a social value. Man becomes aware that the events of life are not just physical activities but are an eternal flow in which there is social consciousness, spiritual evolution and a sense of preservation of cultural values.
