16 Hindu Samskaras
16 Hindu Samskaras
Lyrics with Meaning
View lyrics page →संस्कार परिचय श्लोक (Introductory Verse)
Original
गर्भाधानं पुंसवनं सीमन्तो जातकर्म च। नामक्रिया निष्क्रमणेऽन्नाशनं वपनक्रिया॥ कर्णवेधोऽथ वेदारम्भो व्रतादेशपरिग्रहः। केशान्तः स्यात्समावृत्तिर्विवाहोऽन्त्यविधिस्तथा॥
Transliteration
garbhādhānaṃ puṃsavanaṃ sīmanto jātkarma ca | nāmakriyā niṣkramaṇe'nnāśanaṃ vapanakriyā || karṇavedho'tha vedārambho vratādeśaparigrahaḥ | keśāntaḥ syātsamāvṛttirvivāho'ntyavidhistathā ||
Meaning / Translation
These are the sixteen sacred sacraments: Conception (Garbhadhana), Quickening the fetus (Pumsavana), Parting of hair (Simantonnayana), Birth rites (Jatakarma), Naming ceremony (Namakarana), First outing (Nishkramana), First solid food (Annaprashana), Tonsure (Chudakarana/Vapana), Piercing earlobes (Karnavedha), Beginning of Vedic study (Vedarambha), Sacred thread investiture (Upanayana/Vratadesha), First shaving (Keshanta), Completion of formal education (Samavartana), Marriage (Vivaha), and the Funeral rites (Antyeshti).
१. गर्भाधान संस्कार (1. Garbhadhana - Conception)
Original
ॐ विष्णुर्योनिं कल्पयतु त्वष्टा रूपाणि पिंशतु। आ सिञ्चतु प्रजापतिर्धाता गर्भं दधातु ते॥
Transliteration
oṃ viṣṇuryoniṃ kalpayatu tvaṣṭā rūpāṇi piṃśatu | ā siñcatu prajāpatirdhātā garbhaṃ dadhātu te ||
Meaning / Translation
May Lord Vishnu prepare the womb, may Tvashta shape the forms, may Prajapati pour the seed, and may Dhata sustain the embryo within you.
२. पुंसवन संस्कार (2. Pumsavana - Fetus Protection & Sanctification)
Original
पुमानग्निश्च वायुश्च पुमानिन्द्रो बृहस्पतिः। पुमांसं मह्यं पुत्राणां धेहि त्वं देव सर्वथा॥
Transliteration
pumānagniśca vāyuśca pumānindro bṛhaspatiḥ | pumāṃsaṃ mahyaṃ putrāṇāṃ dhehi tvaṃ deva sarvathā ||
Meaning / Translation
Agni is male, Vayu is male, Indra is male, Brihaspati is male. O divine powers, grant us a vigorous, healthy, and virtuous child.
३. सीमन्तोन्नयन संस्कार (3. Simantonnayana - Parting the Hair / Mental Well-being)
Original
येनादितेः सीमानं नयति प्रजापतिर्महते सौभगाय। तेनाहमस्यै सीमानं नयामि प्रजामस्यै जरदष्टिं कृणोमि॥
Transliteration
yenāditeḥ sīmānaṃ nayati prajāpatirmahate saubhagāya | tenāhamasyai sīmānaṃ nayāmi prajāmasyai jaradaṣṭiṃ kṛṇomi ||
Meaning / Translation
As Prajapati parted the hair of Aditi for supreme auspiciousness and well-being, so do I part her hair, praying for offspring blessed with longevity and peace.
४. जातकर्म संस्कार (4. Jatakarma - Birth Rites)
Original
अङ्गादङ्गात्सम्भवसि हृदयादधिजायसे। आत्मा वै पुत्रनामासि स जीव शरदः शतम्॥
Transliteration
aṅgādaṅgātsambhavasi hṛdayādadhijāyase | ātmā vai putranāmāsi sa jīva śaradaḥ śatam ||
Meaning / Translation
You are born of every limb, produced from the very core of my heart. You are my own soul reborn under the name of child; live happily for a hundred autumns.
५. नामकरण संस्कार (5. Namakarana - Naming Ceremony)
Original
आयुर्दा अग्न हविषा जुषाणो घृतप्रतीको घृतयोनिरेधि। तं नाम्ना संसृज स्वाहा कीर्तिवर्धनाय॥
Transliteration
āyurdā agna haviṣā juṣāṇo ghṛtapratīko ghṛtayoniredhi | taṃ nāmnā saṃsṛja svāhā kīrtivardhanāya ||
Meaning / Translation
O Agni, giver of life, pleased by this sacred offering, bless this child who is endowed with a name to achieve great fame, purity, and long life.
६. निष्क्रमण संस्कार (6. Nishkramana - First Outing into the World)
Original
शिवे ते स्तां द्यावापृथिवी असंतापे अभिश्रियौ। शं ते सूर्य आ तपतु शं वातो वातु ते हृदे॥
Transliteration
śive te stāṃ dyāvāpṛthivī asaṃtāpe abhiśriyau | śaṃ te sūrya ā tapatu śaṃ vāto vātu te hṛde ||
Meaning / Translation
May heaven and earth be benevolent and pleasant to you; may the Sun shine beneficially upon you; and may the gentle wind bring health and gladness to your heart.
७. अन्नप्राशन संस्कार (7. Annaprashana - First Solid Food)
Original
शिवौ ते स्तां व्रीहियवौ बलासावधविदूषौ। एतौ यक्ष्मं वि बाधेते एतौ मुञ्चतो अंहसः॥
Transliteration
śivau te stāṃ vrīhiyavau balāsāvabhavidūṣau | etau yakṣmaṃ vi bādhete etau muñcato aṃhasaḥ ||
Meaning / Translation
May rice and barley be nourishing and wholesome for you, driving away weakness and diseases, and bestowing vitality and strength.
८. चूडाकरण संस्कार (8. Chudakarana / Mundana - Tonsure Ceremony)
Original
तेनेममस्य वर्चसे दीर्घायुत्वाय तेजसे। नि वर्तयामि येन भूयः संश्रयात् सुखम्॥
Transliteration
tenemamasya varcase dīrghāyutvāya tejase | ni vartayāmi yena bhūyaḥ saṃśrayāt sukham ||
Meaning / Translation
With this sacred shearing I bestow upon this child brilliance, vitality, and longevity, that he/she may abide continuously in auspiciousness and health.
९. कर्णवेध संस्कार (9. Karnavedha - Ear-piercing Ceremony)
Original
भद्रं कर्णेभिः शृणुयाम देवा भद्रं पश्येमाक्षभिर्यजत्राः। स्थिरैरङ्गैस्तुष्टुवांसस्तनूभिर्व्यशेम देवहितं यदायुः॥
Transliteration
bhadraṃ karṇebhiḥ śṛṇuyāma devā bhadraṃ paśyemākṣabhiryajatrāḥ | sthirairaṅgaistuṣṭuvāṃsastanūbhirvyaśema devahitaṃ yadāyuḥ ||
Meaning / Translation
O Gods, may we hear with our ears what is auspicious; may we see with our eyes what is noble. Endowed with firm limbs and bodies, may we attain the divine lifespan.
१०. उपनयन संस्कार (10. Upanayana - Sacred Thread & Initiation)
Original
यज्ञोपवीतं परमं पवित्रं प्रजापतेर्यत्सहजं पुरस्तात्। आयुष्यमग्र्यं प्रतिमुञ्च शुभ्रं यज्ञोपवीतं बलमस्तु तेजः॥
Transliteration
yajñopavītaṃ paramaṃ pavitraṃ prajāpateryatsahajaṃ purastāt | āyuṣyamagryaṃ pratimuñca śubhraṃ yajñopavītaṃ balamastu tejaḥ ||
Meaning / Translation
The sacred thread is supremely pure, born alongside Prajapati in the beginning. It confers longevity, high spiritual attainment, purity, strength, and radiance.
११. वेदारम्भ संस्कार (11. Vedarambha - Commencement of Vedic Studies)
Original
ॐ भूर्भुवः स्वः तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यं भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि। धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात्॥
Transliteration
oṃ bhūrbhuvaḥ svaḥ tatsaviturvareṇyaṃ bhargo devasya dhīmahi | dhiyo yo naḥ pracodayāt ||
Meaning / Translation
We meditate upon the supreme, adorable radiance of the Divine Savitar, who illumineth all worlds; may He enlighten and guide our intellect.
१२. केशान्त संस्कार (12. Keshanta / Godana - First Shaving of Beard)
Original
येनावपद्वसवे कल्पमानाय सविता क्षुरेण। तेन ब्रह्मान वपतेदमद्य वर्चसे दीर्घायुत्वाय॥
Transliteration
yenāvapadvasave kalpamānāya savitā kṣureṇa | tena brahmāna vapatedamadya varcase dīrghāyutvāya ||
Meaning / Translation
With the blade by which Savitar purified the gods, let this seeker be shaved today for the enhancement of sacred knowledge, radiance, and longevity.
१३. समावर्तन संस्कार (13. Samavartana - Convocation / Graduation)
Original
वेदानधीत्य वेदौ वा वेदं वापि यथाक्रमम्। अविप्लुतब्रह्मचर्यो गृहस्थाश्रममाविशेत्॥
Transliteration
vedānadhītya vedau vā vedaṃ vāpi yathākramam | avi plutabrahmacaryo gṛhasthāśramamāviśet ||
Meaning / Translation
Having completed the study of the Vedas without breaching the sacred vow of celibacy and discipline, the student returns to enter the household life (Grihastha ashrama).
१४. विवाह संस्कार (14. Vivaha - Wedding / Saptapadi)
Original
गृभ्णामि ते सौभगत्वाय हस्तं मया पत्या जरदष्टिर्यथासः। भगो अर्यमा सविता पुरन्धिर्मह्यं त्वादुर्गार्हपत्याय देवाः॥
Transliteration
gṛbhṇāmi te saubhagatvāya hastaṃ mayā patyā jaradaṣṭiryathāsaḥ | bhago aryamā savitā purandhirmahyaṃ tvādurgārhapatyāya devāḥ ||
Meaning / Translation
I hold your hand for good fortune, that you may reach old age with me as your husband. Bhaga, Aryama, Savitar, and Purandhi have united you with me to lead the household life.
१५. आवसथ्याधान / वानप्रस्थ (15. Avasathyadhana / Vanaprastha - Sacred Hearth / Detachment)
Original
अग्निं गृहेषु धारयन्तः सत्यं वदन्तः समिधं जुहोतः। स्वाध्याये नित्ययुक्ताः सन्तु शमदमान्विताः॥
Transliteration
agniṃ gṛheṣu dhārayantaḥ satyaṃ vadantaḥ samidhaṃ juhotaḥ | svādhyāye nityayuktāḥ santu śamadamānvitāḥ ||
Meaning / Translation
Keeping the sacred fire alive in the home, speaking the truth, offering oblations, and constantly engaged in self-study and mastery over the senses, one moves toward detachment.
१६. अन्त्येष्टि संस्कार (16. Antyeshti - Final Rites / Cremation)
Original
सूर्यं चक्षुर्गच्छतु वातमात्मा द्यां च गच्छ पृथिवीं च धर्मणा। अपो वा गच्छ यदि तत्र ते हितमोषधीषु प्रति तिष्ठा शरीरैः॥
Transliteration
sūryaṃ cakṣurgacchatu vātamātmā dyāṃ ca gaccha pṛthivīṃ ca dharmaṇā | apo vā gaccha yadi tatra te hitamoṣadhīṣu prati tiṣṭhā śarīraiḥ ||
Meaning / Translation
May your eye return to the Sun, your breath to the wind; return to heaven and earth according to divine order. Return to the waters if that is your path, and find your rest in the plant kingdom through your bodily elements.