A samskara is a rite of passage, and virtually every world culture has such ceremonies. Rites of passage are ceremonies that mark important events in the life of an individual. A Baptism, a wedding, a Bar Mitzvah, a Confirmation, and a funeral are all examples of rites of passage. Such important events generally include pre birth ceremonies, birth ceremonies, life ceremonies, death ceremonies and even after life ceremonies. In Sanskrit the word samskara literally means, “making perfect” or “refining,” and so a samskara is a ceremony of refinement, which is to say, refining or raising an individual beyond his or her mere physical existence and marking a higher spiritual existence. Samskaras bind an individual into his or her social group.
In Hinduism, as with most religious cultures, samskaras are sacred ceremonies performed with the help of a priest and in the presence of family and friends. Traditionally there are twelve samskara, but some later traditions raise this number to sixteen. In practice, however, there are only about eight samskaras that are regularly performed. This number varies from family to family and from region to region. The most common ceremonies are a pre-birth ceremony (Simantoyannayanam), the name giving ceremony (Nama Karana), a first grains ceremony (Anna Prashanna), the first hair cutting (Mundan), starting school (Vidyarambhana), the thread giving ceremony (Upanayana), marriage (Vivaha) and the funeral (Antyesthi). As I briefly describe these ceremonies, be aware that there is a lot regional variation, and how a ceremony may be preformed in one community may vary a lot from how it is performed in another community.
There are 42 samskaras one has to do in his/her life:
01. Garbhadana 02. Pumsavanam 03. Seemantonnayana (Baby Shower) 04. Jatakarma 05. Namakarnam (Name Giving) 06. Nishkramana 07. Annaprashanam (First Solid Food) 08. Choulam (First Hair Cut) 09. Upanayanam (Thread Ceremony) 10. Veda Vratham - Prajapatya 11. Veda Vratham - Sowmya 12. Veda Vratham - Aagneya 13. VedaVratham - Vaishvadeva 14. Samavartanam(Snanam) 15. Vivaham(Marriage) 16. Antyeshti (Funeral) 17. Pancha Maha Yagyam - DevaYagya 18. Pancha Maha Yagyam - Pithru Yagya 19. Pancha Maha Yagyam - Bhota Yagya 20. Pancha Maha Yagyam - Manushya Yagya 21. Pancha Maha Yagyam - Bhrama Yagya 22. Sapta Paka Yagyas - Ashtaka 23. Sapta Paka Yagyas - Parvana Stalipaka 24. Sapta Paka Yagyas - Masika Shraaddha 25. Sapta Paka Yagyas - Shravani 26. Sapta Paka Yagyas - Aagrhayani 27. Sapta Paka Yagyas - Chaitree 28. Sapta Paka Yagyas - Aashvayuji 29. Sapta Soma Yagyas - Agnishtomam 30. Sapta Soma Yagyas - Atyagnishtomam 31. Sapta Soma Yagyas - Ukthyam 32. Sapta Soma Yagyas - Shodashi 33. Sapta Soma Yagyas - Vajapeyam 34. Sapta Soma Yagyas - Aptoryamam 35. Sapta Soma Yagyas - Atirattram 36. Sapta Havir Yagyas - Agni Aadheyam 37. Sapta Havir Yagyas - Agnihotram 38. Sapta Havir Yagyas - Darshapoornamasam 39. Sapta Havir Yagyas - Aagrhayanam 40. Sapta Havir Yagyas - Chaturmasyam 41. Sapta Havir Yagyas - Nirudha Pashu Bandham 42. Sapta Havir Yagyas - Soutramanee