SAMSKARAS · RITES OF PASSAGE

The 16 samskaras, from birth to the last rites.

The samskaras are the sacred rites that mark each stage of a Hindu life, from before birth to the last rites. Here is what each one means and when families do it, with the paintings from the My Shrine app.

I · PRAYER & FAMILY SUPPORT

Pregnancy

Traditions of prayer, care and family support around parenthood.

SAMSKARA 1 OF 16

Garbhadhana

A family prayer before parenthood, reflecting on care, responsibility and the welcome of a child.

When: Choose the occasion with your family and priest; customary ages and dates differ.
At its heart: Offer prayers and blessings with the family, keeping everyone's comfort central.

CareKeep this a prayer and family-support observance. Do not administer herbs or nasal preparations; rituals do not replace prenatal care or determine a baby's sex.

SAMSKARA 2 OF 16

Pumsavana

A pregnancy observance understood here as prayers for mother and child, without promises about health or the child's sex.

When: Choose the occasion with your family and priest; customary ages and dates differ.
At its heart: Offer prayers and blessings with the family, keeping everyone's comfort central.

CareKeep this a prayer and family-support observance. Do not administer herbs or nasal preparations; rituals do not replace prenatal care or determine a baby's sex.

SAMSKARA 3 OF 16

Simantonnayana

Also called Seemantham, Seemantha, Baby Shower

A pregnancy ceremony centred on the mother's wellbeing, family blessings and the symbolic parting of her hair.

When: Choose the occasion with your family and priest; customary ages and dates differ.
At its heart: A symbolic parting of the mother's hair may accompany prayers and family blessings.

CareKeep this a prayer and family-support observance. Do not administer herbs or nasal preparations; rituals do not replace prenatal care or determine a baby's sex.

II · WELCOMING A NEW LIFE

Birth & infancy

SAMSKARA 4 OF 16

Jatakarma

A welcome for a newborn through gentle blessings. Medical care and the comfort of mother and baby come first.

When: After birth, when mother and baby are comfortable; clinical care takes priority.
At its heart: Offer prayers and blessings with the family, keeping everyone's comfort central.

CareDo not give honey to a child under 12 months, including in ritual food. Avoid putting ritual substances in a newborn's mouth; follow the baby's clinician's feeding advice.

SAMSKARA 5 OF 16

Namakarana

The naming ceremony welcomes a child's identity and place in the family. Name choices reflect family, language and tradition.

When: Choose the occasion with your family and priest; customary ages and dates differ.
At its heart: Introduce the chosen name with a gentle blessing; customs differ by family.

Where families do itKalyana Vedika, Tirumala

Book Namakarana with the My Shrine team

SAMSKARA 6 OF 16

Nishkramana

A child's first ceremonial outing, expressing gratitude for the world beyond home. It is not a health treatment.

When: Choose the occasion with your family and priest; customary ages and dates differ.
At its heart: Take a brief, comfortable outing. Keep the infant shaded; never direct their gaze at the sun.

SAMSKARA 7 OF 16

Annaprashana / Choroonu

Also called Annaprashan, Annaprasana, Choroonu, First Rice

A family celebration of beginning complementary food. In Kerala, the rice-feeding observance is often called Choroonu.

When: When the child is developmentally ready for complementary food, with paediatric guidance.
At its heart: If the child is ready, offer suitable food in a safe texture under caregiver supervision; never force-feed.

CareDo not give honey to a child under 12 months, including in ritual food. Avoid putting ritual substances in a newborn's mouth; follow the baby's clinician's feeding advice.

Where families do itKalyana Vedika, Tirumala

III · GROWING WITH TRADITION

Childhood

SAMSKARA 8 OF 16

Chudakarma / Mundan

Also called Chudakarna, Chudakarana, Chudakarm, Mundan, Tonsure, First Haircut

The first ceremonial haircut marks a new stage in childhood. Temple hair offerings may also express a vow or surrender.

When: Choose the occasion with your family and priest; customary ages and dates differ.
At its heart: The ceremonial haircut or hair offering is performed by a trained professional under local arrangements.

CareUse a trained professional and hygienic equipment. Ask a clinician about skin or healing concerns; do not apply unprescribed substances to broken skin.

Where families do itSri Venkateswara Temple, Tirumala Sri Padmavathi Temple, Tiruchanoor

SAMSKARA 9 OF 16

Karnavedha

Ceremonial ear piercing is a family and cultural observance. Claims that it improves intellect or digestion are not established here.

When: Choose the occasion with your family and priest; customary ages and dates differ.
At its heart: If the family chooses piercing, arrange it with a qualified professional and appropriate aftercare.

CareUse a trained professional and hygienic equipment. Ask a clinician about skin or healing concerns; do not apply unprescribed substances to broken skin.

Where families do itKalyana Vedika, Tirumala

IV · THE FIRST LETTERS & BEYOND

Learning

SAMSKARA 10 OF 16

Vidyarambha / Aksharabhyasa

Also called Vidyarambham, Aksharabhyasam, Aksharabhyasa, First Letters

A joyful beginning to learning, often centred on Saraswati. An elder guides the child's first letters as a blessing for education.

When: When the child is ready to begin learning; confirm the temple's eligibility rules.
At its heart: An elder or teacher guides the child in forming the first letters, often on a tray of rice.

ॐ ऐं सरस्वत्यै नमः
Oṃ aiṃ sarasvatyai namaḥ
Salutations to Saraswati.

Where families do itSri Sharadamba Temple, Sringeri Kalyana Vedika, Tirumala

SAMSKARA 11 OF 16

Upanayana

An initiation into disciplined spiritual learning within a lineage. Eligibility, vows and mantra instruction belong to that tradition.

When: Choose the occasion with your family and priest; customary ages and dates differ.
At its heart: The teacher explains the vows and learning practice according to the lineage; initiation is received personally.

Where families do itKalyana Vedika, Tirumala

SAMSKARA 12 OF 16

Vedarambha

The beginning of Vedic study with a qualified teacher, honouring attentive listening, accurate recitation and sustained learning.

When: Choose the occasion with your family and priest; customary ages and dates differ.
At its heart: The teacher explains the vows and learning practice according to the lineage; initiation is received personally.

SAMSKARA 13 OF 16

Samavartana

The completion of a period of traditional study, expressing gratitude to the teacher and readiness for new responsibilities.

When: Choose the occasion with your family and priest; customary ages and dates differ.
At its heart: Offer gratitude to the teacher and receive guidance for the responsibilities that follow study.

V · BUILDING A SHARED JOURNEY

Marriage & later life

SAMSKARA 14 OF 16

Vivaha

Marriage is a shared commitment to household life. Ceremonies and vows vary across regions, communities and families.

When: Choose the occasion with your family and priest; customary ages and dates differ.
At its heart: The couple exchanges commitments through the rites chosen with their families and officiant.

Where families do itKalyana Vedika, Tirumala

SAMSKARA 15 OF 16

Vanaprastha

A life-stage ideal of simplifying responsibilities and giving more time to reflection, service and spiritual study; not a universal samskara.

When: Choose the occasion with your family and priest; customary ages and dates differ.
At its heart: Discuss a sustainable balance of family responsibilities, spiritual study and service.

SAMSKARA 16 OF 16

Antyeshti

Final rites honour a person who has died and support the grieving family. Practices differ; compassionate local guidance matters.

When: Following a death, with family support and local guidance; timing follows community custom and legal requirements.
At its heart: A local officiant helps the family arrange the final rites according to their tradition and local rules.

VI · RITES FAMILIES KEEP THROUGH THE YEAR

At home and for the ancestors

AT HOME

Satyanarayana Pooja

Worship of Vishnu as Satyanarayana brings family together for prayer, a sacred story and shared prasada.

When: Choose the occasion with your family and priest; customary ages and dates differ.
At its heart: Listen to the Satyanarayana Katha, offer worship and share suitable prasada.

ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय
Oṃ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya
Salutations to the revered Vasudeva.

Where families do itSri Satyanarayana Temple, Annavaram Kalyana Vedika, Tirumala

Book Satyanarayana Pooja with the My Shrine team

AT HOME

Navagraha Pooja

A traditional observance honouring the nine grahas. Astrological interpretations are matters of belief, not guarantees about future events.

When: Choose the occasion with your family and priest; customary ages and dates differ.
At its heart: The priest guides offerings and prayers to the grahas according to the temple or family's tradition.

Book Navagraha Shanti with the My Shrine team

AT HOME

Griha Pravesha

A prayerful welcome into a new home, expressing gratitude and the wish to build a caring household.

When: Choose the occasion with your family and priest; customary ages and dates differ.
At its heart: Offer the household prayers chosen with your priest; any fire ritual needs suitable ventilation and supervision.

Book Griha Pravesha with the My Shrine team

AT HOME

Shraddha / Pitru Tarpana

An observance of remembrance and gratitude towards ancestors, with offerings and prayers according to family tradition.

When: Choose the occasion with your family and priest; customary ages and dates differ.
At its heart: Offer remembrance and the prescribed water or food offerings with guidance from your family's officiant.

This is a short, respectful guide, not a replacement for your family’s priest or tradition. Customs, ages and dates differ between families and regions. Where a care note mentions health, follow your doctor.

SOURCES

QUESTIONS

Questions people ask

What are the 16 samskaras?

Garbhadhana, Pumsavana, Simantonnayana, Jatakarma, Namakarana, Nishkramana, Annaprashana, Chudakarma, Karnavedha, Vidyarambha, Upanayana, Vedarambha, Samavartana, Vivaha, Vanaprastha and Antyeshti. Lists differ a little between texts and regions.

Which samskaras do families still keep?

Commonly kept today are the naming ceremony (Namakarana), the first rice (Annaprashana), the first haircut (Chudakarma or Mundan), the first letters (Vidyarambha), the sacred thread (Upanayana), marriage (Vivaha) and the last rites (Antyeshti).

Can the My Shrine team arrange a samskara?

Yes, for the rites we offer as poojas, such as Namakarana, Griha Pravesha and Satyanarayana Pooja. For others, ask us in the app and we will tell you what is possible.

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