According to Hindu tradition, the sanskaras are essentially the
"rites of passage" that a person passes through in life – from
conception to death. However, any definition in English falls
short of the deep significance and meaning of the Sanskaras in
the lives of Hindus. A closer definition is the word
"sacrament," for a sacrament implies an outward celebration or
ceremony symbolic of an inward growth, change or grace. The
sanskaras refer to the main religious/spiritual purificatory
rites and rituals for sanctifying the body and mind, such that
growth may be positive, progressive and smooth. Each sanskara
has a particular ritual and puja associated with it. The proper,
pious completion of the ritual associated with each sanskara
ensures that the crucial lessons of each "rite" are learned and
that the next stage of life can be successfully entered. There
are 16 main sanskaras, four of which are performed with great
piety, devotion and tradition on the banks of Mother Ganga at
Parmarth Niketan in Rishikesh. Th