Hindu samskaras: socio-religious study of the hindu sacraments/
Rajbali Pandey
- 2nd. ed.
- Delhi : Motilal Banarsidass Publishers, 2006.
- 327p. ; 24cm.
I. THE SOURCES OF INQUIRY 1. Introductory 2. The Vedas 3. The Brahmanas 4. The Aranyakas and the Upanisads 5. The Ritual Literature proper: the Grhyasutras 6. The Dharmasutras 7. The Smftis 8. The Epics 9. The Puranas 10. Commentaries 11. The Mediaeval Treatises 12. The Customs 13. Indo-Iranian, Indo-European and Semitic Sources 14. The Relative Importance oŁ Sources II.THE MEANING & THE NUMBER OF THE SAMSKARAS 1. The Meaning of the word 'Samskara' 2. The Extent and Number (i) The Grhyasutras (ii) The Dharmasutras (iii) The Smrtis (iv) Treatises (v) The Paddhatis and the Prayogas 3. The Sixteen Sariiskaras
III. THE PURPOSE OF THE SAMSKARAS 1. Introductory 2. Two-fold Purpose 3. The Popular Purpose (i) The Removal of Hostile Influences (ii) The Attraction of Favourable Influences (iii) The Material Aim of the Samskaras (iv) Samskaras as Self-expression 4. The Cultural Purpose 5. The Moral Purpose 6. The Formation and Development of Personality 7. Spiritual Significance 8. Different Stages
IV. THE CONSTITUENTS OF THE SAMSKARAS 1. Introductory 2. Fire 3. Prayers, Appeals and Blessings 4. Sacrifice 5. Lustration 6. Orientation 7. Symbolism 8. Taboos 9. Magic 10. Divination 11- Cultural Elements 12. Common-sense Elements 13. A Spiritual Atmosphere
V. THE PRE-NATAL SANfSKARAS 1. The Garbhadhana (Conception) (i) The Meaning (ii) The Vedic Period (iii) The Sutra Period (iv) The Dharmsutra, the Smyti and Subsequent Periods (v) The Time of Performance (vi) A Polygamous Householder (vii) The Performer (viii) Whether a Garbha-or a K$etra Samskaia (ix) A Sacred and a Compulsory Duty (x) Exceptions (xi) Significance 2. The Puihsavana (Quickening of Male Child) . (i) The Meaning of the Term (ii) The Vedic Period (iii) The Siitra Period (iv) The later Rules and Considerations (y) The Proper Time (vi) Whether performed in every pregnancy (vii) The Ritual and its Significance 3. The Simantonnayana (Hair-Parting) (i) The Definition of the Term (ii) The Purpose (iii) Early History (iv) The Time of Performance (v) The Object of Purification (vi) The Ceremonies (vii) The Duties of a Pregnant Woman (viii) The Duties of the Husband (ix) The Medical Basis VI. THE samskaras of childhood 1. The Jatakarma (Birth Ceremonies) (i) The Origin (ii) The History (iii) Preliminary Precautions (iv) The Time of Performance (v) The Ceremonies and their Significance 2. The Namakarana (Name-Giving) (i) I'lie Importance of Naming (ii) The Origin (iii) The Vedic Period (iv) The Sutra and later Periods (a) The Composition of the Name (b) Naming a Girl (c) Status a Determining Factor (d) Fourfold Naming (1) Naksatra-name (2) Name after Month-deity (3) Name after Family-deity (4) Popular Name (5) Repulsive Name (v) Ceremonies and their Significance 3. The Niskramana (First Outing) (i) The Origin (ii) The History (iii) The Time of Performance (iv) The Performer (v) The Ceremonies and their Significance 4. The Anna-Pr^ana (First Feeding) (i) The Origin (ii) Its History (iii) The Time of Performance (iv) Different kinds of Food (v) The Ritual and its Significance 5. The Chuda Karana (Tonsure) (i) The Origin (ii) The Purpose of the Saihskara (iii) The Vedic Period (iv) The Sutra and Subsequent Periods The Age (vi) The Time of Performance (vii) The Choice of the Place (viii) The Arrangement of The Top-hair (ix) The Ceremonies (x) rhe Main Features of the Ceremonies (xi) The Association of Top-haii with L.ong laic . The Karnavedha (Boring The Ears)- (i) The Origin and Early History (ii) The A^e aiul'Tinic of Peiforinance (iii) The Performer (iv) The Types of Needle (v) A Compulsory Ceremony