Samskaras: Hindu Dharma by Chandrashekarendra Saraswati, Shankaracharya of Kanchi


	Samskaras
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Written by Sri Swami Chandrashekarendra Saraswati

I used the word "samskara" above [in the previous chapter - of part Fifteen]. I also explained its meaning according to the Tarka-sastra (science of logic) as "impression on memory". But this is not how the word is generally understood. "Sam(s)"=well; "kara"=making. "Samskara" means making something good, refining or purifying it. The dharmasasthras deal with such samskaras as purify a man so as to make him fit to be united with the Paramathman. From the dharmasastras we know in detail the forty samskaras that are based on the Kalpa-sutras and that are to be performed by a man during his life's journey.